At ArenaNet, we’ve always believed that games are art. They have the power to communicate ideas and tell stories. They can change the way we think, reflect our cultures, and move us. As the developer of the award-winning Guild Wars game series, we’re proud to share our passion for the online worlds we’ve created with over 11 million players worldwide.
ArenaNet develops and publishes games for every kind of person, which means our games need to be built by every kind of person. We believe the best experiences come from working together, celebrating differences, and helping each of our team members shine.
As the Concept Art Lead, you will work closely with our Art Director to translate and deliver high-quality direction to the concept team. You will manage the day-to-day operations of the Concept Art Team, including assigning tasks, providing feedback, and one-on-one meetings. You will collaborate with the AD and Design team to clarify the vision for art assets for both internal teams and external outsourcing studios. Additionally, you will work with the Art Manager to assist in the career growth of the team and to establish and improve processes as needed.
The ideal candidate should possess a very high level of ability in both illustration and concepting assets and be able to achieve the painterly, illustrative style that ArenaNet is known for. You should champion your discipline and thrive in a highly collaborative environment where all opinions matter. As the Concept Art Lead, you should be comfortable both providing and seeking feedback from your peers, mentoring, and inspiring the concept artists on a regular basis. You need to be a fantastic communicator who can work autonomously at a high level when needed. The right candidate will also be a great team player.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
- Generate high-quality concept art, including character designs, environments, props, and key art, that align with the game's vision and storytelling.
- Develop and maintain efficient workflows and processes for the concept art team, ensuring timely delivery of assets and adherence to project schedules.
- Work closely with other departments to ensure the seamless integration of concept art into the final game assets.
- Create and maintain style guides and other documentation to ensure a consistent visual direction throughout the project.
- Lead and mentor a team of concept artists, providing direction, feedback, and support to ensure the highest standards of artistic quality and productivity.
- Stay current with industry trends and techniques, and continually push the boundaries of creativity and innovation within the concept art discipline.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL
- Bachelor’s degree in Art or related field or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
- 8 years of experience working in game development pipelines.
- Previous experience in a Lead role
- Proficiency in creating high-quality concept art that conveys the vision and mood of the game.
- Advanced understanding of anatomy, visual design, light, and color.
- Experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and other digital painting tools.
- Familiarity with game engines to understand how concept art translates into the game environment.
- Self-directed, requires little to no guidance beyond art direction and general game direction.
NICE TO HAVE
- Understanding of current 3D software such as, Blender, 3D Coat, Zbrush, UE5
- Demonstrate a wide range of styles and techniques in the field of concept art.
- Understands video game concepts and can visualize game play mechanics.
Please note that priority will be given to local candidates or those open to relocating and working onsite in a hybrid capacity at our Bellevue, WA studio.
Please note that the pay range listed in this job posting reflects the full salary range for this position. While we provide this range to offer transparency, our target hiring range typically falls between the minimum and the midpoint, allowing for growth potential within the role.
Total compensation is salary plus an annual bonus potential. When determining an offer amount, many things are taken into consideration such as qualifications, experience, internal equity and work location. We strive to provide competitive and equitable compensation packages to all our employees.
This role is also eligible for medical, dental, vision and life insurance, short and long term disability, 401(k), flexible and dependent care spending accounts, PTO, paid holidays and parental leave.
Don’t meet every single requirement on this job post? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At ArenaNet, we believe diversity in culture, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and backgrounds make us a better team – we celebrate it. So, if you’re excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
