Art Director (On-Site)

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.