Volunteer Digital Artist, Illustrator & Multimedia Creator (Remote)

About AFK Cafe

AFK Cafe is a volunteer driven online community dedicated to creativity, gaming, storytelling, mental wellness, education, and meaningful connection. We are building an original fantasy cafe universe filled with unique characters, engaging stories, interactive events, merchandise, and digital content.

Our volunteers come together to create a welcoming environment where people can grow their skills, collaborate on meaningful projects, and contribute to something larger than themselves. Whether someone is interested in illustration, animation, storytelling, event planning, or community building, AFK Cafe provides opportunities to gain real experience while making a positive impact.

Position Overview

AFK Cafe is seeking creative volunteers who enjoy digital art, illustration, animation, character design, and multimedia creation. This opportunity is ideal for students, hobbyists, aspiring professionals, or anyone looking to expand their portfolio while working on an original creative project.

No professional experience is required. We are looking for individuals who are creative, dependable, eager to learn, and excited to collaborate with others.

Responsibilities

Volunteers may contribute in one or more of the following areas:

Illustration and Character Design

• Original character creation
• Character reference sheets
• Expression sheets
• Fantasy creatures
• Environment and background artwork
• Story illustrations

Multimedia Content

• Social media graphics
• Instagram Reels
• TikTok videos
• YouTube Shorts
• Promotional artwork
• Community announcements

Animation and Motion Design

• Simple animations
• Motion graphics
• Animated stickers
• GIF creation
• Short promotional videos

Branding and Merchandise

• Sticker packs
• Emotes
• Apparel artwork
• Posters
• Merchandise concepts
• Product mockups

Storytelling

• Comic panels
• Lore illustrations
• Visual storytelling assets
• Event artwork

Volunteers are encouraged to explore the types of projects they enjoy most while developing new skills.

Qualifications

Ideal applicants are:

• Passionate about creating digital artwork
• Interested in building a professional portfolio
• Open to learning new creative skills
• Comfortable receiving feedback
• Able to communicate consistently
• Dependable when accepting projects
• Interested in collaborating with a creative team

Professional experience is not required.

Helpful Software Experience

Experience with any of the following is helpful but not required:

• Canva
• Procreate
• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Clip Studio Paint
• Krita
• CapCut
• Adobe After Effects
• Blender
• Live2D
• Figma
• Adobe Express
• DaVinci Resolve

Collaboration Platform

AFK Cafe operates primarily through Discord.

Our volunteers collaborate, communicate, receive project assignments, participate in meetings, access creative resources, complete onboarding, and share feedback through our Discord community.

Applicants must:

• Have a Discord account or be willing to create one
• Be comfortable communicating through Discord
• Check Discord regularly for project updates
• Participate in onboarding and team discussions through Discord

Discord is our primary collaboration platform and is required for all volunteer positions.

Training and Onboarding

Every volunteer receives structured onboarding designed to help them succeed.

Training includes:

• Orientation to the AFK Cafe community
• Introduction to our creative workflow
• Access to volunteer resources and documentation
• Project management training
• Creative briefs and style guides
• Feedback and mentorship from leadership
• Opportunities to explore different creative specialties

Our goal is to help every volunteer develop confidence while building valuable experience.

90 Day Exploration Period

All new volunteers begin with a 90 day Exploration Period.

During this time, volunteers can:

• Learn about the organization
• Complete onboarding and training
• Explore different creative roles
• Build relationships with the team
• Discover which projects best match their interests
• Decide whether they would like to continue as a long term contributor

This process allows both the volunteer and AFK Cafe to ensure the role is enjoyable, sustainable, and a good long term fit.

What Volunteers Receive

Although this is an unpaid volunteer position, contributors gain valuable experience including:

• Portfolio quality creative projects
• Experience working on an original intellectual property
• Collaboration with artists, writers, designers, and community leaders
• Opportunities to expand illustration, animation, and multimedia skills
• Mentorship and constructive feedback
• Leadership opportunities as the community grows
• Professional references based on participation and performance
• Recognition and credit for completed work

Many volunteers use their experience to strengthen resumes, college applications, and professional portfolios.

Minimum Requirements

• At least 18 years of age preferred
• Access to a computer or tablet capable of creating digital artwork
• Discord account or willingness to create one
• Reliable communication
• Willingness to complete onboarding and participate in the 90 day Exploration Period
• Interest in contributing to a collaborative volunteer community

How to Apply

Please include:

• Portfolio, social media page, or examples of your work if available
• Creative areas that interest you most
• Software you enjoy using
• Skills you hope to develop during your volunteer experience

Works in progress are welcome. Professional portfolios are not required.

AFK Cafe believes creativity grows through collaboration, learning, and community. We welcome artists of all experience levels who are excited to contribute, develop new skills, and help bring an original fantasy world to life.