Freelance Graphic Designer — Video Game Case Sleeves (1099, Per-Deliverable) - Contract to Hire
About the project We've built a universal storage case for video game collectors, and we need a designer to create the exterior sleeves that will give it a consistent look across every system. The case is a snap-shell design with a clear film on the outside. A printed paper sleeve slides under that film to show and describe what's inside. Unlike other universal cases, ours has no built-in insert. Instead, we make custom foam inserts for each game system, shaped to hold that system's cartridge exactly, with room for the manual. The sleeves are what turn this into a collecting format. Each system needs its own unified design language so that a shelf of games for one console reads as a single, coherent library at a glance. This is a long-term project. Our goal is to eventually cover every cartridge-based video game ever released, so there is a large, ongoing body of work for the right designer. The role You'll design print-ready exterior sleeves for individual games, built on a design system you help create for each console. Each sleeve should feel like a traditional game box, adapted to the proportions and clear-film front of a plastic case. Within a system, every sleeve shares the same framework: spine treatment, logo placement, color coding, typography, and layout. A collector should be able to look at a shelf and instantly tell which games belong to which system. We'll start with one system to establish the template and workflow, then expand to others. Scope and deliverables Work is delivered in two types of units, each paid separately. Deliverable What it includes System design template Master layout and style guide for one console: grid, spine, back panel, typography, color palette, logo and rating placement, and rules for adapting it to each game. Delivered as layered source files plus a short PDF style guide. Individual game sleeve One finished sleeve for one game, built on the approved system template. Includes front, spine, and back, with title, description, and any game-specific artwork. Every sleeve file must include: Layered source file (Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, or Affinity; format to be agreed) Print-ready PDF at final trim size, with bleed and crop marks CMYK color, at least 300 DPI for all raster images Fonts outlined or packaged, with commercial-use licenses Consistent file naming, for example SYSTEM_GameTitle_Region_v1 We'll supply the exact sleeve dimensions and a dieline template. Each deliverable includes up to two rounds of revisions.
Requirements
We're looking for a designer who can hold a consistent system across hundreds of files. Strong portfolio of packaging, print, or product design Experience building design systems or templated series (book covers, album series, product lines) Solid print production knowledge: bleed, trim, dielines, CMYK, preflighting Ability to deliver steady output on a recurring schedule Reliable communication and responsiveness to feedback Nice to have: Familiarity with retro video game packaging and collecting culture Illustration skills for original cover artwork Experience with batch or data-driven layouts (for example, InDesign Data Merge) Compensation and terms This is a 1099 independent contractor position, paid per approved deliverable. Pay: Will be discussed per system design template and per individual sleeve. We welcome quotes from applicants. Payment is made after each deliverable is approved, on a biweekly / monthly invoice cycle. You set your own hours and work remotely, using your own tools and software. All delivered work, including source files, becomes the property of Hoskbrew upon payment, under a written work-for-hire and IP assignment agreement. A paid test sleeve will be the first step before any larger commitment. Ongoing work is available for designers who meet our quality and consistency standards. How to apply Send the following through this posting: A link to your portfolio, ideally including packaging or series design work Your quoted rate for one system design template and for one individual sleeve Your estimated turnaround time per sleeve once a template is approved A short note on why this project interests you, including any connection to game collecting