2D Designer / Mentor

2D Designer / Mentor Summer 2026 - Design for Social Impact

Pay: $25-30 / hour

Hours: 30 hours per week

Time: 9:15 am - 3:15 pm Monday - Thursday, with half days on Friday

Location: On-site, Cambridge, MA

Dates: June 29 - August 7, 2026

About Innovators for Purpose (iFp)

Innovators for Purpose (iFp) is a BIPOC-led design and innovation studio based in Cambridge, MA. We empower young people, especially those from underrecognized communities, to tackle critical societal challenges through art + design and STEM. Our student teams have designed everything from AI literacy tools to environmental justice campaigns. Together, we imagine and build a more inclusive future.

The Role

We're looking for a part-time 2D Designer / Mentor to support hands-on design projects and mentor high school students in our summer studio program. This is a fully on-site role in Cambridge.

This is not a typical design role. It's an opportunity to use your 2D and visual design skills for social impact, guiding young innovators as they create work that matters.

What You'll Do

• Collaborate with staff and students on active game and web app projects.
• Translate ideas into polished 2D visual deliverables.
• Mentor student teams on the design process: concept, composition, iteration, and refinement.
• Provide constructive critique and help students grow as creative visual thinkers.

Who You Are

• A 2D or graphic designer with strong visual design and composition skills.
• Experienced with design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Illustrator, etc.).
• Excited about mentoring high school students and making design more accessible and inclusive.
• Flexible and collaborative, able to shift between production work and coaching.
• Passionate about using design as a tool for equity and societal change.

Past Projects and Clients

To gain a deeper understanding of our work, we encourage you to review our past projects at innovatorsforpurpose.org/our-work. Our past clients include the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, Cambridge Public Library, Microsoft, and MIT. Each collaboration reflects our commitment to innovation and social impact.

Why Join iFp?

• Purpose: Your design skills will help young people see themselves as innovators.
• Mentorship: Gain meaningful experience guiding students and building leadership skills.
• Portfolio: Work on real-world projects that launch, not just classroom exercises.
• Summer focus: A concentrated 6-week engagement, with the possibility of extension for those willing to expand their toolkit and grow.

English proficiency