Request for Proposal_ Illustrator

Background on Step-by-Step

Step-by-Step (SbS) is an evidence-based, self-help digital mental health intervention developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) at the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon. It is implemented in Lebanon in partnership with Embrace. SbS aims to support individuals experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety through a five-session self-help program that is available through a mobile app or website.

The program uses a guided storytelling format along with illustrations to introduce users to practical techniques such as behavioural activation, stress management, and problem-solving. The original adult version of SbS features a cartoon-character story divided into an introduction and five sessions, each including around the narrative follows a relatable character’s journey and challenges, making psychological techniques more engaging and easier to apply.

As part of its mission to expand its service to adolescents, the project requires a professional digital illustrator with a strong portfolio to draw and develop the illustrations needed in the program including images and animated pictures.

Objective of the Position:

The Illustrator will be responsible for designing and illustrating a total of 170 images for the adolescent version of the Step-by-Step (SbS) e-mental health intervention, divided across both male and female versions. The illustrations must be culturally and developmentally appropriate for adolescents in Lebanon and aligned with the storyline to achieve the following objectives:

• Enhance the user experience through relatable and engaging visual content.
• Attract adolescent users within the application through appealing character and scene designs.
• Visually communicate psychoeducational content in a way that supports learning and emotional understanding.
• Improve user engagement and adherence to the program through consistent and meaningful illustrations.

Illustration Scope:

The illustrator will be required to design visual assets that correspond to one main storyline currently under development. The story will follow 2 main characters, 1 male and 1 female adolescents, and includes the following character and setting requirements:

-Main Characters (frequently illustrated):

• 2 adolescent  (1 male, 1 female)
• 2 counselors (1 male, 1 female)

-Secondary and Supporting Characters:

• 2 friends (1 male, 1 female)
• 2 parents (of the adolescents)
• 6 additional supporting characters (e.g., classmates, teachers, neighbors)

-Settings/Locations (approx. 20 different background scenes):
Illustrations will depict a variety of locations relevant to the story, such as:

• Bedrooms and other rooms in the home
• Staircases and living areas
• School playground and classroom
• Green spaces
• Beach
• Counselor’s office
• Roads, sidewalks, and outdoor urban settings
• Etc.

Please note that the exact number and type of characters and locations are subject to change as the story is still in development. These details are shared to help the illustrator estimate effort and develop a preliminary budget.

The illustrator is expected to work collaboratively with the storywriter and the project team to ensure alignment between visuals and narrative, and may be asked to make revisions based on feedback from adolescent users or experts during the adaptation process.

Responsibilities:

The Illustrator is required to:

1.  Character Design and illustration:

• Read the SBS adolescent story draft to learn about the characters and events.
• Design male and female characters and visual backgrounds reflective of the Lebanese context. The illustrations need to follow or be compatible with the story events

2.  Visual Aid Design and illustration:

• Understand the psychoeducational information and therapeutic techniques in the program to design and illustrate visual aids necessary for the user learning experience.
• Get familiarized with the illustrations already present for SbS for adults.

3.  Work plan and Communication:

• Create the work plan needed to draw the illustrations and agree on meeting times with the project manager for updates.
• The work plan will need coordination with that of the Story Writer’s to ensure work efficacy. 
• Continuous communication is needed on work progress. The illustrator will be expected to edit the content and submit it for approval post-update meetings when changes need to be made. This also applies for comments sent after the focused-group discussions conducted with adolescents and the review of the advisory board supporting the adaptation of Step-by-Step.

4.  Coordination with the Story Writer:

• The illustrator  is expected to join a meeting with the project manager and the Story Writer responsible for creating the intervention story. This will be timed around the beginning of August.
• Edits will be asked to be made if any changes happen to the story.

5.  Work Schedule Requirements:

The illustrator’s work will be structured around three key deliverables, with up to two rounds of revisions based on feedback.

• First deliverable (end of August): A variety of draft illustrations showcasing different styles and character designs, to be presented during focus group discussions with adolescents for initial feedback.
• Second (interim) deliverable (mid-September): A more refined version of the illustrations incorporating early feedback and covering additional key scenes.
• Third deliverable (mid-October): A complete set of finalized illustrations submitted for comprehensive review and final feedback, with the final deliverable submitted beginning of October.

As noted above, regular communication and responsiveness to feedback are expected throughout the contract period to ensure timely and high-quality revisions.

Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience:

• University Degree: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in graphic design or any related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of relevant job experience in graphics design and illustration  for children and adolescents.

Skills:

• Advanced digital illustration skills (digital painting, vector art, 3D modeling, animation).
• Excellent spoken and written skills in English and Arabic.
• Strong planning, organizational, and time management skills.
• Strong teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Proven experience in illustrating story characters.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Cultural sensitivity and understanding of Lebanon’s social and political context.
• Good knowledge of developmental mental health topics.
• Experience in working with NGOs, government, or public health organizations is an asset.

Digital Literacy:

• Advanced knowledge in Adobe illustrator, photoshop, and procreate.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Basic knowledge of cloud-based collaboration (OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.).
• Basic knowledge of social communication platforms (Zoom, MS Teams, etc.).
• Basic technology literacy.

Tools:

The illustrator is expected to use their own laptop/tablet with downloaded software and programs. 

Reporting Requirements:

• The Illustrator will report directly to the SbS Project Coordinator
• Bi-weekly progress meetings will be held to review progress and provide feedback.