Senior UI Artist

As a Senior UI Artist at 31st Union, your main responsibilities include developing and supporting UI and UX designs aligning with the game's artistic direction, mocking up UX wireframes, collaborating with game and UX designers, creating and maintaining a UI style guide, and managing the organization of UI asset creation. You will also focus on improving workflows and continuously enhancing professional development, ensuring the delivery of high-quality visuals for our games.

To apply for the Senior UI Artist role at 31st Union, candidates should have strong UI skills, be well-organized, and possess excellent communication abilities. Experience with prototyping software like XD or Axure, familiarity with game engines such as Unreal or Unity, and proficiency in Photoshop or Illustrator are all required. Knowledge of motion graphics and animation is a plus, and experience with 3D work is beneficial but not mandatory.

In the role of Senior UI Artist at 31st Union, you will regularly use production software such as Photoshop and Illustrator for asset creation. Additionally, familiarity with prototyping tools like Balsamiq and experience with game engines such as Unreal and Unity will be valuable. As you contribute to the project, you may also explore new tools and processes to enhance the quality of UI deliverables.

At 31st Union, our culture is rooted in diversity, inclusivity, and collaboration. We strive to create a safe environment where all voices are valued, fostering innovation and creativity. Our team is passionate about making games that excite and engage players, and we believe that a varied team enriches both our games and our work experience. We prioritize personal growth and a collaborative spirit, ensuring that every employee feels like they belong.

31st Union is currently focused on developing Project ETHOS, an exciting new free-to-play, third-person rogue-like hero shooter. This project represents an innovative evolution in the genre, and as a Senior UI Artist, you'll play a vital role in shaping the gameplay experience through your artistic contributions.

When discussing my UI design process, I start by emphasizing the importance of understanding the game’s vision and mechanics. I typically gather insights from game designers to align the UI with gameplay intents. This involves sketching initial ideas, creating wireframes, and collaborating with artists to ensure a cohesive experience. Feedback loops are crucial; I iterate on my designs based on user testing to refine how players interact with the game.

I prefer using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for asset creation due to their versatility and powerful features. For prototyping, I often use tools like XD or Balsamiq, which enable me to create interactive mockups easily. These tools help streamline my workflow and allow for effective collaboration with cross-disciplinary teams, facilitating the visualization of concepts before production.

To ensure my UI designs enhance player experience, I focus on clarity and efficiency, creating intuitive navigation that meets players' needs. I actively seek feedback through playtests, allowing me to observe real interactions and make necessary adjustments. Additionally, I stay updated on UI/UX best practices and trends to incorporate successful methods into my designs, ensuring they are both engaging and functional.

Certainly! One challenging project involved redesigning the UI for a complex game that integrated multiple gameplay features. I collaborated closely with the design team, conducting extensive user testing to identify pain points. By iterating on feedback and exploring various design options, we successfully streamlined the UI, significantly improving player interaction and satisfaction.

Collaboration is key in my role as a Senior UI Artist. I believe that great design comes from diverse perspectives. I consistently engage with game designers, artists, and engineers to share ideas and align our goals. This teamwork ensures that the UI not only looks visually appealing but also serves its functional purpose within the game, resulting in a seamless user experience.

To keep up with the latest trends in UI design, I regularly participate in design communities, attend webinars, and follow industry leaders on social media. I also read design blogs and case studies to gain insights into new techniques and tools. Continuous learning is essential, as it allows me to implement innovative solutions in my UI work and stay competitive in the industry.

My experience with user feedback has taught me that it's an invaluable part of the design process. I actively incorporate player feedback through playtesting sessions, gathering insights about the UI’s usability and aesthetic appeal. I analyze this feedback to identify patterns and issues, which informs my iterative design approach, ensuring that the final product resonates well with the audience.

I prioritize tasks during a project by assessing deadlines, importance, and resource availability. Typically, I start with high-impact tasks that align with project milestones, ensuring that I create essential assets first. Communication with team leads helps me understand immediate priorities and adjust my workload dynamically, allowing the team to stay on track and meet our collective objectives.

Creating a cohesive UI style guide involves researching the game’s artistic vision and defining visual elements such as color palette, typography, and iconography. I document guidelines that describe component usage, ensuring all team members have clear reference points. Regular review and updates with the team are crucial to maintain alignment as the project evolves, ensuring that all assets are consistent and on-brand.

I approach learning new tools or technologies for UI design with a hands-on mindset. I actively seek out tutorials, online courses, and community forums to familiarize myself with a new tool. I also dedicate time to practice by applying what I learn to small projects, which helps solidify my skills. This proactive approach enables me to integrate effective tools into my workflow and improve my overall design practice.