Character Artist / Illustrator

As a Character Artist / Illustrator at Branch, you'll be responsible for creating 2D character concepts and production-ready illustrations that fit the distinct style guide of Castaways. You'll work on developing character designs with exaggerated proportions, ensuring that they align with the cozy and playful aesthetic of our games. Collaboration is key, as you'll work closely with designers and art leads to maintain consistency across all assets and provide input on improving our art pipelines.

To qualify for the Character Artist / Illustrator position at Branch, you should have at least 3 years of professional experience in 2D character art, especially within stylized games. Proficiency in digital illustration tools such as Photoshop and Clip Studio Paint is required, alongside a strong portfolio showcasing stylized 2D characters that fit the 'toy-like' aesthetic we embrace. Experience creating cohesive art assets while adhering to strict style guidelines is essential.

The character design style at Branch for the Castaways project is inspired by collectible vinyl toys, featuring chunky, simplified forms, and vibrant flat textures. Characters are crafted with an emphasis on exaggerated features, like volume in hair and oversized outfits, while adhering closely to our unique style guidelines. This approach contributes to the whimsical charm of Castaways, making our characters irresistibly cute and engaging.

Character Artists at Branch engage in a collaborative process with designers and art leads to ensure that all character designs fit the narrative and maintain the desired aesthetic. This involves regular feedback sessions, sharing ideas, and ensuring that everyone's input aligns with the goals of the Castaways project. Collaboration is crucial in maintaining the overall style consistency and innovation that we aim for.

When applying for the Character Artist / Illustrator position at Branch, your portfolio should showcase strong examples of stylized 2D character designs that reflect a toy-like, hand-drawn aesthetic. Include samples that demonstrate your ability to adhere to strict art style guidelines, with a focus on chunky forms, flat shading, and simplified details. Highlight projects that illustrate your experience in creating cohesive art assets in a playful and whimsical manner.

This question allows you to showcase your creativity and the impact of your design work. Discuss the character's concept, the ideas behind their design, and how you adhered to any style guidelines. Highlight the skills you utilized and how the project contributed to the overall team or project goals.

Address your strategies for achieving consistency, such as creating reference sheets, following style guides, and regular collaboration with team members. Explain the importance of maintaining a cohesive aesthetic within the broader vision of the project and how you monitor your work to ensure alignment.

Share your experience with various digital illustration tools. Discuss the benefits of your preferred software, how it enhances your workflow, and why it is effective in creating stylized 2D characters. Mention any specific features that you find particularly useful in your artistic process.

Describe your process for understanding the character's narrative and how that translates into design. Discuss selecting facial expressions, body language, and color palettes that reflect their personality while ensuring they align with the overall theme of the project, like cozy or whimsical traits in Castaways.

Discuss how you approach feedback with an open mind, outlining your experience with iterative design processes. Share examples of how you've adapted your designs based on feedback while ensuring the core concept remains intact, which is essential when collaborating with teams.

Frame your response around the challenges of simplifying designs for a toy-like aesthetic. Detail the decisions you made in reducing complexity while maintaining the character's identity. Discuss how this process improved the overall style and coherence of the project.

Mention any resources you use for keeping up with industry trends, such as design blogs, social media, and online courses. Discuss how you incorporate new ideas into your designs while staying true to the established style of projects like Castaways, ensuring that your character art remains fresh and relevant.

Share your definition of appealing character design, focusing on elements like creativity, color usage, and relatable characteristics. Discuss how these factors contribute to the audience's emotional connection with the character and how you aim to incorporate these aspects into your work at Branch.

Detail your understanding of line weight and shading and how they contribute to the visual appeal of your character designs. Discuss your techniques and choices regarding when to use bold lines versus softer ones, and how flat shading enhances the toy-like aesthetic, emphasizing characters from the Castaways universe.

Reflect on how fulfilling it is to create characters that resonate with others and enhance storytelling. Discuss the joy in collaborating with a team and witnessing how your designs bring a whimsical world to life, something you aspire to achieve in your role at Branch with Castaways.