2D Art Jobs within Games Development
Concept Artist – A concept artist is responsible for the look and style of a game. They will be the first person to start drawing the Environments, Player Characters and also the Enemies. This is done by following the brief they are given from the producer, their sketches are used to help the 3D artists, programmers, producers and will also educate the publishers as to how the game will look.
Texturing Artist – The texturing artist has to make 3D models look believable by applying textures onto the object’s surface. They then also include an extra dimension which is used for more detail – rust to oil cans, rips to fabric, scuffs to trainers and reflection to windows. They also have to make the surfaces look as realistic as possible so that the player forgets that they are playing in a computer-generated world. They may choose to do this by using hand painting, photos, digital and 3D art to create a unique texture. They also have to use shaders, mapping, materials and also show an understanding as to how these will interact and respond.
3D Modelling Artist – The 3D modelling artist will create all the 3D art assets for the game characters, weapons, vehicles, furniture, trees, rocks, etc. They will then base their model off of a brief or off a 2D artist or concept artist and then they will build the 3D model. Sometimes the 3D artist may choose to specialize on a certain area and this will also depend on the game studio or the game project requirements. If they specialize then they can be called environment artists, character artists or vehicle artists.
UX & UI Interface Designer – These are 2 different roles but are linked closely together because their job is to help the user out. The UX designer have to make sure that the game is nice and easy to use, and to ensure that the players get clear and effective feedback from the game rather than bad feedback which could cause the player to then get frustrated. The UI designers are concerned with the user interface, this is where the game and the players interact. They create the look and feel of things like the heads-up display (HUD) showing scores, lives and levels. They also make sure that the menus and commands are clear. In larger studios these two roles are done by different people however in a smaller studio they will get made into one role done by one person. Finally the UX designer tends to work on the information the player needs whereas the UI designer will work on how that information gets communicated to the player.
VFX Artist – These artists add the wham, bam, crash and wallop to games. They will create anything that moves that isn’t a character or an object. They can create water, dust, superpowers and explosions. VFX artists use digital art software, alongside traditional art insights to create realistic effects that are stunning, like a tornado, or subtle, like slow moving clouds.
Environment Artist – Environment artists make awesome places in which games can be played. They can create fantasy landscapes – spooky dungeons and moody wastelands – and real-world places like offices and playgrounds too. They often start with 2D artcreated by a concept artist and turn it into a believable environment in 3D. Sometimes they use photographs, sometimes their own imagination. Environment artists carefully consider the level designers’ gameplay requirements. They find out what’s mission-critical and ensure those elements are included.
Job Adverts
The first job that I found was for a Lead Artist at Sega Europe Limited located in Horsham.
The roles for this job include:
Working closely with the Game Director, as Art Lead you will take forward the visual creation of a rich new game experience. You will be responsible for leading, mentoring and developing the art team to create high-quality engaging, optimised visuals and player experiences.
You will take elements from concept to in-game prototype, through to final implemented efficient content. In this position, you will be working closely with game designers, programmers, artists and leadership group to achieve the projects goals.
The Skills and Knowledge/Qualifications that are essential for this job are:
- Exceptional and demonstratable artistic ability
- Broad and deep art knowledge (art history, product design, 2D, 3D, traditional and digital)
- Interest in all things visual – animation, vfx, graphic design, film, UX
- Proven experience of leading and developing artists
- Ability to communicate effectively and openly
- Understanding of contemporary workflows and processes
- Two or more published console or mobile titles
- Passion for making games
As well as these essential skills they also have a list of desirable skills which aren’t needed but will make for a stronger chance and these are:
- Formal art education/qualification, with a foundation in traditional and digital art creation.
- Deep knowledge of 3DS Max/Maya/Photoshop/Zbrush
- Good level of demonstrable Unity experience
- Experience working on art creation and implementation: mobile, puzzle, CCG, virtual board game or similar titles
- Avid player of mobile games and games in general
- Interest in History
The second job that I found was for a Trainee Environment Artist at Creative Assembly which is based in Horsham.
https://www.artstation.com/jobs/emg3
The main roles for this job include:
As a Trainee Environment Artist, you will be involved in many aspects of environment design, from creating in-game models to white boxing and polish levels and everything in between. You will work closely with your mentor, learning to work within set time constraints and hit the quality benchmark. You will take onboard and implement feedback as appropriate.
The Skills and Knowledge/Qualifications that are essential for this job are:
- A creative portfolio showing real-time 3d game assets and environments
- Working knowledge of Max, Maya or similar
- Working knowledge of Zbrush and photoshop
- Positive, can-do attitude
Along with these essential skills there is a small list of desirable skills which aren’t needed but would be very handy to have and these are:
- Proficiency with Substance Painter
- Understanding of the interplay between game mechanics and game environments
Below is a link to my Personal Development Plan, this will be used to help me progress and improve the skills which I feel are necessary for me to advance in the games industry.
Stewarts' Games Development Blog 