At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the artistic vision for exciting new mobile games from concept to launch.
- Company: Join King, a leader in creating next-gen mobile games with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative freedom, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Bring your creativity to a dynamic environment focused on innovation and excellence.
- Why this job: Shape the future of mobile gaming and inspire teams to create amazing player experiences.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in art direction and leading creative teams in game development.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Craft
Art
We’re looking for 2 experienced Art Directors to lead the visual direction for our ambitious new mobile games.
You will join New Games and play a central role in shaping, developing and launching new titles.
This is a high‑impact leadership role where you will define artistic vision, grow high‑performing teams and partner with cross‑functional leaders to create games players will love.
New Games is focused on creating the next generation of mobile games at King, working across both new IP and existing game IP.
Your Role Within the Kingdom
As Art Director, you will lead the artistic vision for a game from concept through to launch, ensuring the visual experience is distinctive, high quality and aligned to player expectations.
You will combine strategic leadership with hands‑on creative direction to support gameplay, player experience and product goals.
You will
- Define, evolve and execute a clear art vision for a mobile game, translating creative ambition into direction for teams and stakeholders.
- Lead and develop multidisciplinary art teams, coaching senior artists and leaders while supporting growth and performance.
- Partner closely with producers, game designers, developers, business performance, player insights and marketing to align art direction with game strategy and player needs.
- Guide the creation of gameplay assets, characters, environments, animation, mood boards, style guides and brand guidelines from concept to in‑game implementation.
- Shape team ways of working and creative processes that support excellence at both game and studio level.
- Work across new IP, existing IP and external partnerships, bringing a strong understanding of technical constraints and content implementation.
Skills to Create Thrills
Experience
- Significant experience leading art direction across shipped games, ideally through a full development cycle from concept to launch.
- Proven people leadership experience, including leading multi‑function art teams and developing other leaders.
- Strong experience partnering with senior cross‑functional stakeholders to align creative vision, production needs and business goals.
- Knowledge & Skills
- Excellent visual communication skills, with the ability to create, communicate and drive a strong artistic vision.
- Deep knowledge of game art production across characters, environments, animation, style development and in‑game implementation.
- Strong strategic and operational leadership skills, with the ability to turn broad goals into clear plans, priorities and creative standards.
- Key Attributes
- A strategic leader who can guide teams through complex creative decisions and influence senior stakeholders.
- A collaborative partner who builds strong relationships across disciplines and works effectively toward shared goals.
- A supportive coach and mentor who develops talent and helps teams do their best work.
- Nice to Have
- Understanding of AI tooling for prototyping and production.
- Interest in visual and interaction design.
- Skills in Maya or similar 3D software.
- Experience working with a range of development methodologies.
- Previous experience creating casual and/or mobile games.
Please include an online portfolio, case studies or other examples of relevant work and leadership where possible.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Art Director | New Games in London employer: King
At King, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work culture that fosters creativity and innovation. Our hybrid working model allows you to balance your professional and personal life while contributing to the success of beloved games like Candy Crush Soda Saga. With ample opportunities for professional growth and development, you'll be part of a team that values your input and encourages you to drive engagement through cutting-edge monetisation strategies.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Art Director | New Games in London
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at King for a Art Director | New Games, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like King before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Art Director | New Games in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Art Director | New Games at King, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work King does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to King. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at King.
How to prepare for a job interview at King
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with King, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. King might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at King!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what King is looking for.
