At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the artistic direction for Merge Dragons! and manage a creative team.
- Company: Join Gram Games, a leader in mobile gaming with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, private medical care, company bonuses, and onsite chef.
- Other info: Hybrid work model with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Shape the future of art in gaming while working with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in game art, strong Unity knowledge, and excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Position Overview: We are seeking a visionary Art Director to join our Studio Leadership Team and spearhead the artistic direction of Merge Dragons! In this key role, you will be responsible for defining the strategy and owning the art direction. As an experienced leader, you possess a nuanced understanding of leadership, communication, and production practices. You excel at optimising engagement and quality within your team, all while fostering a collaborative environment rooted in the culture and values of Gram Games. A natural strategic thinker, you have the ability to forecast the future of art creation and translate complex strategies into achievable, high-impact tactical plans. Your expertise will ensure the predictable delivery of art features, technology, and updates, ensuring our creative strategy is always matched by effective and consistent execution. At Gram we embrace a hybrid work environment. Within this role, you would work 2 days per week in our London office and the remaining days at home.
What You'll Do:
- Lead the end-to-end visual direction for Merge Dragons!, from pre-production through to live operations
- Define the art strategy and tactical plans, ensuring the predictable delivery of high-quality assets and technical features
- Manage and mentor the art leadership team, fostering a high-performance culture focused on growth, morale, and Gram Games’ values
- Collaborate with Product, Design, and Tech Art to translate complex systems into intuitive, scalable UI/UX solutions within Unity
- Oversee production pipelines and outsourcing partnerships, ensuring creative goals are met within technical and performance constraints
- Present the art vision and project updates with gravitas to the wider organization and studio leadership
- Evaluate and integrate emerging trends and technologies—including AI tools—to optimize the art pipeline and maintain a competitive edge
What You Bring:
- Proven Leadership: A track record of leading art teams for games, through the full development lifecycle—from early concepting to live operations
- Engine Expertise: Strong working knowledge of Unity pipelines and a clear understanding of how to align artistic vision with technical performance targets
- Cross-Discipline Collaboration: The ability to turn complex game systems into clear, player-centric experiences through close partnership with Engineering and Design
- Artistic Fundamentals: Mastery of colour theory, lighting, and composition, and the ability to apply these fundamentals to influence the game’s overall direction
- Strategic Mindset: "Outside-the-box" thinking regarding new art features and a proactive approach to solving production challenges
- Communication Skills: Experience creating supporting materials (style guides, mood boards, etc.) to clearly articulate art direction to internal and external departments
- Positive Energy: An energetic, "can-do" attitude that inspires peers and fosters a collaborative atmosphere
Bonus Points:
- Experience within the mobile gaming sector
- Proven experience leading UI/UX direction for a shipped title
- A portfolio that demonstrates both high-level UI visual quality and deep UX thinking
- Experience creating and maintaining robust UI design systems
What We Offer You:
- Highly competitive salary
- Private medical care
- Company bonus scheme
- Awesome onsite chef serving breakfast, lunch, and lots of treats (naughty and nice)
- Life insurance and a favorable pension scheme
- Healthcare cash plan including dental and optical coverage
- Amazing tech to work with and consoles to play and relax with everywhere you look!
Equal Opportunity Statement: We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, which means we are committed to creating and celebrating diverse thoughts, cultures, and backgrounds throughout our organization. Employment with us is based on substantive ability, objective qualifications, and work ethic – not an individual’s race, creed, color, religion, sex or gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, status as a victim of domestic violence or sex offenses, reproductive health decision, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.
Art Director London, UK employer: Zynga
At Gram Games, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. Our London office provides a hybrid work environment, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life while enjoying competitive salaries, private medical care, and unique perks like an onsite chef. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we empower our team members to lead with vision and innovation in the dynamic world of mobile gaming.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Art Director London, UK
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the gaming industry, especially those at Gram Games. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about sliding into DMs on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work, especially anything related to UI/UX design. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, use your portfolio as a visual aid to discuss your artistic vision and leadership style.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. At Gram Games, they value collaboration and positivity, so think of examples from your past that showcase these traits. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their creative strategy!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the team. Don’t forget to tailor your application to highlight your experience with Unity and your leadership skills!
We think you need these skills to ace Art Director London, UK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Vision:As an Art Director, we want to see your unique artistic vision. Make sure your application reflects your creative style and how you can lead the artistic direction for Merge Dragons! Don’t hold back on showcasing your portfolio!
Tailor Your Application:We love it when candidates take the time to tailor their applications. Highlight your experience with Unity pipelines and how you've successfully led art teams in the past. This will show us that you understand what we're looking for.
Communicate Clearly:Your communication skills are key! Use your application to demonstrate how you can articulate complex ideas simply. Whether it's through style guides or mood boards, let us see how you can convey your art direction effectively.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you're serious about joining our team at Gram Games!
How to prepare for a job interview at Zynga
✨Showcase Your Vision
As an Art Director, it's crucial to demonstrate your unique artistic vision. Prepare a portfolio that not only highlights your best work but also explains the thought process behind each piece. Be ready to discuss how your vision aligns with the creative direction of Merge Dragons! and how you can elevate the game's art.
✨Master the Technical Side
Familiarise yourself with Unity pipelines and be prepared to discuss how you can bridge the gap between artistic vision and technical performance. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed production pipelines in the past, and be ready to talk about any emerging technologies you've integrated into your workflow.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Highlight your experience in cross-discipline collaboration. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you've worked closely with product, design, and tech art teams to create player-centric experiences. This will show that you understand the importance of teamwork in delivering high-quality assets.
✨Communicate with Gravitas
Since you'll need to present your art vision to the wider organisation, practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently. Prepare supporting materials like style guides or mood boards to illustrate your points. This will help convey your strategic mindset and ability to lead effectively.
