Art Director

1 Year ago • All levels • Art • $90,000 PA - $120,000 PA

Job Summary

Job Description

ICON Creative Studio, Canada's largest independently owned animation entertainment company located in Vancouver, BC, is seeking an Art Director. This role is responsible for shaping the visual narrative of animation projects, providing creative leadership, and overseeing a design team. The Art Director will collaborate with various departments to ensure a cohesive visual narrative, define artistic vision, and develop design strategies. They will mentor designers, foster a positive work environment, and ensure high standards of quality and consistency. The position requires staying updated on industry trends and technologies, and effectively communicating visual ideas. The company offers collaboration on top-tier CG franchises, a diverse team, access to the latest tools, flexibility, and growth opportunities.
Must have:
  • Creative direction and leadership for design team
  • Collaboration with other departments
  • Define artistic vision with producers
  • Lead and mentor designers
  • Develop visual through concept art
  • Oversee character and background art
  • Maintain high quality and consistency
  • Expert-level understanding of art fundamentals
  • Excellent problem-solving skills
  • Comfortable with public speaking
  • Excellent leadership skills
  • Fluent in Photoshop
  • Work through the pipeline
Good to have:
  • Rudimentary understanding of Maya, Nuke, Premiere
  • Understanding of effects and surfacing software
Perks:
  • Collaborate on top-tier feature and episodic CG franchises
  • Be part of a diverse team
  • Work with the latest tools and software
  • Premium standard of quality
  • Flexibility, autonomy, and supportive culture
  • Direct deposit and generous benefits package
  • Continuous learning opportunities and mentorship

Job Details

Company Overview


     ICON Creative Studio is Canada’s largest independently owned animation entertainment company, located in the historic Gastown district of Vancouver, BC. Our talented team includes specialists across the entire animation pipeline, working alongside creative and management professionals to deliver outstanding animated content.

Known for our commitment to quality, efficiency, and timely deliveries, ICON has partnered with distributors, broadcasters, and leading streaming platforms worldwide to create and produce noteworthy, impactful projects.

We operate from a holistic philosophy, leveraging the unique skill sets of our team members to maximize production efficiency while maintaining an optimal balance of creativity and quality on-screen.


Why work at ICON?

  • Collaborate on top-tier feature and episodic CG franchises for major streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon, Peacock, and Paramount+.
  • Be part of a diverse team of artists from around the globe who have joined us here in British Columbia.
  • Work with the latest tools and software, ensuring you're always equipped to do your best work.
  • Be part of a studio that upholds a premium standard of quality across all productions, putting every resource into what’s on-screen.
  • Enjoy flexibility, autonomy, and a supportive workplace culture.
  • Access direct deposit and a generous benefits package.
  • Grow with us through continuous learning opportunities, mentorship, and empowering you to achieve your professional goals.



Job Overview


As the Art Director, you'll be at the forefront of shaping the visual narrative for our exciting animation projects. Your role involves providing creative leadership, strategic planning, and overseeing a talented design team to bring our stories to life.


Key Responsibilities:


  • Provide creative direction and leadership to the design team, ensuring the visual style aligns with the overall project goals.
  • Collaborate with other departments, such as storyboarding, animation, and production, to ensure a cohesive and unified visual narrative.
  • Work closely with producers and project managers to define the artistic vision for each animation project.
  • Develop and communicate design strategies that align with project timelines and budget constraints.
  • Lead and mentor a team of talented designers, providing guidance, feedback, and support.
  • Foster a collaborative and positive work environment that encourages creativity and innovation.
  • Develop and communicate the artistic vision through concept art, storyboards, and other visual aids.
  • Oversee the creation of character designs, background art, and visual elements that enhance the overall storytelling.
  • Maintain a high standard of quality and consistency in all visual elements, ensuring they meet or exceed industry benchmarks.
  • Conduct regular reviews of design work to provide constructive feedback and ensure alignment with project goals.
  • Keep abreast of the latest trends and technologies in animation and design to ensure the studio remains at the forefront of innovation.
  • Integrate new techniques and styles into projects when appropriate.
  • Ability to work closely with and communicate effectively with artists from every department in the studio to ensure all visual guidelines are executed correctly.
  • Works proactively with production to produce high-quality results within the appropriate budget and time frame.
  • Ability to mentor artists from various disciplines to help foster the overall artistic growth of the studio.
  • Work effectively to solve design problems in a hands-on capacity.
  • Works effectively and in a flexible manner with time constraints to accommodate important project deliveries and is accountable for the overall quality of the final product.
  • Be a leader in dailies sessions and communicate your visual clearly and concisely


Skills and Experience:


  • Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Animation, or a related field.
  • Proven experience as an Art Director in the animation industry.
  • Possess an expert-level understanding of art fundamentals.
  • Must have excellent problem-solving skills.
  • Must be comfortable with public speaking.
  • Excellent leadership skills.
  • Ability to manage a demanding and complex daily schedule.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and politely with clients.
  • Adaptable to quick changes and limitations.
  • Must be fluent in Photoshop and have a rudimentary understanding of Maya, Nuke, Premiere, and various Effects and Surfacing software platforms.
  • Ability to work all the way through the pipeline from initial sketches to our final color deliveries.
  • Have a clear understanding of our pipeline and production schedule and work within those parameters.



--

The wage range for this role reflects compensation across all of ICON’s projects. The final salary will be determined based on the specific position, the current show assignment, and the applicant’s experience and portfolio. This range accounts for varying levels of experience and responsibilities.

In compliance with British Columbia provincial mandates, we are posting this broad wage range to meet wage transparency requirements.

--

ICON Creative Studio is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

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About The Company

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (On-Site)

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