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Design Brief - Playable Writing, Ministry of Stories

  •  Remote
  •  Â£25k-30k (pro rata)
  •  Part time
  •  Closes October 3, 2025
  •  Rob Smith
  •  jobs@ministryofstories.org
  • #Design

Description

Job Summary

Ministry of Stories is looking for a designer to help realise our young writers games ideas in our Playable Writing term.

Job Description

Ministry of Stories is looking for a designer to collaborate on a new project that engages local children with creative writing.

Our Autumn term project is all about playable writing. Our young writers, aged 6-15 will begin the term with an exploration of the many kinds of playable writing and game devices and formats: from playable card decks, to world-building for board games. In the second half of term they will then develop two games ideas: creating a design brief and all of the content required for a designer to then prototype the games, ready for our young writers to play at the end of term.

£1,200 fixed fee, inclusive of VAT.

Up to £300 budget for print/materials.

Job Requirements

Game 1 (20%): Our under 12s will devise a card-based game, likely a twist on an existing game format, for example their own version of top trumps, or forfeits for snakes and ladders. The designer will create a design template / typesetting approach for the cards.

Game 2 (80%): Our 11-15s will work on a board game concept, likely to be set in the world of our magical shop, http://www.monstersupplies.org/ - Hoxton Street Monster Supplies. The designer will work up the board design, character/playing pieces, and any associated cards / challenges / forfeits - depending on the game format.

Timeline

Deadline for expressions of interest: 3rd October 2025.

Successful candidate contacted by: 10th October 2025.

Design briefs supplied by Ministry of Stories by: 10th November 2025.

Concept designs supplied by designer for approval by: 17th November 2025

All written / game content supplied by Ministry of Stories by: 24th November 2025

Make completed/delivered by: 5th December 2025.

Job Responsibilities

We are looking for an experienced designer, who is also able to oversee/manage the print or production of the prototype board game.

You will need:

  • Design experience
  • To be able to produce two high quality, playable games prototypes
  • Willingness to work to the brief set by our our young writers, overseen by our Head of Community Programmes
  • To be available to finish the project ready for our young people to play their prototyped games by Friday 5th December 2025

How to Apply

Please send us:
- Examples from two projects that showcase skills relevant to the above brief, including indication of the total project budget for each
- 1-2 paragraphs (or short video clip) introducing yourself, explaining what attracts you to the project, what you think you would bring, and any initial thoughts about how you would approach it
- Current CV / link to your website, LinkedIn or portfolio

Please send expressions of interest to [email protected], with the subject line ‘Playable Writing - Design Brief’.

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