Senior Character Concept Artist at Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, California, United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Video GamesIndustries

Requirements

Strong design skills with the ability to render realistic believable creatures, characters, mechanical characters and prop concepts using modern industry standard tools and techniques
Actively improve your skills and maintain an awareness of industry techniques, tools, evaluate competitive products, learning new software packages and traditional art methods
At least 6 – 8 years of experience as a concept artist, working on at least one AAA title
Great capacity to receive art direction and perform well within a team setting – collaboration is a fundamental building block of our team
Very strong portfolio showing high quality concepts that demonstrate compelling design, composition and storytelling
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Strong organizational and project management skills
Keen eye and strong foundational art skills to include form, lighting, colors, and composition
Extensive knowledge of the latest game development tools, techniques, and workflows and ability to share this with the team

Responsibilities

Collaborates with Art Director and Game Director to create characters, props, visual effects, production callouts, high vision concept art and other visual guides and tasks as needed
Create pivotal content and mood boards and quick iterative sketches and mood board briefings to inspire exciting theme directions for the Game Directors
Work with Design, Character 3D art, Animation and Rigging departments to discuss production needs, technical logistics and build artistic solutions
Collaborate with 3D Artists by providing extensive paint-overs and call-out sheets
Work with outsourcing to provide feedback on the concepts and 3D models
Help mentor other concept artists and animators and collaborate to bring their vision to life
Sets “quality targets” for new or existing properties
Drives innovation of new artist pipelines, or new standards to improve artist productivity
Manage Miro board and network folder to keep tabs on the latest concepts and help streamline the production
Strengthen intra and inter-team communication to ensure the highest fidelity results
Provides detailed and relevant feedback across a variety of creative materials
Other creative duties as assigned

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Concept ArtCharacter DesignCreature DesignDigital PaintingMood BoardsSketchingPhotoshopVisual DevelopmentProps DesignVisual Effects Concepts

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What are the main responsibilities of the Senior Character Concept Artist?

You will collaborate with Art Director and Game Director to create characters, props, visual effects, and concept art; work with various departments like Design, Character 3D art, Animation, and Rigging; provide paint-overs, mentor other artists, manage production tools like Miro boards, and drive innovation in artist pipelines.

Is this a remote position or does it require working in an office?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the salary or compensation for this role?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What is the company culture like at Naughty Dog?

Naughty Dog values innovation, diverse candidates with broad cultural and life experiences, collaboration across teams, and curating top creative and technically innovative minds to craft evocative, character-driven stories with attention to detail.

What makes a strong candidate for this Senior Character Concept Artist role?

Strong candidates will have extensive experience in concept art for characters and creatures, ability to collaborate across departments, mentor juniors, drive innovation in pipelines, and possess knowledge of latest game development tools and workflows.

Naughty Dog

Develops story-driven video games for PlayStation

About Naughty Dog

Naughty Dog develops video games, focusing on creating high-quality, story-driven experiences for players. Their games, such as Crash Bandicoot, Uncharted, and The Last of Us, are designed to engage players emotionally and are exclusive to PlayStation platforms. This exclusivity helps boost PlayStation console sales and builds a loyal fan base. Naughty Dog generates revenue primarily through game sales, downloadable content, and partnerships, including adaptations like the HBO series for The Last of Us. The company stands out from competitors by consistently delivering award-winning titles that emphasize character-driven storytelling and advanced technology, aiming to provide memorable gaming experiences.

Santa Monica, CaliforniaHeadquarters

1984Year Founded

ACQUISITIONCompany Stage

Entertainment, GamingIndustries

501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Wellness Program

Remote Work Options

Hybrid Work Options

Risks

High development costs for AAA games could strain Naughty Dog's financial resources.

'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet' may not meet high expectations from fans.

Increased competition from major studios could overshadow Naughty Dog's new releases.

Differentiation

Naughty Dog is renowned for its emotionally engaging, story-driven video games.

The studio's exclusivity to PlayStation platforms enhances its brand loyalty and market position.

Naughty Dog's collaboration with HBO for 'The Last of Us' series expands its media presence.

Upsides

The new IP 'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet' could attract sci-fi gaming enthusiasts.

PC remaster of 'The Last of Us Part 2' taps into the growing PC gaming market.

Hiring Raf Grassetti may enhance visual storytelling and artistic quality in future projects.

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