Illustrator Intern

Readeezy, a digital library for struggling teen and older readers, is seeking talented and self-motivated Illustrators to join our intern cohort. Illustrators will work closely with Readeezy staff and authors to develop rich illustrations for a 3500-4000 word story (40-50 pages) and (5-6) simple animations that will engage our target audience. They will be responsible for illustrating an entire book, from character design and sketching drafts to formulating the cover art. Work will be in keeping with professional standards for publication. Although this is an unpaid internship, it provides the opportunity to be a published illustrator and to use work on personal portfolio. All interns are featured on the Readeezy website with photo, bio and contact information. 

Who we are

Readeezy Literacy is a 501©3, not-for profit company that has created a digital library specifically designed for struggling teen and older readers to improve their literacy outcomes as well as social and emotional growth. Our books include the following features: age-respectful storylines at an accessible reading level; illustrations throughout; checks for understanding using gaming as stealth assessment; critical thinking/problem-solving questions; assessment of non-academic learning (e.g., relationships, empathy, identity). 

About our Readers

Readeezy’s target audience consists of struggling, disabled older readers, especially from historically marginalized populations; therefore, we focus on publishing high-interest, low-reading-level stories that have illustrations on every page. These types of stories are engaging for this audience and can be easily read and understood by them. Unfortunately, a lot of books that are accessible to struggling tween and teen readers are tailored towards elementary students. Older students are not interested in the juvenile content of these books. Our vision is to create a digital library that will help them enjoy reading again. 

We highly encourage anyone interested in this position to check out our books at readeezy.com to gain a clear understanding of the illustration style we are looking for. Because our target audience is  older readers, we aim to publish both mature storylines and mature-looking, older characters. We do not publish children's literature.

Qualifications

• Major in Illustration or related visual arts field and/or have a portfolio of completed digital illustrations, with an emphasis on character design and backgrounds
• Proficient in and have access to digital drawing software and graphics tablet
• Interested and willing to illustrate mature-looking, teen and collegiate-level characters and lively backgrounds
• Creativity and imagination with a keen eye for color, balance, layout, and visual storytelling
• Proficient in components of Google Drive, especially Docs
• Excellent communication, organizational, and time management skills
• Able to work independently and collaboratively
• Self-motivated and deadline-driven

What to Expect

Each Readeezy book is richly illustrated for maximum engagement and comprehension. All interns are supervised by Readeezy professional staff.  

• 40-50 illustrations and 5-6 simple animations (e.g. tears, rain) per book
• Character profiles for our Character Match prompt
• Attend weekly Zoom check-in meetings
• Work in tandem with the author
• Communication with Readeezy staff

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Gain hands-on practical experience illustrating a chapter book for a unique audience while keeping with professional standards for publication
• Expand their composition, design, and storytelling skills as well as demonstrate an understanding of visual literacy and other artistic concepts
• Develop better written and verbal communication skills by applying their own creative knowledge, insight, and ideas within a professional setting and working under editor’s guidance
• Increase knowledge of the requirements of a publishing house, including positive and timely response to critique and deadlines.

Technical Skills Involved

• Storyboarding/Thumbnailing
• Character design
• Animating
• Sketching
• Lining
• Coloring
• Composition

Credit

This internship is unpaid, but eligible for academic or course credit if approved by your educational institution. Students seeking this option should inquire with their academic advisor. Employers will work with the student and college advisor on achieving desired learning outcomes and completing all necessary paperwork. No more than 15 hrs per week. Accepting applicants for Summer, 2025. Please indicate the semester for which you are applying. Internship follows US Department of Labor internship guidelines and is in compliance with the following https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/71-flsa-internships