At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the art direction for a gritty sci-fi strategy game and mentor a small team.
- Company: Join an early-stage studio with a passion for indie game development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work, and creative influence in a fast-paced environment.
- Other info: Flexible start date and opportunities for in-person meetups.
- Why this job: Make your mark on an exciting project and shape the visual identity of a new game.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading art teams and delivering high-quality assets.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 80000 € 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.
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 in Dartford employer: Datascope Recruitment
Join a dynamic early-stage studio as an Art Director, where your creative vision will shape the future of a gritty sci-fi strategy game. With a remote-first work culture that values flexibility and collaboration, you'll have the opportunity to lead and mentor a small team while enjoying competitive salary and the chance to make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment. This role offers not only the chance to influence the artistic direction but also to grow alongside a passionate team dedicated to delivering innovative gaming experiences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Art Director in Dartford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, join relevant forums, and engage with communities on social media. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Art Director gig.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it highlights your best work in hard-surface sci-fi environments and top-down views. Tailor it to showcase your hands-on skills and leadership experience, as this is what studios are looking for.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the studio and their projects. Be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to building their art team from the ground up.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who take the initiative. Plus, it gives you a chance to stand out right from the start. Don’t hesitate – get your application in and show us what you’ve got!
We think you need these skills to ace Art Director in Dartford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Make sure to include a strong portfolio that highlights your experience with hard-surface sci-fi environments and assets. We want to see your best work, especially pieces that demonstrate your skills in top-down readability and medium/far camera views.
Tailor Your Application:When applying, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the Art Director role. Highlight your leadership experience and any relevant projects you've led from prototyping to production. We love seeing how you fit into our vision!
Be Hands-On:Since this is a hands-on role, don’t shy away from mentioning your practical skills in modelling, texturing, and asset assembly. We’re looking for someone who can deliver production-ready art quickly, so let us know how you can contribute right away!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Datascope Recruitment
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure to bring your A-game by showcasing a portfolio that highlights your hard-surface sci-fi environments and assets. Focus on pieces that demonstrate your ability to create top-down readable visuals, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since you'll be leading a small art team, be prepared to discuss your leadership style and past experiences. Share examples of how you've mentored others and managed projects, as this will show you can handle the responsibilities of the Art Director role.
✨Understand the Game's Vision
Familiarise yourself with the studio's vision for the game. Be ready to discuss how you would define and own the visual language, and how your artistic choices can enhance gameplay systems. This shows you're not just an artist but a strategic thinker.
✨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 other DCC tools, as well as how you would create practical pipelines for asset production.
