Studio Art Lead

Light & Wonder is the global leader in cross-platform games and entertainment. The company brings together 5,000 employees from six continents to connect content between land-based and digital channels with unmatched technology and distribution. Guided by a culture that values daring teamwork and creativity, Light & Wonder builds new worlds of play, developing game experiences loved by players around the globe. We create our own award-winning games and also partner with premium licensees such as Netflix, Warner Bros and others to bring franchises like Squid Game, Willy Wonka and The Wizard of Oz to life in online gaming products. The company’s Infinity platform powers the largest digital-gaming network in the industry. Light & Wonder is committed to the highest standards of integrity, from promoting player responsibility to implementing sustainable practices.    

  
Based in our new Sofia office, we are looking for an Art Lead that sets themselves apart from the rest. As the Art Lead, you will lead our art team, the creative direction, and development process. Responsible for the timely creation of all highest quality art within the studio and accountable for the training and growth of all graphic designers, artists, illustrators and animators within the Games team.  Well-versed with scheduling of art asset creation, the documentation and delivery of art assets to the Engineering team and communicating schedules to management. Capable of guiding the artistic design of a project from concept to completion as well as responsible for the overall artist direction of a game. 
  

Some day-to-day tasks would be ensuring that our team is creating high quality materials while driving the development of your team and projects. You will be instrumental in our game’s visual strategy, and roadmap for the future. You will work alongside our Executive Producer to ensure the creative strategy and vision meet our standards and continue to make our games the best games on the market. 

Responsibilities:  

• Responsible for mentorship, evaluations, conflict resolution and recognition of the staff to maintain highly motivated and engaged employees. 

• Create highest caliber of original art, original illustrations, and/or original animations, and expect highest caliber of art quality from studio illustrators in regard to character design, color theory, layout, text treatment, and animation ability. 

• Leverage AI tools to enhance Artistic workflows, including generating concepts, and creating artworks. Collaborate with entire Art Team to integrate AI-driven solutions, ensuring alignment with LNW/Elk’s Brand. 

• Display expert proficiency in Photoshop, After Effects, and Esoteric Spine. 

• Continually sharpen artistic abilities through company training, independent learning, and learning from other team members. 

• Communicating between engineers, designers and any non-technical artists to package assets in the most efficient manner for quality products for the target platform. 

• Have the judgment to determine which art issues are critical to our success 

• Lead your team by defining visual and art standards 

• Find opportunities of improvement, or challenges within the creative process 

• Evaluate multiple concepts and solutions for various projects and determine which ideas are worth pursuing 

• Work with the Production to manage projections and assignments of all art projects 

• Research, explore, and communicate best practices in art and discern which competitive ideas are most effective; lead the development of goals, standards, processes and feedback mechanisms 

• Develop and provide continuous quality improvement on processes for planning, execution, approval and reporting 

• Work closely with the Executive Producer, Producers, and Game Designer, producing high-quality art in an iterative process. 

• Take responsibility for the timely completion of art assets for assigned studio games and products. 

• Create, document, and communicate all project schedules to the studio and management with minimal mistakes. 

• Show efficiency in self-managing time with a high degree of accountability and minimal instruction. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: 

• Understand how to design art for various themes and platforms. 

• Gaming experience in Online and/or Social gaming space 

• Proficient in understanding Adobe Photoshop, Spine and After Effects. 

• Knowledge of Art Leadership 

• Understand technical aspects of art creation in game development 

• Proficient in various AI applications relevant to art, such as approved LNW generative images tools. Familiarity with industry trends in AI art and ability to adapt techniques to enhance traditional Art production. 

• Follow and Manage standards and process for converting existing assets into previously established formats and form factors suitable for online delivery.  Convert and deliver these assets. 

• Drive and manage art assets flow and allocations between artists to ensure continual pipeline and flow for engineering development. 

• Recommend best practices for Art process flow, creation process and communication & knowledge sharing with Artists community. 

• Possess the ability to create art and animation for all game aspects (screen layout, symbol sets, etc) to hand off to studio programmers. 

All applicants MUST provide the following in the event of an interview: 

• Portfolio (website or blog required for pre-interview) 

Candidates who possess a combination of these qualifications, along with a passion for the iGaming industry, are well-positioned to excel n this role.

Additional Information 

• Competitive benefits, an open and supportive environment as well as a modern and exciting workplace 

• The opportunity to interact with global teams on a regular basis 

• Tangible and genuine development - at Light & Wonder, you can take your career where you want it to go! 

And if that’s not enough;  you will enjoy flexible working practices whilst we provide you with the guidance and development skills you need to progress quickly and enhance your career. 

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