Visual Communications Designer/ Illustrator for "Nems" Blog

Nems is a multimedia satire magazine with comics, caricatures, photos, videos, texts, and audio on several social media platforms and with a website on the way: It is based in Beirut, Lebanon, but operates in the whole region. Our work is centered around the idea of transgression: Satire as a means to change the power dynamics within medial narratives, satire as a tool for free artistic and political expression, satire as the major denominator for our lives in the Arab countries. 

Each online edition, we create an opportunity for artists from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and North Africa, as well as those living abroad to produce their work independently and accompany them along the way by offering editorial input and logistic support. For that, we are looking for a Visual Communications Designer as a new team member to develop a visual representation of Nems (“The world of Nems”: self-produced sketches to appear on our platforms), shapen our online identity and to create ads and designs for our platform. Nems is currently funded by the German political association “Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung”.

The Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung (RLS) is a German political foundation affiliated with the German party “Die Linke” (The Left Party). RLS is a provider of civic education and a center for progressive social research. RLS Beirut Office opened its doors in May 2017 and is working in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi-Arabia and Iran.

Tasks:

- “World of Nems”: Designing of templates for weekly sketches that serve as a platform for direct commentary on current affairs by Nems (check our previous designs on our Facebook page)

- Identity development of the Meerkat as a representative character for our platform: Development of ideas, voice, and appearance of the “Nems”-character and the platform’s visual identity (through self-produced designs) itself

- Develop ideas and designs for ads and sketches and Web Design

- Technical Support in all design-related questions for social media

- Creative input as a team member, cooperation with our social media experts, artists and editorial team

Requirements:

- Experience in Visual Communications, Graphic Design, Illustration, Comic Art and Cartoon

- Creativity, Innovative, Humour, Fast work, Interest in the political sphere 

- Experience in Web Design, Online and Social Media, Publishing, Photoshop and Illustrator

- Experience in animation is a plus, but no requirement

- Spoken and written fluency in Arabic and English 

- Teamwork experience

- Understanding of social media as a format and its technicalities regarding design

- Understanding of the political realities and social conflicts of the region

- Understanding of satire as a medium and tool for transgression - and entertainment