PYXEL-PERFECT PORTFOLIOS #5: ART DIRECTORS
Working across gaming recruitment is a truly exciting experience across the board, the people you meet and the processes you find yourselves involved in are always going to keep you on your toes. At Skillsearch we genuinely pride ourselves on our ability to assist artists and developers along the recruitment trail, both through helping them across the interview process and advising them on their portfolio approach.
Game studios are interesting places, because not only are there always similarities in structure, but every studio is also completely unique in the way it operates, making the position of Art Director one of the most vital in any game’s development. Art Directors not only lay out the visual goals for A title, but it is also on them to ensure that processes are followed, the teams are gelling, the output is of the highest quality and that the project is shaping up as intended. Today we will be looking at what makes an Art Director portfolio the best it can be, and in alignment with that, the most appealing for studios to explore.
Showcase your avenue, show why you were good enough to ascend to a directorial position
Every Art Director will come from a specialist art discipline, whether that be environment art, character art, concept art, 3D Art or another more unique avenue. When showcasing an Art Director portfolio, it is important to continue to show the work that got you there. Something that studios will always look for is a level of mastery in an artist’s portfolio at director level, so keeping your best hands-on work on your profile is always going to be a plus, even if it is hands on work that was released after you reached a directorial level
Just because you were not hands on, does not mean you should not show it
Something that we see a lot of Art Directors not doing, is posting work that they have overseen, and that their teams have worked on. Directing is a vital part of the art creation process, so this is a fantastic way to showcase your team-leading skills across the projects you have more recently been working on. Even posting a trailer for a game and listing the artists on your team in the description along with their roles is a great way to give studios an insight into both your management capabilities and your ability to execute a precision from a more hands off perspective.
Keep the thing updated, always
We often notice that portfolios stop being updated as soon as somebody reaches a directorial level, which, although understandable if you are no longer working hands on, can be improved very quickly with both tips above. Nothing is more off-putting to a studio than a portfolio that looks like it has been forgotten about, especially from a director they are looking to have inspire their teams, so keeping it updated with your most recent released projects across all capacities is a sure fire way to attract additional studio interest.
These three simple tweaks to your portfolio, in our experience, can make a huge difference in your appeal to your potential future employers and at Skillsearch, we are always happy to help advise you further.
Are there any specific art-based roles that you would like portfolio advice on? Feel free to get in touch through my LinkedIn or by sending me an email on JRM@skillsearch.com
Keep an eye out for the next instalment in our Pyxel-Perfect Portfolios series coming very soon...
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