Freelance Graphic Designers

Rates: £28-£41 per hour, depending on the complexity of the work

Oak National Academy is looking to build a pool of experienced freelance graphic designers to support a range of design work across the organisation.

We’re interested in hearing from designers and artworkers with a range of expertise, from specialists in editorial artworking and production design to creative designers experienced in developing visual concepts and applying them across multiple channels.

Assignments will vary in scope and complexity, and we'll match work to your skills and experience. This could include short pieces of work, larger projects or ongoing support, depending on business need.

This is a remote opportunity. We work with freelancers on an ad hoc basis, with assignments agreed as and when required.

Scope of work

Depending on the assignment, freelancers may be asked to deliver outcomes such as:

• Producing accessible editorial documents, reports and publications.

• Formatting and refining existing documents into polished, high-quality outputs.

• Creating digital and print assets in line with Oak's visual identity.

• Producing social media graphics, campaign assets, presentations and simple infographics.

• Resizing and adapting existing assets for different formats and channels.

• Developing creative concepts and visual identities for campaigns and communications.

• Designing more complex infographics, illustrations and long-form visual content.

• Creating reusable visual systems, templates and design assets for internal teams.

• Working from design briefs to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timescales.

• Applying Oak's brand consistently while exercising sound creative judgement appropriate to each project.

Experience and expertise

We're interested in hearing from freelancers who can demonstrate some or all of the following:

• Strong graphic design and visual communication skills.

• Excellent attention to detail and a high standard of accuracy.

• Experience using Adobe Creative Cloud (particularly InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop).

• An understanding of accessibility requirements for digital and print communications.

• The ability to structure information clearly and produce accessible layouts.

• Experience creating assets for both digital and print channels.

• Confidence interpreting design briefs and managing work independently.

• A collaborative approach and the ability to incorporate feedback effectively.

For more complex creative commissions, we're particularly interested in designers who can demonstrate:

• Strong conceptual and creative thinking.

• Experience developing visual identities, campaigns and multi-channel communications.

• Confidence using collaborative design tools such as Figma.

• The ability to create original design solutions rather than simply producing artwork.

• Experience designing visual systems that can be reused across multiple projects and teams.

Rates

Assignments will be offered at one of the following indicative rates, depending on the nature and complexity of the work:

• Editorial Artworker – £28 per hour

  • Accessible reports, publications and long-form documents

  • Formatting and refining existing content into polished outputs

  • Document production and editorial artwork

• Production Graphic Designer – £32 per hour

  • Digital and print assets

  • Social media graphics, event and campaign materials

  • Presentations, simple infographics and adapting existing designs for different formats

• Creative Graphic Designer – £41 per hour

  • Creative concepts and campaign design asset suites

  • Visual identities and multi-channel communications

  • Complex infographics and visual storytelling

  • Reusable design systems, templates and assets for internal teams

The rate for each assignment will be agreed before work begins and will reflect the scope, complexity and level of expertise required.

Ways of working

Please note: By applying, you're expressing interest in joining Oak's pool of freelance graphic designers. Joining the pool does not guarantee that work will be offered, and each engagement will be agreed separately.

This engagement is offered on a self-employed basis. The appointed freelancer will have autonomy over how the work is delivered, working to agreed outcomes and timelines.

They will not be subject to traditional line management but will liaise with a named Oak contact to ensure alignment, share progress, and agree priorities across the engagement period.

Next steps

You’ll answer some questions – a few quick admin ones and two 'sift' ones. Your answers will go through our sifting process: all answers will be anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers.

If you are shortlisted, we’ll invite you to an interview remotely over Zoom. 

We are experiencing really good responses to our job adverts. This may lead us to closing the role early, so if you are considering applying, please get your application in early to avoid missing out.