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- Tasks: Lead and create stunning sci-fi visuals for a top-down strategy game.
- Company: Join an early-stage studio with a passion for indie game development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work flexibility, and creative influence.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make your mark in a hands-on role with real creative impact.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading art projects and creating high-quality assets.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 70000 £ per year.
An early-stage studio is building a top-down strategy/RTS-adjacent game with two complementary layers: a hard-surface, industrial UI/management layer and large-scale planetary environments viewed from a satellite/top-down perspective. The visual tone is realistic, gritty sci-fi with a slight 1970s retro/dystopian sensibility. You’ll join a small growing studio and be the first hire for the Art Team as a hands-on Art Director.
Key responsibilities:
- Define and own the visual language across environments, vehicles, props, and UI, ensuring strong top-down readability at medium/far camera distances.
- Lead, hire and mentor a small internal art team; have full input on all art hires.
- Be hands on, produce concept and production assets alongside your team, ensuring a consistently high quality.
- Create practical pipelines and workflows for modular asset assembly, procedural or generated content, and rapid iteration.
- Collaborate with design and engineering to translate gameplay systems into clear visual systems and prioritize deliverables for prototypes and production.
Must-have:
- Senior lead with proven experience shipping or leading early stage projects from prototyping through to production.
- Portfolio demonstrating hard-surface sci-fi environments, props, and assets optimized for medium/far/top-down views.
- Hands-on skills in modelling/texturing/asset assembly; able to deliver production-ready art quickly.
- Strong leadership, hiring, communication and prioritisation skills for fast-moving small teams.
Nice-to-have:
- RTS/strategy or similar game experience.
- Unity engine familiarity and common DCC toolchain experience.
We plan to deliver the main project in about 18 months and need someone who can commit for that period. You'll be joining a small early-stage team so it’s hands-on, fast paced and you’ll have real creative influence including hiring input. The role is remote-first with occasional in-person meetups, we prefer UK/Europe for timezone alignment but will consider exceptional candidates elsewhere. We’re looking for people who love indie/early-stage development and want to ship quickly.
Art Director / Senior Creative employer: Datascope Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Datascope Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Art Director / Senior Creative
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, join relevant online communities, and attend virtual events. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially in hard-surface sci-fi environments. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and showcases your hands-on abilities.
✨Tip Number 3
Tailor your approach! When reaching out to studios, mention specific projects or aspects of their work that excite you. This shows genuine interest and can set you apart from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who are passionate about indie development. Your next big opportunity could be just a click away!
We think you need these skills to ace Art Director / Senior Creative
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Portfolio: Make sure to include a link to your portfolio that highlights your best work, especially those gritty sci-fi environments and assets. We want to see your hands-on skills in action, so pick pieces that showcase your ability to create production-ready art quickly.
Tailor Your Application: When applying, don’t just send a generic CV. Tailor your application to reflect how your experience aligns with our needs. Highlight your leadership skills and any relevant projects you've led from prototyping to production, as we’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running.
Be Yourself: We’re a small team, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for indie game development and why you’re excited about this project. We want to know what makes you tick and how you can contribute to our creative vision.
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets seen, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of all applications and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Don’t miss out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Datascope Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure to bring your A-game when it comes to your portfolio. Highlight your best work that aligns with the gritty sci-fi aesthetic they're after. Focus on hard-surface environments and assets that demonstrate your ability to create top-down readability.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a small art team, be prepared to discuss your leadership style. Share examples of how you've mentored others or managed projects in the past. They want to see that you can inspire and guide a team effectively.
✨Understand Their Vision
Do your homework on the studio and their project. Familiarise yourself with their visual tone and gameplay mechanics. Being able to articulate how your vision aligns with theirs will show that you're genuinely interested and invested in the role.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Brush up on your technical skills, especially in modelling, texturing, and asset assembly. Be ready to discuss your experience with Unity and any DCC tools you’ve used. They’ll likely want to know how you can deliver production-ready art quickly, so be specific about your processes.