Associate Character Artist

To apply for the Associate Character Artist position at 31st Union, candidates should have a strong portfolio showcasing their artistic skills, proficiency in 3D character creation using tools like Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter, and a thorough understanding of human anatomy. Commercial experience with Unreal Engine 5 is a plus, alongside good communication skills and advanced English language abilities.

As an Associate Character Artist at 31st Union, your main responsibilities will include creating high-quality 3D character models, developing character textures and shaders, and ensuring that models are optimized for gameplay while adhering to the project’s artistic direction. You will work closely with the Lead Artist, animators, and the Art Director to enhance character design and maintain top-notch quality.

As an Associate Character Artist at 31st Union, you’ll primarily work on Project ETHOS, focusing on a free-to-play, third-person rogue-like hero shooter that promises to innovate the gaming genre. Your creative input will shape how characters look and feel, creating rich visual experiences that engage players.

31st Union is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that varied voices enhance our creativity and strengthen our games, so we encourage applicants from all backgrounds to join our team and bring their unique perspectives and experiences.

To succeed as an Associate Character Artist at 31st Union, you should be familiar with software such as Maya or Blender, ZBrush, Substance Painter, Marmoset Toolbag, and Photoshop. A strong understanding of these tools will help you create detailed and functional character models that align with our artistic vision.

In your answer, focus on specific projects where you created character models, discussing the software used and the challenges you faced. Highlight your artistic process, from concept art to final asset approval, and how you worked with other team members during the development.

Discuss how you analyze the character concept, references, and backstory to capture their essence in your design. Mention how you might use facial expressions and body language in your models to convey personality effectively.

Talk about your methods for creating efficient topology and UV layouts, mentioning how you balance detail and performance. Explain your experience with LODs (Level of Detail) and texture baking techniques that help maintain real-time performance.

Share your strategies for continuous learning, such as following industry leaders on social media, participating in forums, and taking part in online courses. Mention how you apply new techniques and insights to your work.

Emphasize your openness to constructive criticism as part of the collaborative process. Describe how you prioritize and incorporate feedback while maintaining your creative vision to improve your designs.

Provide a specific example that highlights a complex character design challenge. Detail your problem-solving process, the tools you used, and how collaboration with your team led to a successful outcome.

Reflect on a character design that you're particularly proud of, discussing the creative choices you made and what you learned from the experience. This helps interviewers understand your passion and design philosophy.

Discuss your workflow for texture painting, including how you source references, develop a color palette, and utilize tools like Substance Painter. Mention how you ensure the textures enhance the character's overall look.

Explain the importance of collaboration within a game development team and how you contribute as an Associate Character Artist. Highlight your willingness to work closely with other departments to ensure character designs fit within the overall game vision.

Share your aspirations for growth in the character design field, such as taking on more complex projects or learning new software. Discuss how working at 31st Union aligns with your professional development goals.