Senior Concept Artist

About WarForge Studio

Established in 2025, WarForge Studio is an emerging game development startup focused on creating premium interactive entertainment for a worldwide audience. Our premier project is a 4X strategy game featuring a unique top-down/isometric perspective and a stylized fantasy visual style, initially launching in the Middle East with plans for global expansion. We combine local talent and international expertise, building our internal processes along the way—where you'll play a key role.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Senior Concept Artist to shape the visual identity of our flagship 4X strategy title. This position involves designing the factions, units, and environments players will interact with. The successful candidate will translate top-down visual concepts into comprehensive, production-ready assets covering characters, creatures, settings, and props that guide our 3D team.

This role extends beyond illustration; it requires close collaboration with the Art Director on visual research and development, setting stylistic standards, and overseeing the 2D-to-3D handoff with considerable independence.

Key Responsibilities

• Create concept designs for characters, creatures, environments, and props using a stylized-realism approach, progressing from initial exploration through finalized concept sheets.
• Ensure all designs remain visually clear and impactful when viewed from the top-down or isometric perspectives, emphasizing strong planar shapes and unmistakable silhouettes.
• Transform written briefs and visual cues into engaging, feasible designs that support the game's narrative and mechanics.
• Establish mood, color schemes, and lighting to convey the emotional essence of characters and locations.
• Provide detailed turnarounds, annotations, color variations, and material breakdowns enabling the 3D and level design teams to implement assets accurately without ambiguity.
• Design assets mindful of real-time performance, animation, and rigging constraints, balancing aesthetics with technical considerations.
• Contribute to defining and documenting the concept art pipeline and visual language as the studio grows.
• Maintain high-quality standards by setting visual benchmarks, engaging in constructive critiques, and fostering creative excellence.

Candidate Requirements

• Minimum of six years in professional concept art roles, with experience on at least one released game or production project.
• Demonstrated versatility with a portfolio showcasing characters and environment designs.
• Expertise in form, color, and lighting to convincingly present designs in 2D prior to 3D translation.
• Proven capability to produce production-ready materials, including clean orthographic views, detailed callouts, and comprehensive handoff sheets.
• Ability to independently manage the design process from brief inception to final deliverable with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication skills to effectively justify design choices and thrive in fast-paced iterative development cycles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous work designing for top-down or isometric camera perspectives.
• Proficiency with tools such as ZBrush, Blender, or integration of photobashing and 3D-assisted paintover workflows.
• Experience across creature design, hard-surface modeling (armor, weaponry), prop creation, or key art development.
• Background in mentoring artists or contributing to overall art direction.

Additional Notes

This is a senior role demanding mastery and immediate contribution; not suited for junior or mid-level applicants. It is primarily focused on production concept design supporting 3D and level creation, not purely illustration or key art. You will actively help develop and refine our creative processes.

Portfolio Submission Guidelines

• Include a portfolio or reel displaying concept designs with orthographic views and annotation sheets, not only finished illustrations.
• Showcase examples evidencing successful production handoff such as orthographic layouts, material notes, or models successfully translated into 3D or game levels.
• Stylized or stylized-realism work is highly favored.
• Designs made for top-down or isometric viewpoints constitute a strong advantage.

Note: While we prefer a strong generalist, applicants specializing in character or environment concept art are encouraged to apply and specify their focus.