Illustrator: Junior Ranger Book, Women’s Rights National Historical Park (WORI)

Deadline Extend to November 22, 2021

We are searching for an illustrator to create illustrations for a new multi-format educational publication for Women’s Rights National Historical Park (WORI) in Seneca Falls, NY.

Background, Objective, and Scope

Women’s Rights National Historical Park (WORI): Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848.  It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human rights, and equality, global struggles that continue today.  Women’s Rights National Historic Park also commemorates the five women who planned the Convention and the Declaration of Sentiments that was drafted during the Convention. This event marked the beginning of the organized women’s rights movement in the United States. The planners and participants were some of the most influential social activists of the century, and their work took place in the midst of significant cultural upheaval leading up to and through the American Civil War. 

Please visit (https://www.nps.gov/wori/index.htm) for more information.

You can also find Women’s Rights National Historical Park on social media at the following links:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/womensrightsnps/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/worinhp
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/WomensRightsNPS

The National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Program is an activity-based program conducted in almost all parks. Interested youth complete a series of activities during a park visit, dependent on their age, and share their answers with a park ranger, receive an official Junior Ranger patch or badge, and a Junior Ranger certificate. Junior Rangers are typically between the ages of 5 to 13, although people of all ages can participate. Please visit (https://www.nps.gov/kids/become-a-junior-ranger.htm) for more information.

In partnership with and under the guidance of Women’s Rights National Historical Park, we are creating a 20-page print and digital version of the Junior Ranger Book about Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York. The audience age of this Junior Ranger Book will be approximately 8 to 13 years.

This publication is being led by Women’s Rights National Historical Park. Global Sleepover is assisting Women’s Rights National Historical Park in developing, creating and finalizing this publication.

We are looking for an illustrator to create illustrations for this 20-page Junior Ranger Book. We are working to create an integrated and complementary Junior Ranger experience that includes the modern tools available to better reach an increasingly diverse, savvy and connected generation of future stewards,  better reach more children with disabilities and more children in underserved communities.

Deliverables and Expectations

• Illustrations: The final specs of the book are being concurrently designed but at the moment, we envision up to approximately 20 illustrations for the 20-page publication.
• While we expect the illustrations to depict the chosen text on each page, we anticipate basic creative assets in the illustrations (such as landscape, scenery, background) can be re-used in various ways and incorporated into all illustrations.
• Please note Women’s Rights National Historical Park is finalizing the desired text and the final number of illustrations in the coming months.
• Desired Style of Illustrations:  Character and scene depiction with some aspects of realist historical interpretation, representing the character and scenes with sensitivity. The style should contain elements of accuracy but photorealism is not appropriate for this project. There is no particular guidance as to which media the illustrations are created in as long as they remain in the desired style of realist historical depiction.
• Design and deliver the approximate 20 illustrations in a digital format, vector, SVG, PNG and other, including individual elements that can be layered or isolated for potential interactive design.
• Deadlines: The deadlines for the process and final illustrations are being finalized. We are looking to onboard the artist as soon as possible.
  • Conceptualization and Design Phase of Illustrations: November – December 2021.
  • Potential travel to Women’s Rights National Historical Park site in Seneca Falls, New York: November and/or December 2021.
  • Create artwork and drafts for the feedback and iterative process: December 2021 – February 2022.
  • Review: March 2022.
  • Target deadline for publication and printing specs to be sent to printer: mid-April 2022.

• Friendly attitude.
• Ability to work under deadlines, participate in a feedback and iterative editing process, adhere to project deadlines and possess strong time-management skills.
• Remote work with an expectation to be available for meetings/check-ins and the feedback process at previously scheduled times.
• Possess the ability to respond to change, flexibility and work well under pressure.
• Travel: Key members of the team will be traveling to visit  Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York, on approximately November 7-9 for a 1-2 day trip. Artist travel to Seneca Falls, New York to join the team in visiting Women’s Rights National Historical Park during this period or another timeframe in November/December is not mandatory but strongly encouraged; all costs associated with travel will be covered. Travel will be 1-2 business days. Dates are negotiable with the preference for travel to happen in November and/or December 2021.
• This is a service-by-fee contract. Pay commensurate with experience and on anticipated level of effort to complete the deliverables.
• Artist will report to the Project Manager at Global Sleepover who is overseeing execution of this project that is being led by Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
• Final illustrations and all creative asset copyrights will be owned by the National Park Service yet attribution and credit will be provided in the publication to the artist.

Required Qualifications

Illustration Ability

• Demonstrated illustration skills in the desired style, to include drawing, character design and interpretation skills.

• Demonstrated ability in creating well-composed, meaningful scenes and creative assets that can educate, stimulate and peak intrigue in youth.
• Experience in utilizing place and landscape as key elements in illustrations.
• Ability to utilize perspective, composition, physical viewpoint, convincing light and shadow and other key elements of illustration to convey text, scene, the environment the character inhabits, expression, mood and motivation driving the character(s).
• Demonstrated background or understanding in creating creative assets for both print and digital media.
• Experience in attention to detail and creating elements that lend to consistency, thereby creating a cohesive publication with a sense of unity.
• Experience in or understanding how to approach sensitive issues critically, reflectively and with regard for diverse cultural and historical context.
• Ability to contribute creatively to product development brainstorming, conceptualizing and designing illustrations with a team of individuals and add-value to the overall final product.
• Experience in the development process with multi-tiered individuals, working in collaboration with a Supervisor for guidance and instruction,  and working in collaboration with numerous stakeholders to create final products.
• Ability to conceptualize and visualize how illustrations will be incorporated into the overall design and layout, working in collaboration with colors, styles, aesthetics.

Technology Proficiency

• Familiarity in using creation software and programs in Adobe Creative Suite; familiarity with Adobe InDesign and/or Adobe Illustrator is a plus.
• Familiarity with cloud software and/or other downloadable/cloud programs used to transfer large files and/or share files through hyperlinks.
• Familiarity with exporting files in vector, SVG, PNG and other formats.
• Familiarity with using workspace and video conferencing apps such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Communications and Management Skills

• Comfortable in asking appropriate questions and clarification to understand and complete the task.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (email, phone calls, video chats, professional interactions with the team, etc.)
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to follow guidelines and documentation.
• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
• Ability to participate in an iterative and feedback process on the development of illustrations.
• Teamwork skills and cross-cultural sensitivity.

Preferred Skills (Skills that are Preferred but Not Required)

• Experience in design and/or UX/UI preferred but not required.
• Bachelor’s degree in art/illustration strongly preferred.
• Experience in an internship, freelance or similar role preferred but not required.
• Experience in creating illustrations and/or creative visual elements for youth / grades 4-8 preferred but not required.
• Previous work on ePUB and Adobe InDesign interactive or Adobe PDF interactive preferred but not required.
• Experience creating visual creative assets and/or illustrations around significant social issues and causes preferred but not required.

Application Process

To apply, please send an email to (recruitment@globalsleepover.com) by November 22, 2021. Given our target date of onboarding the artist is November, we will be reviewing applications as they are submitted. While we are accepting submissions through November 22, 2021, we would appreciate submissions as soon as possible before the deadline.

Please include the following in the email:

• A portfolio showing past work.
• A short cover letter explaining how your experience relates to this opportunity. In this cover letter, please confirm your availability to begin as soon as possible and confirm availability/ commitment  to this project through the end of April 2022. Please also include your availability / interest to travel to Women’s Rights National Historical Park site in Seneca Falls, New York with dates of availability for a 1-2 day trip in November and/or December.
• COVID-19 safety protocol and policies for travel are likely to vary by airline and state of origin.
• Mandates at Women’s Rights National Historical Park require masking indoors and outdoors where social distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained.