How do you get into this coveted and prestigious position, which is reserved for people with the sharpest artistic sense, a high level of technical mastery and team management skills?
That’s what this guide is all about.
What are the duties and responsibilities of an art director in a video game?
In the video games industry, the art director’s job is to define the visual identity of the game and ensure that it is consistent throughout the development and production of the project.
The artistic director supervises all the artistic teams, from concept artists and character designers to animators, VFX artists and UI/UX designers.
In this sense, the art director is involved from the earliest stages of the project. Working alongside the game designer, producer and other heads of department, he or she gets to know the essence of the game and its world, and puts forward his or her vision to the project managers, with whom he or she works closely. They are then responsible for recruiting the artists who will work on the various stages of the video game, from conception to production.
He is also responsible for coordinating these teams so that the project meets the game designer’s expectations, as well as industry standards, while infusing the project with his artistic vision and giving it a unique visual identity.
It’s a position of great responsibility, because the smooth running of the project and the quality of the final work depend on the managerial skills and vision of the artistic director.
What skills do you need to excel as a video game art director?
As artistic director, you will need to be able to convey your vision to all your teams, but also be able to take decisions regularly and pragmatically, while having a perfect understanding of the artistic and technical skills of your collaborators.
So it’s a job where you need to be able to adopt a managerial approach, while leaving the door open to initiative and innovative ideas.
Always bearing in mind the objective you have set yourself and the creative vision you have for the project.
Indeed, the essential skill of a video game art director is undoubtedly his or her ability to strike abalance between technical constraints and artistic creativity, while being aware of the deadlines to be met. This is a balance that they need to acquire from the very first years of their training, if they want to be able to take up this demanding post on completion of their studies.
What tools and software do video game art directors use?
As the person in charge of a small or large team, the art director needs to be able to rely on effective project management software such as Trello or Notion, as well as rapid exchange tools for rigorous project monitoring. The fluidity of the creative process will depend on the art director’s ability to make these tools his own and to get his teams to use them.
At the same time, the art director must demonstrate a mastery of all the resources that will be used in the development of the game’s visuals.
Even if they don’t necessarily have to be experts in the use of all these software programmes and tools, art directors need to be familiar with all of them.
This is so that they can understand the challenges faced by their teams, propose solutions and inform other project managers of the parameters to be taken into account in the artistic development of a video game.
These tools include Unreal Engine and Unity, 3D modelling and animation tools such as Maya, 3ds Max and Blender, as well as 2D/3D illustration and design software such as ZBrush and Photoshop. These are all tools that can be used to bring the world of the game to life, under your supervision.
In addition, art directors need to keep abreast of advances in the sector, and follow trends in the use of software and new technologies. In a fast-moving industry, being able to demonstrate your mastery of the innovative tools used by the sector is an undeniable advantage for developing your career.
Which baccalaureate should you choose?
A bac ST2A – Sciences et Technologies du Design et des Arts Appliqués – is the most obvious route for those wishing to become video game art directors, as it enables students to familiarise themselves with the tools used in the industry as early as secondary school.
Whatever the case, it’s worth bearing in mind that a science or arts baccalaureate is the ideal route to the best courses.
What training do you need to become a video game art director?
In order to work in this sector, aspiring art directors need to undergo training that will enable them to familiarise themselves with all the video game professions. Art directors work in close collaboration with a large part of the creative and production teams, and are in constant contact with the game designer and other project managers.
A course specialising in video games is therefore essential if you are to develop your mastery of the tools, understand the production methods specific to this industry, and be able to land a job as soon as you finish your studies.
This course, which combines a theoretical approach with practical work, will take the form of a video game project where the aspiring art director will be able to confront the realities of production, develop his or her own artistic concepts and put his or her skills and abilities to the test.
This experience can also serve as a springboard for entering the job market and being spotted by recruiters.
How much does an art director earn in the world of video games?
Salary at the start of your career
Provided that aspiring art directors are given responsibility for directing a project from the start of their career, their salary at the beginning of their career can vary between €39,000 and €48,000 gross per year.
This depends on their status (freelance or contract), the region in which they work and the projects they are entrusted with.
Salary with experience
After a few years’ experience, an art director’s salary can reach higher levels.
Depending on whether they work on large-scale international projects or smaller-scale productions, experienced art directors can expect to earn between €55,000 and €95,000 gross per year, or sometimes more in the case of AAA studios developing games with very large budgets.
What are the career prospects in this profession?
As his career progresses, the art director will develop an increasingly rich portfolio, enabling him to make a name and a reputation for himself in the sector.
Experienced art directors can also progress to positions of greater responsibility, such as production manager or creative director of a studio, where they will be required to supervise a larger number of projects.
Which school should you choose to become a video game art director?
In the video games industry, a sector where excellence is sought at every level, being able to rely on a solid education is crucial to landing a job.
A course combining theory and practice, which also allows students to familiarise themselves with the professional world and meet representatives of the major studios, as is the case at ESMA, is essential for those wishing to become video game art directors today.