Lead Artist

Description

Lead Artist - Microsoft Solitaire Collection

We are looking for an experienced, driven, and highly skilled Lead Artist to join our veteran team working on the most played computer game of all time, Microsoft Solitaire Collection! Solitaire has been part of Windows for more than 25 years - our team is committed to its legacy and continuing to expand the experience at the highest quality across multiple platforms, utilizing our own leading edge technology. As a key member of the core leadership group, you will be working directly with the IP holder in creating features and rewarding experiences for our massive 100 million user base worldwide. Reporting to the Studio Art Director, as the Lead Artist you will be directing the Solitaire art team, planning and executing on content releases with the leads group, and problem-solving creative and implementation challenges throughout the development.

As our ideal candidate, you have shipped multiple titles in an Art Lead role within the games industry or in relevant interactive field. You have hands-on experience in creating final quality concepts as well as integrating game-ready art assets into the game engine, preferably with focus on UI. You have a background in graphic design, strong illustration skills, and animation/motion graphics proficiency.


RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the game’s visual style and contribute to the development and evolution of the brand
• Direct and manage the creation of all UI, art, and animation content and the quality of its implementation in the game
• Create high fidelity art and animation concepts for client-facing presentations and to facilitate game design documentation 
• Analyze, adapt, and integrate high and low-level feedback from the Client and/or other departments to achieve what is best for the product
• Partner with the Producer and leads in development and maintenance of realistic art scope plans and schedule
• Take initiative and facilitate communication between disciplines during implementation of features
• Document and propagate procedures, best-practices and style guides for the art team
• Produce game-ready UI art and animation assets within technical and memory specifications for target platforms
• Provide input and feedback on tools and pipelines
• Proactively problem solve to meet the highest level of presentation polish and user experience

QUALIFICATIONS

• 6+ years of experience within the games industry or in relevant interactive field
• Multiple shipped titles as an Art Lead
• Bachelor's degree in Interactive Design, Graphic Design, or a related field, or equivalent work experience
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, proficiency in other Adobe Creative Suite software
• Hands-on experience building UI using Adobe Animate (Flash) or equivalent GUI editor and pipeline
• Demonstrated high degree of ownership and willingness to iterate on work until it shines
• Ability to mentor and motivate others and establish trust among team members and peers
• Excellent leadership, verbal and written communication skills
• Sense of humor, passion for your work, and desire to grow yourself and those around you

ABOUT SGI

Smoking Gun Interactive (SGI) is a dynamic and innovative game development studio lead by industry veterans located in the heart of downtown Vancouver. We work with incredible companies and brands such as Microsoft and NASA to create compelling games, ranging from amazing original IP to the most played game on the planet (!!!), utilizing our own leading edge technology.

http://www.smokingguninc.com/careers/

PLEASE NOTE: we do not require agency assistance at this time - unsolicited resumes will not be accepted.