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Based on 22,036 client reviews
Vira P.

Malaga, Spain

$45/hr
5.0
127 jobs

Official Rive expert ⭐️ Looking for someone who knows their way around motion magic? I'm your person! I create unique vector characters (Sketch), Rive character animations, lip-sync, splash screens, logos, buttons, and icons - basically, all the eye candy your project needs. (Psst... wanna know a secret? Almost any UI element can be animated - and yes, I can do that too). I'm also diving into the latest Rive Data Binding features: super cool stuff. Oh, and if you need a full UI design for your mobile app or game, I'm all in (using Sketch, of course). Let’s make something awesome together! So, I am available to assist you by providing: ・Unique vector characters created from scratch ・2D animations for games, applications, and websites (Rive app) ・Interactive fully controlled mascot animation ・Talking characters with full lip-sync ・Interactive Icons and Buttons animation ・Customisable character's animation ・Logo creation, redesign, and animation ・Splash screen animation ・Onboarding animation ・Advertisement animation ・Short animated movies for YouTube ・UI/UX design for games and apps ・Redesign of existing UI, awarding it a modern look ・Control of UI design implementation and communication with developers Usually, I start my work with a paper sketch, and once approved, I create a vector picture of the character within the Sketch app. After that (if necessary), I create for my characters a set of facial expressions and body positions that helps a lot to animate them. The deliveries at this step will include original vector images (usually SVG) and, if necessary, any raster formats such as png or jpeg. Next, I import a vector image to the Rive app to animate it. I create animations of any complexity in Rive: from simple idle animations of icons and loaders to complex ones, including walking cycles and whole scene animation. In my work, I use the full range of features provided by Rive: bones, constraints, state machine, data binding. Also, I can make the animations fully interactive by using Rive listeners. The Rive app is something like SVG animation but more advanced and friendlier. It's easy to integrate Rive animations into Flutter mobile applications, iOS, Android, React Native, Web, React, Vue, and Angular. The Rive app native format is .riv, an animated vector image file, which can be integrated into the app or game using Rive's free runtimes. I can also export to animated gifs, .webM, .mov, .mp4, or other desired formats, so my animations can be used everywhere: websites, videos, games, and apps. It is also possible to animate your existing vector artwork if you have it. In case you have a raster image, I also offer a service of manual vectorisation and animation. I show some of my works in Upwork Portfolio, and here are just a few examples of mobile games I've created UI design, app icons, and promotional materials for: Solitaire Classic Klondike from IGC Mobile - 10,000,000+ (Google Play store statistics) FreeCell Solitaire from IGC Mobile - 1,000,000+ installs Hearts Deluxe from IGC Mobile - 100,000+ installs Spider Solitaire from IGC Mobile - 10,000+ installs I'm responsible for my work and try to achieve the best result. I follow modern design trends and also study the art of famous artists and animators from Disney and DreamWorks studios, draw sketches, and create watercolour and oil paintings.

  • Character Design
  • Cartoon Character
  • Animated Cartoon
  • Logo Animation
  • Sketch
  • UI Animation
  • Motion Graphics
  • 2D Animation
  • Vector Art
  • Game Art
  • Character Animation
  • Game Asset
  • Cartoon Style
  • Card Game
  • Game UI/UX Design
Ari S.

Bandung, Indonesia

$15/hr
5.0
135 jobs

I am passionate about designing interfaces, brands, print, multimedia design, icon/button design, caricature & illustration. i am a designer with strong skills. My work serves as my client's bridge to his target market. Other point of my strength creative, reliable and detailed graphic designer & Illustrator who can work independently. My professional and reliable attitude has earn me a lot of successful long term relationships with many clients from all over the world.

  • Character Design
  • 2D Illustration
  • Vector Graphic
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Logo Design
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Icon Design
  • Illustration
  • Caricature
  • Graphic Design
  • Print Design
  • Animated Cartoon
  • Sticker Design
  • Pixel Art
Vlad U.

Kyiv, Ukraine

$17/hr
5.0
55 jobs

👋Hey there! I’m a character artist who thinks boring designs shouldn’t exist 🎯I create stylized characters full of personality, from bold heroes to strange and creative creatures. I like adding a twist, strong silhouettes, and just enough edge to make each design stand out 🔥Let’s turn your idea into something unique and memorable

  • Character Design
  • Cartoon Character
  • Illustration
  • Prop Design
  • Freehand Digital Illustration
  • Line Drawing
Olha H.

Hamburg, Germany

$25/hr
5.0
96 jobs

Hi! And welcome! I am Olha or Olko - an experienced Illustrator and Designer specializing also in Character Design. I am from Odesa, Ukraine. But I am living at the moment in Hamburg, Germany. I'm a versatile illustrator and designer with a diverse background spanning web design, UI/UX, and graphic design, I've evolved my skills to focus on character design and illustration. My expertise includes: • Character design and development • Children's book illustrations • Brand design • Book layout and design • Graphic design • Visual development and prop design • Logo design • Basic animation I excel at creating cute, funny characters with compelling stories. My illustrations bring warmth and personality to children's books, while my design skills ensure polished, professional layouts. My background in web and UI/UX design gives me a unique perspective on digital illustration projects. I can seamlessly integrate characters into user interfaces or create cohesive visual identities across multiple platforms. Whether you need charming characters for a children's book, eye-catching logos, or a complete visual identity for your brand, I'm here to bring your ideas to life with creativity and technical skill. Let's collaborate to create something truly special for your next project! 03.11.2024

  • Character Design
  • Cartoon Character
  • Vector Graphic
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Cartoon Style
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Flat Style
  • Illustration
  • Freehand Digital Illustration
  • Children's Book Illustration
  • Concept Artistry
  • Sketching
  • Cartoon Art
Antonio M.

Woodland Hills, California

$42/hr
4.9
59 jobs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "If I could give more stars for communication and cooperation, I would. the finished product is so good. Antonio delivered on my exact needs and design. I could not be happier." I'm one of the highest rated 3D Artist and Animator on Upwork's with numerous 5 star ⭐ reviews and numbers of positive feedback from high-profile clients 🏆 I have experience with some of the biggest names in Games, Tech and Film with experience in working on countless released titles from conception to completion. I'm able to work in any time zone and hit any deadlines. ⭐ Why you should choose me over other freelancers ⭐ ✅ 7 years of ongoing industry experience. ✅ Worked on Games, Mobile Apps, VR, AR and PC games. ✅ Game Engines: Can work with Unity and Unreal ✅ 3D Software's: Can work with any 3D software package. ✅ Rigging: Can Rig humans, creatures, products, faces and make blend shapes for any platform. ✅ Animation: Can animate quadruped, bipeds and lip-sync animation. ✅ Modeling: Can model, sculpt, optimize and cleanup models. ✅ Texturing: Can texture PBR, hand painted and photo realistic assets. ⭐ Here's what I can bring to your project ⭐ ✅ Budget: I'm affordable and the work get's done once. ✅ Responsiveness: I am readily available 24/7 ✅ References: I can provide references from High profile Studios ✅ Reliability: Available to you well after your project is completed. ✅ Budget: I'm affordable and the work get's done once. 🏆 Reviews and highlighted feedback from high-profile clients 🏆 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "Antonio delivered excellent results, highly recommended" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "Beautiful work and professional." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "great quality work" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "If I could give more stars for communication and cooperation, I would. the finished product is so good. Antonio delivered on my exact needs and design. I could not be happier." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "I am so incredibly extremely happy with my work from Antonio. He did a magical job at creating, fixing, and adding the perfect elements. He is easy to talk to and is so helpful. I plan on working with him again, and appreciate his talent!!" ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - "Antonio could not have been more professional, talented and easy to work with. It was an absolute pleasure to have him contribute to our project! He went above and beyond to provide us with great work and I was never afraid to ask him his opinions on the best way to get the job done correctly and efficiently. The man certainly knows his craft."

  • Character Design
  • Pixologic Zbrush
  • Autodesk Maya
  • 3D Sculpting
  • 3D Rigging
  • 3D Animation
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Character Animation
  • Blender
  • Unreal Engine
  • 3D Texturing
  • 3D Modeling
  • Animation
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Colorful Style
Angelie Jane P.

Tayabas, Philippines

$10/hr
4.9
12 jobs

Hi! I’m a Magna Cum Laude Multimedia Arts graduate with 2+ years of hands-on experience helping brands and creators produce content that captures attention and drives engagement. I specialize in turning raw ideas into high-performing social media visuals, polished videos, and professional layouts. With real-world experience as a product model and photo/video editor for an e-commerce company, I understand both the creative and marketing side of content, not just how it looks, but how it converts. 🚀 Core Services 🎬 Video Editing & Content Creation Short-form videos for TikTok, Reels, and YouTube Shorts Long-form YouTube and travel vlog editor projects Talking-head and educational video edits Scroll-stopping cuts, captions, and transitions CapCut editor and Adobe Premiere Pro editor 🎨 Graphic Design & Visual Branding Social media graphics and marketing creatives YouTube thumbnails designed for high CTR Brand kits and templates (Canva expert Philippines) Promotional banners and digital ads Professional PowerPoint presentation design 📚 Editorial & Digital Publishing Recipe ebook designer for cookbooks and digital products Magazine layout designer and editorial spreads Print-ready files using Canva and Adobe InDesign Clean, modern layouts that enhance readability 🖌 Illustration & Creative Art Custom character illustrator services High-quality vector and vexel artist work Stylized portraits and concept art Graphics for personal brands and businesses 📱 Social Media Support Content creation and visual optimization Experience managing YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter Platform-aware design for better reach and engagement 🛠 Tools & Platforms Design & Editing: Canva, CapCut, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe InDesign, Clipchamp Productivity & Support: Microsoft PowerPoint, ClickUp, Asana, Worksnaps, Google Workspace, DeepL, Toggl Track Platforms Experienced: YouTube • Instagram • Facebook • Pinterest • Twitter ✨ Why Clients Choose Me ✔ Magna Cum Laude Multimedia Arts graduate ✔ 2 years of proven experience in graphic design and video editing ✔ Real e-commerce background (product modeling + ad editing) ✔ Detail-oriented with strong visual storytelling skills ✔ Fast turnaround with clear, professional communication ✔ Always updated with social media trends and design styles ✔ Focused on creating content that is both beautiful and strategic My goal is simple: help your brand stand out and perform better online. 🤝 Let’s Work Together If you’re looking for a dependable social media content creator, editorial designer, or video editor for social media, I’d love to support your next project. 📩 Send me a message or invite me to your job, and let’s create content your audience will love. Graphic Design, Video Editing, Social Media Video Editing, Canva Pro, CapCut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe InDesign, YouTube Thumbnail, Social Media Content Creation, Recipe E-book Design, Editorial Design, Presentation Design, Photo Editing, Travel Video Editing, freelance graphic designer PH, video editor for social media, Canva expert Philippines, CapCut video editing, PowerPoint designer, social media content creator, character illustrator, vexel art freelance, travel vlog video editor, magazine layout, editorial design, editorial graphic designer, magazine designer, cookbook designer

  • Video Editing
  • Social Media Content Creation
  • Content Creation
  • Graphic Design
  • YouTube Thumbnail
  • YouTube Video
  • Magazine Layout
  • Travel Video
  • Canva
  • CapCut
  • Social Media Graphic
  • Lifestyle & Travel
  • Ebook Design
  • Editorial Design
  • Presentation Design

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Don't just take our word for it

Character designer hiring guide

Character designers are the creative professionals behind the memorable personas that populate video games, animated films, children's books, and branded content. Whether you're launching an indie game, producing an animated series, or refreshing your brand identity, a skilled character designer can help transform your vision into visually compelling characters that resonate with audiences. 

What does a character designer do?

A character designer specializes in creating unique, appealing, and functional character designs for video games, animations, comics, and other visual storytelling media. They combine artistic skills with technical knowledge to bring imaginary worlds and personas to life through expressive illustration and detailed visual development.

Character designers interpret briefs and concept art to create detailed character designs, developing character sheets that show multiple angles and expressions. They define character traits by considering personality, backstory, and emotions to inform the visual design — for instance, a villain might have sharper, more angular features, while a hero might have a more inviting appearance.

Character designers create 2D illustrations or 3D models depending on project requirements, designing character variations, outfits, and accessories. For 2D animation, designers focus on creating stylized characters that animate smoothly, while 3D work requires consideration of texture, rigging, and environmental interactions.

Character designers use digital tools like Adobe Photoshop, as well as software such as Blender, Maya, or ZBrush for 3D modeling. They work closely with concept artists, game developers, animators, and art directors to ensure designs align with the project's vision and technical specifications.

How to hire a character designer on Upwork

Upwork makes it easy to find and connect with character designers from all over the world. But narrowing the field of candidates down to the person with the right skills and experience for your project is made easier by following a few simple steps.

Step 1: Craft a targeted job post

A well-crafted job post serves as your first filter, helping freelancers with the right skills find your project and decide to apply. In your job post:

  • Use a clear, key-word rich title

  • Identify your preferred art style (anime, realistic, stylized, pixel art, cartoonish)

  • State whether you need 2D illustrations, 3D models, or both

  • Specify the number of characters needed and their complexity levels

  • List required deliverables (concept art, model sheets, turnarounds, expressions)

  • Give a budget range

For help creating a polished listing, try the Job Post Generator powered by Uma, Upwork's Mindful AI™. Describe what you need in a few sentences, and Uma will draft a job post in seconds. You can also review job description templates to get an idea for what your job post might include and how you can format it.

Step 2: Filter and evaluate candidates

As you start to receive proposals, you’ll want to have a system to help you quickly identify proposals to focus on.

  • Use Upwork’s filters to narrow your search by rates, experience, and location

  • Review proposals to see how candidates suggest approaching your project

  • Examine portfolio pieces for stylistic consistency and technical quality

  • Look for examples similar to your project requirements

  • Review client feedback and Job Success Score on profiles

Step 3: Interview your top choices

A quick video interview can help answer any questions you still have, and also help you evaluate candidates for their conversational and communication styles. In your interviews:

  • Discuss their creative process including how they handle feedback

  • Discuss their process for making edits and revisions

  • Ask about availability and typical turnaround times

  • Go into more detail about the characters, possibly including backstories, to help inform the designer’s choices

  • Discuss usage rights and ownership (which will be formalized in the contract in the next step)

  • Define file formats needed based on your production pipeline

If you aren’t sure how to structure an interview with a freelancer, consider reviewing common freelancer interview questions and answers. You can also look at and adapt 3D artist interview questions if your project requires modeling.

Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work

Before the freelancer you choose can begin work, you’ll need to have a concrete contract in place. Contracts protect both parties, and help collaborations run smoothly throughout the lifecycle of the project. 

  • Use Upwork’s tools and services to formalize project terms, create the contract, and process payment

  • Choose a fixed-price contract for projects with clear deliverables and timelines

  • Use milestones to break large projects into manageable pieces, such as initial concept, revision, and final delivery

  • Choose an hourly contract for ongoing projects or projects that lack a clear deliverable

How much does hiring a character designer cost?

The cost of hiring a freelance character designer varies based on the project’s complexity, scope, and style, as well as the freelancer’s skill and experience. Consider factors such as detail and quality, usage rights, number of characters, and whether you need 2D or 3D work.

Simple 2D character concept

$150-$400 /project

Entry-level
  • Single character sketch with basic coloring
  • Front-facing view only
  • 1-2 revision rounds

Full 2D character design package

$400-$1,000 /project

Mid-level
  • Full-color character with front/back views
  • Expression sheet with 4-6 emotions
  • Basic outfit variations

Character sheet with turnarounds

$800-$2,000 /project

Mid- to expert-level
  • Complete model sheet (multiple angles)
  • Detailed expression and pose guides
  • Production-ready assets

3D character model

$1,500-$4,000 /project

Expert-level
  • Fully textured 3D character model
  • Rigging for animation
  • Multiple file formats (FBX, OBJ)

Complete character suite

$3,000-$8,000 /project

Expert-level
  • Multiple character designs (3-5 characters)
  • Full turnarounds and expression sheets
  • Style guide documentation

Frequently asked questions

Is hiring a character designer worth it?

Hiring a professional character designer is worth the investment when you need professional quality. A skilled designer can create unique, memorable characters that establish emotional connections driving engagement, ensure visual cohesion across your project, and save time by efficiently managing character creation with industry-standard tools.

What's the difference between a character designer and a concept artist?

While there's overlap, character designers typically focus on finalizing and detailing character designs, while concept artists generate initial ideas and explore design possibilities. Character designers create polished, production-ready assets and develop characters' complete visual identity, including expressions, poses, and variations, whereas concept artists work on exploratory sketches across environments, props, and broader visual development.

How long does it take to create a character design?

The time to develop a character design varies depending on complexity, detail level, and artist experience. A simple 2D character concept might take a few hours to a day, while a fully realized 3D character model could take several weeks. Full character sheets with turnarounds typically require 3-7 days. For 3D photorealistic characters, expect 20-25 days; stylized 3D characters may take 15-20 days or more.

What file formats do character designers typically deliver?

The format that designers deliver files to you in will depend on your project's technical requirements. For 2D art, designers typically deliver PSD, AI, PNG, and JPEG files. For 3D models, expect FBX, OBJ, MAX, and MB/MA formats. Textures are usually provided in PSD, PNG, or TGA formats. Discuss your production pipeline requirements with your designer upfront.