Game Artist Intern (Pixel Art)
About Glossbird:
Glossbird is a women-owned, indie game studio creating innovative apps and games that improve well-being. Our latest project, NOODS (Niche Operators Orchestrating Desktop Systems), is a whimsical desktop companion productivity game inspired by 00s nostalgia and quirky pixel art (think Shimeji + Paper Clippy meets Tamagotchi). NOODS pushes the boundaries of desktop interaction with experimental gameplay and productivity.
We blend nostalgia with bold, forward-thinking experimentation to create experiences that surprise and delight players. Our mission? To design games that feel like a spark of joy amidst everyday life.
Job Description:
We’re looking for a Game Artist Intern (Pixel Art) to help expand the NOODS universe and empower our growing community of creators.
This is a dual-threat creative role: you will be designing a high-quality, "pro-level" pixel art character pack while simultaneously documenting the process to serve as the definitive guide and reference for our users.
This is an ideal opportunity for students with a background in game art who are looking for a portfolio-building project that combines asset creation, animation, and technical education. This is a fully remote role with flexible hours, estimated at 5 to 10 hours a week for a 8-week project duration.
Responsibilities:
- Asset Creation: Design and animate a complete, high-fidelity (128px x 128px) Pixel Art Operator, (including sprite sheet)
- Technical Documentation: Write clear, step-by-step tutorial instructions and support documentation, with a focus on clarity to help new users understand how to bring their own characters to life.
- Animation: Create fundamental character animations, including walk cycles, idle states, and reactive poses
- Content Production: Direct and edit short video tutorials showing the in-app creation process for use in documentation and/or social media.
- Collaboration: Attend standup meetings 2x a week and participate in design reviews
Recommended Qualifications:
- Recent graduate or currently enrolled student in Game Art, Digital Media, Illustration, or a related field.
- Animation Fundamentals: A solid grasp of and ability to implement concepts such as "squash and stretch," timing, and walk cycle basics.
- Documentation Skills: Ability to break down complex creative tasks into simple written instructions for a general audience.
- Video Editing: Experience with tools like CapCut or DaVinci Resolve to create short-form educational/process videos.
Nice-to-haves:
- Strong Pixel Art Portfolio: Demonstrated experience in character design and sprite-work.
- Experience with Aseprite or similar pixel-focused software.
- Familiarity with the Steam Workshop or modding communities.
- Game Art Background: Understanding of how assets function within a game engine (sprite sheets, layering, and file structures).
- A love for 00s-era "desktop clutter," virtual pets, or experimental productivity tools.
Contract:
Compensation is $100 USD per week for the duration of the 8-week contract. Candidates must be available for meetings during morning hours in Eastern Time. Applicants must be eligible for 1099 independent contractor status (US-based) and provide their own computer and creative software. We are happy to work with your academic program to support receiving class credit if applicable. Upon successful completion of the contract, you will receive full portfolio rights and credits, along with the potential for future contract work as a featured artist in our Steam Marketplace.
How to apply:
For your application to be considered, please follow the directions carefully:
- Send an email to hi@glossbird.com:
- with the subject line “Pixel Art Intern [YOURNAME]” with [your name] replaced.
- with your resume attached.
- with a link to your portfolio, specifically highlighting pixel art and animation. (You MUST have a portfolio with examples of your animations to be considered.)