Graphic Designers (Must own MacBook)
Listing checked October 19, 2026 · pay as published by Mercor
Overview
Mercor is staffing a research project for a leading AI lab, and the design work happens on your own Mac. You will move through real design tasks in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Affinity while talking through each choice, which turns your sessions into training data for AI models. The commitment runs about 10 to 20 hours a week, and an immediate start gets priority. Structure stays clear and the pressure stays low compared with an internship or a full-time consulting role.
What You'll Do7
- 1Complete real graphic design assignments on your own MacBook, working in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Affinity, or Canva.
- 2Talk through your process as you work so the research team captures the reasoning behind each layout, type, and color decision.
- 3Produce branding, layout, and typography work that meets a written brief and holds up as reference-quality output.
- 4Explain creative decisions in plain language during recorded or live sessions with the project team.
- 5Follow the task guidelines the research team issues and adapt when those guidelines change.
- 6Track roughly 10 to 20 hours a week and hit the deadlines you agree to.
- 7Raise unclear briefs or tool problems with the project team early rather than working around them.
Requirements8
- 1Own a MacBook or Mac with an Apple M-series or Intel chip running macOS 15 or later. Applicants without a Mac cannot be considered.
- 2Bring 2 to 3 years of professional or freelance design experience, or current enrollment in a postgrad design program.
- 3Show working command of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Affinity, or Canva.
- 4Demonstrate background in branding, layout, typography, and visual communication. A portfolio strengthens the application.
- 5Hold a Bachelors degree from a strong institution alongside the experience, or be pursuing or just finishing Masters study.
- 6Explain creative choices out loud while designing, not only after the fact.
- 7Communicate well in writing and in conversation.
- 8Start soon. Immediate availability gets preference.
Who Should Apply
Early-career designers with 2 to 3 years of studio or freelance work, or postgrad design students, who own an M-series or Intel Mac and can narrate their choices while they design. Branding, layout, and typography samples in a portfolio help your case.
Salary Insight
The rate runs $50 to $60 per hour for part-time work of about 10 to 20 hours a week. That band sits near the top of what early-career designers typically earn, which reflects the research-support nature of the tasks and the requirement that you supply your own Mac.
Pay and demand for Design & Creative roles
AggregatedTypical pay
$55/hour
This role
$50–$60/hr
Most Design & Creative roles pay $45–$75 per hour. This role's pay falls inside that range.
Based on 66 similar roles that publish pay · 12 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Rates shown per hour. Yearly and monthly pay converted; one-time fees and non-USD pay are not included.
- Live similar roles
- 91
- Listed in last 30 days
- 37
- Remote
- 82%
Hiring most right now: micro1 (26) · Mercor (17) · SME Careers (12)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- graphic design14%
- figma12%
- video editing10%
- screen recording8%
Figures from Design & Creative roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.
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Compensation
$50–60/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
Put your exact Mac model and macOS version near the top of your resume, since applicants without a qualifying machine get screened out. Then name each design tool you use and link a portfolio that shows branding and typography work, because the 3-minute AI interview and paid assessment both probe how you reason through design decisions.
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