Concept Artist - EA SPORTS FC (12 month contract)

Description & Requirements

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.

EA SPORTS is one of the world's leading sports entertainment brands, known for top-selling video game franchises, award-winning interactive technology, and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected gaming experiences that bring the emotion of sports to life through industry-leading titles, including Madden NFL, EA SPORTS FC, NHL, NBA LIVE, and UFC.

Concept art is the foundation of a game’s visual identity. It establishes the look, feel, and tone of a project, serving as a key reference for everyone involved in development. The Concept Artist’s role is to translate ideas into compelling visuals that drive the artistic vision forward. At EA SPORTS FC, Concept Artists play an important role in shaping the game's visual target. Their work serves as the visual building blocks for environments, characters, lighting, and props. Collaborating closely with the Art Team, they help visually interpret creative briefs, explore original ideas, and create artwork that determines the final style and mood of the project.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Development Directors on task management, scheduling, and assignments; collaborate with Art Directors to achieve visual targets; and provide support to the Character Art team throughout production cycles.
• Collaborate with the Concept Art Lead to gather references and create mood boards for a diverse range of garments, shoes, and accessories across various styles and fashion genres.
• Develop and present multiple design roughs for directional approval, incorporate feedback, and produce detailed final garment and outfit concept art within established timelines.
• Assist 3D artists by providing clear, well-structured visual guides that ensure seamless translation into in-game assets.
• Stay informed on industry trends and techniques, continuously bringing fresh ideas and innovations to the team.

Required Qualifications

• A strong passion for fashion is essential, as the primary focus of this position will be to conceptualize a wide range of player clothing items for an in-game vanity system.
• Experience in designing and conceptualizing game characters across all phases, from rough sketches to refined line art and fully rendered illustrations. Proficient in creating Directional Packages, including turnarounds, detailed accessory shots, and material call-outs.
• Ability to accurately reinterpret and render realistic real-world fashion garments, capturing structural details such as hems, seams, pockets, patterns, fit, and folds with precision and clarity.
• Strong understanding of realistic anatomy and human body fundamentals, including core muscle groups, skeletal structure, proportions, weight and mass, figure posing, and costuming.
• Comprehensive knowledge of clothing, fabrics, and materials, including their drape, fold, and interaction with the human body/form.
• Proficiency in accurately rendering various materials, capturing their lighting, weight, and surface properties with precision.
• Skilled in rendering and dynamically posing figures in motion, action, and dramatic scenes with accuracy and expressiveness.
• Versatile in designing and conceptualizing both realistic and stylized characters and costumes, drawing from both imagination and reference.
• Experience in developing multiple pattern variations through the use of color, texture, and graphics.
• Strong understanding of figure posing, posture, facial expressions, gestures, and movement.
• Strong graphic design and typography skills, with the ability to create logos, tattoos, faux brand names, and other stylized art elements commonly seen on clothing

Nice to Have

• Experience in storyboarding, with a solid understanding of cinematography principles, shot composition, and industry-standard techniques and terminology.
• Ability to read and interpret scripts, collaborate with the cinematic team to understand requirements, and serve as a strong visual partner in storyboard creation.
• Naturally collaborative, with the ability to work closely with Cine, VFX, and other visual directors to define and achieve a specific artistic vision.
• Proficient in creating concept keyframes for animation, VFX, and motion graphics.
• Fundamental understanding of 3D workflows with the ability to integrate 3D greyblocks or models into concept development

Software & Tools Proficiency

• Experience with industry-standard 2D digital painting software (e.g., Photoshop)
• Familiarity with 3D tools such as Blender, Maya, Substance Designer, and Marmoset.