We are looking for a visual story designer to support our company’s new mission and vision in two areas. This role is to support Kontinentalist’s operations and storytelling work with visual design capabilities, ranging from story design and data viz design, to wireframing, user experience and user interface design (UI/UX), interactive design, and so on. This role will sit within the company’s Community and Business Development team, and contribute to editorial and other non-editorial projects.

Kontinentalist is a data storytelling studio and web publication committed to growing Asia’s voice in global conversations. Our award-winning digital stories blend data visualisation, narrative, design, and code, helping our clients and non-profit partners communicate data in engaging and memorable ways. Passionate about empowering Asia’s data storytellers and helping them find belonging with one another, we create educational content (workshops, talks, social media) as well as opportunities and supportive communities for data storytelling professionals and enthusiasts in the region.

• Work with the editorial team to design visual treatments for stories that especially have an immersive storytelling experience, i.e. a graphics or data-first piece, or designing simple interactive data visualisation or other illustrated embeds.
• Contribute to editorial ideation and brainstorming processes on how stories can be told in novel ways, ensuring that experiences are designed for all screen sizes and experiences, across multiple formats such as web, social media, and possibly print.
• Support the editorial team with layout design, page structures, and visual styles that thoughtfully house charts, maps, and illustrations, working with Kontinentalist's editorial voice and visual identity.
• Collaborate frequently with other team members or freelancers, including writers, researchers, topic experts, designers, illustrators, developers, editors and so on in the production of stories.
• Represent Kontinentalist at speaking engagements when assigned, be it by presenting our work, or participating in discussions/panels, or our data storytelling workshop assignments.
• Other projects as assigned.

• Up to 2 to 4 years of working experience in UI/UX design, data visualization design, interactive design, wireframing and so on, with proven ability through a portfolio.
• Experience or knowledge with theories around designing user-first experiences.
• Proficiency in necessary wireframing or design tools, such as Adobe Suite and Figma.
• Some experience or interest in editorial design and illustration, with cultural sensitivity and contextual awareness for Asian subjects and audiences. Ability to concept and execute visuals that serve the story rather than decorate it.
• Familiarity with designing for multiple publication surfaces, web, social, and others, with an understanding of accessibility considerations such as colour contrast and legibility across audiences.
• Familiarity with working in highly collaborative environments, especially with colleagues from significantly different skillsets.
• Strong initiative and ability to work and learn independently, and stay disciplined to set deadlines.
• Deep desire for learning and a can-do attitude, coupled with open-mindedness and a willingness to offer and receive criticism.
• Knowledge or interest in decolonial and feminist methodologies and frameworks, and how to put them into practice. Not a must, but nice to have.
• A good understanding of the state of current affairs in the Asian region, especially with regards to topics concerning tech, climate change, social justice, infrastructural developments, and so on.