Founding Visual Development Artist
Set the look of Project GZ (working title): a darker cyberpunk, hard-surface, mature anime world, built to read in a side-on 3D game.
Early pre-production · Design and visual exploration · No playable prototype yet
- Engagement
- Paid freelance or contract
- Work arrangement
- Remote
- Applicant region
- Worldwide
- Commitment
- Part-time OK · milestone-based · Asia-friendly hours
- Rate / range
- Agreed per milestone, according to scope and experience
- Initial engagement
- Start with a short paid test for finalists, then agree the first visual exploration milestone
- Closing date
- Open until filled
THE ROLE
Project GZ (working title) is a team-based artillery game: turn-based physics shooting, real-time reactions outside your turn, and a side-on 3D view. We’re working on the game design and visual direction before building the first playable prototype.
We’re looking for a senior concept artist to help decide what this game looks like, then give a 3D team a clear style to work from. Show us how you explore ideas and why you choose one design over another. You don’t need an Art Director title.
The direction is darker cyberpunk and hard-surface anime, with adult characters, expressive but restrained poses and distinctive silhouettes. Designs need to read clearly from the side, at gameplay scale.
The work is remote, paid and scoped by milestone. Part-time is welcome, and we’re happy to work with artists worldwide, including Asia. Most feedback is async, with a couple of agreed review slots each week around UK mornings. Finalists do a short paid test before we agree the first milestone.
“Founding” means helping set the early visual direction. This is freelance or contract work; we agree the scope and fee before each milestone.
You’ll help define Project GZ’s visual direction. We don’t use generative AI in the game’s art pipeline, and won’t ask you to generate or repaint AI images.
What you will do
- Explore two visual directions for Project GZ and explain which you recommend
- After direction review, develop a compact, usable art bible (around 8-12 pages): form language, proportions, silhouettes, value and colour, faces and hair, hard-surface details, materials, weapons and clear "do not do" rules
- In later agreed milestones, design 2 hero concept packages built for 3D handoff: silhouettes, selected design, turnaround views, palette, materials, weapons, callouts and construction notes
- Make sure silhouette, weapon and facing direction read in side-on camera studies, refining them as the prototype develops
- Plan a small 3D study to test the chosen look, with clear notes for the team building it
- Keep a simple decision log so the style stays consistent as the cast grows
What we are looking for
- A very strong character concept portfolio in mature anime, cyberpunk or hard-surface styles, with distinctive silhouettes and weapon design
- Proven ability to make and explain art-direction decisions, build a repeatable style system and spot inconsistencies
- Experience designing for 3D modelling, rigging and in-game lighting, or working closely with a 3D look-dev partner
- Designs that still read clearly when small on screen
- Clear async communication with a UK-based founder and agreed milestone deadlines
- Freelance availability with commercial-use IP assignment or licensing
Useful, not mandatory
- Shipped 3D games or concept-to-model examples
- Art bibles, lead reviews or style ownership on previous projects
- Familiarity with anime shaders and fighting or action games
- Process work: breakdowns, iterations and discarded options, not only finished illustrations
A NOTE ON FIT
If your portfolio fits the role, apply even if you don’t meet every requirement. Include the work you’re proud of and explain the decisions behind it.
HIRING PROCESS / RESPECT FOR YOUR TIME
First we talk about the role and your portfolio. Finalists do a short paid test with an agreed scope. We then agree the first milestone, fee and review schedule before work starts.