Zine Designer & Illustrator Needed

IJob Description:
I’m seeking a culturally rooted graphic designer and illustrator to format and visually style a 12-chapter manifesto titled “The Street Scholar Manifesto.” It blends poetic narrative, Indigenous worldview (Nahuatl/Mesoamerican), and decolonial education into a powerful, community-based codex.
This project needs both layout and original visual elements that align with the text’s rhythm, symbolism, and sacred tone.
What You’ll Design:
Full layout for ~50 pages of already edited poetic/prose text
Two complete versions:
Full-color PDF (digital sharing + print-ready)
Black-and-white version (for low-cost printing)
Consistent and intentional typography, spacing, and visual rhythm
Custom graphics/illustration that reflect:
Codex-style aesthetics (glyphs, borders, elements)
Indigenous/Mesoamerican visual symbolism (Nahua, Maya, Andean)
Street scholar energy (zine, protest, resistance, ancestral vibe)
Chapter openers, icons, visual breaks, borders, or small spot illustrations as needed (not full-page paintings)
What I’m Looking For:
Strong skills in editorial/zine/booklet layout
Comfortable with both design + illustration
Deep respect for Indigenous worldviews, cultural memory, and liberation work
Ability to translate powerful themes into symbolic, emotionally resonant art
Fluent in tools like Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, or Affinity
Deliverables:
2 final versions of the manifesto: full-color and black-and-white PDF
Editable source files (InDesign, Illustrator, or similar)
Any custom artwork in high-res and layered formats
Fonts + visual assets with correct usage rights
Budget:
$500–$1,000 USD, depending on experience and visual scope
Open to longer-term collaboration (social media graphics, future chapters, educational materials)
Timeline:
3–4 weeks for initial layout + visual drafts
Final version after 1–2 rounds of revision
Bonus If You:
Have worked with zines, community storytelling, or cultural design
Can blend digital and hand-drawn elements
Understand Nahuatl symbolism or Indigenous color stories
Are bilingual (not required, but helpful for cultural nuance)
To Apply:
Please send:
Portfolio samples (especially zines, booklets, or cultural/activist work)
A short note on why this project resonates with you
Estimated timeline + project quote
About Me:
I’m Richard Ramos, also known as Tlamatini — a former LAUSD principal, educator, and community scholar. The Street Scholar Manifesto is a living codex rooted in barrio wisdom, ancestral memory, and educational resistance. I’m looking for someone who feels this work in their bones — not just on the screen.
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