The Biggest Application Blocker for Concept Artists

There is one thing I see time and time again when reviewing portfolios for Concept Artist roles, and it's something that as a recruiter I don't understand, and would love to understand. Given that every concept role I have ever looked at has asked for the same thing, it remains a mystery to me why it is still missing from so many portfolios.

The number one thing that studios ask for with Concept Artists is that you show your design, iteration and sketch work on your portfolio. Yet, the vast majority of portfolios don't show these aspects, just the final result.

This is a DIRECT blocker to your opportunities. It's not a nice to have any more, it's a must have. Every post on your ArtStation should include at least 3 or 4 additional slides showcasing how you got to your final result. This is the work that will show a studio whether you are going to be able to fit onto their pipeline or not.

Part of my job as a recruiter is speaking directly with Art Leads and Art Directors, Hiring Managers and internal recruiters about what they are looking for when they hire. This isn't something I've picked up from one studio, or one conversation. This is information that studios are giving us time and time again when we discuss Concept Artist roles and the portfolios they want to see. And with less and less Concept Artist roles out there, I think it's more important than ever to make the most of what studios are telling us. If you know what the people hiring these roles are actively looking for, you have an opportunity to make sure your portfolio is answering those requirements before it ever reaches their desk.

Whenever a concept role arrives, the person recruiting the role will have had a chat with the Art Director, and in my experience, these conversations have ALWAYS included a need for the artist to show their design, iteration and sketch work, or they wouldn't proceed with the application. Studios aren't simply looking for someone who can produce a great final image. They need someone who can explore an idea, take feedback, try different approaches, make decisions and arrive at the final design. The finished piece only shows you where you ended up. The development work shows studios how you think.

Portfolios take time to assemble, that much is obvious, but if you are spending the time assembling the work, and you have access to the aspects that studios are looking for, it is now imperative that those pieces are included. Otherwise, you are simply minimizing your chances of getting past a first look review. If you've got the work, show it. Don't make the person reviewing your portfolio have to guess how you got to the final result.

So, if you're a Concept Artist currently looking for your next opportunity, go back through your portfolio. Look at your strongest pieces and ask yourself whether you're showing the final result, or whether you're actually showing the process that got you there.

There are fewer Concept Artist opportunities out there, so making sure your portfolio is giving studios exactly what they are asking for has never been more important. You already have the work. Make sure you're actually showing it.