Are you an experienced Art Director looking for an exciting challenge, to work on a new project using the latest technologies? We are looking for an inspiring Art Director to lead our art team on a new multi-platform, open world survival game that leverage’s our legendary RuneScape IP in new and creative ways. You will join an exceptional, high performing team, with expertise in the latest technologies, including Unreal Engine 5. As our next Art Director you will direct the inception and realization of amazing worlds and characters, owning the vision, style and quality. We’re looking for you to apply your passion for creating unforgettable online games and drive technology development to help us fulfill our vision for a deep, community-driven, connected, multi-platform Open World Survival Craft experience, set in the RuneScape universe. You will be accountable for defining, setting and maintaining a coherent art vision for the project that supports both product and creative direction. You’ll be working closely with our product, production, design and engineering teams to steer and develop your vision while providing direct leadership and guidance to your art team. The team will look to you as an inspirational leader who provides motivation, mentoring and coaching as well as advocating team creativity and best practices throughout all art disciplines including health and well-being. You will also contribute towards studio wide topics, decisions and directives that will move the studio’s creative department forward and continue to establish Jagex as a studio of exceptional talent What you'll be doing...
- Develop and establish an art vision that enhances and supports the creative direction, game design, product and marketing strategy
- Accountable for the quality of all art output on project
- Produce easily digestible Art Direction visuals, pitches, guides and documentation to align team understanding and direction
- Line management of Associate Art Director, Leads and/or other art team members as applicable
- Concisely and clearly communicate upward to EP, Senior Directors, VP’s and Exec
- Advocate for best practices and pipelines in all art disciplines including outsourcing
- Work with production to effectively plan art team delivery and highlight strategic risks
- Create team growth plans and collaborate with HR and talent acquisition to deliver
- Develop team members through mentoring, training and personal development plans
- Inspire, motivate, and unleash potential in individuals and team to deliver beyond their expectation
- Establish high performing teams with craft excellence
- Keep informed of the latest advancements of technology and techniques specific to art.
- Contribute toward studio initiatives, is a team and studio ambassador personifying the company values.
- Part of studio creative leadership shaping the strategy of the art discipline within Jagex
What we're looking for...
- A portfolio demonstrating Art Direction capability (Style/ Production guides, paint-overs, etc)
- Extensive end to end game development experience from concept, production through to live game on PC or Console to AAA standard
- Able to communicate and propagate an artistic vision to teams, stakeholders and externally as required
- Competent with strategies in growing, developing and managing multidisciplinary art and animation teams on a live product
- Comfortable documenting and presenting current industry best practices to art and animation teams, critiquing problematic assets and workflows
- Practical mentoring capability in two of the following areas: environment art, character art, concept art, technical art, UI, VFX or animation
- Working knowledge of modern game development workflows across all major artistic disciplines
- Able to show a solid understanding of art fundamentals; anatomy, composition, lighting/ value, form/ function and perspective
- Strong leadership skills with an inspirational lead by example approach that unleashes potential in others
- Ability to bring a competitive edge to the studio through Art Direction
Company Overview:
A leader in creating deep and engaging experiences on PC and mobile, Jagex was founded in 2001 and is today one of the UK’s biggest and most respected video game developers and publishers.
Famed for its flagship MMOs RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, Jagex has welcomed more than 260million player accounts to its world and created a $1bn lifetime franchise revenue. Today the RuneScape franchise exists beyond running games in live operations; our titles are living games that connect and inspire millions of players, with content and experiences both inside and outside of inexhaustible game worlds.
Both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, on PC and mobile, offer ever-evolving, highly-active worlds and our community-focussed development ethos empowers players to have a real say in how each game is shaped.
Jagex is expanding and extending its portfolio with fresh franchise titles, new IP and, in 2018 launched Jagex Partners, delivering third-party publishing and operational services exclusively for the living games of the future.
Jagex employs more than 400 people at its Cambridge headquarters and is on the hunt for talented people to work across the business to help the company to achieve yet another year of record growth and player satisfaction.
Company Benefits:
- Flexible Working- Bonus Scheme- Private Health Care - Gym Membership- Monthly Energy Allowance- Generous Pension Contributions- Life Insurance- Free Cycle Repair- Income Protection- Dental Plan- Free Fruit and Drinks- Subsidised Canteen
Feel like you fit this role, but don’t meet all the requirements? We strive for fresh perspectives, so as long as you can demonstrate how your attitude and other abilities might make up for any gaps we would welcome your application! Jagex are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.