SkunkWorks began as a bold idea inside San Quentin what if incarceration could become a launchpad for change? Founded by incarcerated people and built in partnership with outside professionals, we’ve grown into a nationally recognized innovation lab inside prison walls.
Our goal is simple but radical transform the justice system by centering the leadership of the people most impacted by it. We design and test solutions inside—and then work to scale them beyond the walls.
Our programs put incarcerated leadership into practice. We reclaim prison spaces with murals that restore dignity, run intensive leadership trainings that prepare incarcerated people to guide reform, and host monthly gaming events that bring more than 150 people together across divides. Each project is a live experiment in building a justice system that works better for everyone.
We’ve been featured in CalMatters, the front page of the LA Times, and are backed by CDCR. But our biggest achievement? Building a movement where incarcerated people lead—and the world listens.
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Join the incarcerated-led innovation lab partnering with the Governor’s Office, eL Seed, FaithXLVII, and other visionaries to design the visual language of justice reform.
San Quentin SkunkWorks is redefining how reform happens — bringing world-class designers, artists, and technologists together inside prison walls to co-create the future of justice.
Our work has been featured on the front page of the LA Times and profiled by CalMatters as a model for system-wide transformation. Supported by leading foundations and civic partners, we’re proving that incarcerated creators aren’t the subjects of reform — they’re the architects of it.
This isn’t a support role. It’s an opportunity to build the brand system behind one of the most important cultural redesigns in the country.
The Project
We're building the visual identity of San Quentin SkunkWorks — the country's first incarcerated-led innovation lab — from the ground up.
That means a full website redesign, press kits and campaign assets for a national media rollout led by Natalia Wodecki (formerly Director of Communications at Salesforce and Zscaler), and fundraising materials for Chiaroscuro Light Within the Shadows, our mural initiative featuring international artists eL Seed, FaithXLVII, and Keya Tama.
Your work will connect all of it — building a brand system that unifies our digital presence, campaign storytelling, and national partnerships into one coherent visual language.
Your Role

• You'll join a creative team of current and former designers and strategists from Google, Apple, Netflix, TikTok, Tinder, and Crunchyroll — working alongside incarcerated artists and writers to define the next chapter of the SkunkWorks brand.
• Design press kits, social assets, and brand systems for a national storytelling campaign.
• Create fundraising decks and visual collateral for Chiaroscuro and other flagship programs.
• Collaborate directly with incarcerated artists and outside partners to maintain creative integrity.
• Ensure brand coherence and scalability across every touchpoint — digital and print.
  

What You Bring

• Talkent 5+ years in brand or visual design (or equivalent portfolio).
• Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and related tools.
• A track record building cohesive brand systems across web, print, and campaign work.
• A refined eye for composition, narrative flow, and design clarity.
• Comfort working with cross-boundary teams that include incarcerated creators and outside professionals.
• Bonus art direction, interactive/motion design, or social-impact branding experience.
  

The Impact
Your work will appear in national media, shape how philanthropic partners engage with our mission, and influence how policymakers and the public understand incarcerated leadership. This isn't a side project — it's portfolio-level work with real reach.