Senior UI Artist

Blind Squirrel Games (BSG) is a proud, independent studio that joins forces with developers and publishers seeking an innovative partner in creating quality games. At BSG, people are our purpose, so we prioritize an inquisitive, proactive, and collaborative work environment for all our squirrels.

We currently have locations in Irvine, California; Austin, Texas; and Auckland, New Zealand.

Skills and experience are highly valued at BSG, but we recognize that talent is a product of hard-work, resilience, and a growth-mindset. We champion individuals who have demonstrated they have the grit to overcome challenges and subscribe to the notion that inclusion breeds synergy and innovation. To us, diversity isn't a metric—it's a must!

Senior UI Artists at BSG…

You have a deep understanding of the UI Art pipeline, complemented by a refined skillset, honed through experience on numerous AAA titles. You're recognized as a dependable developer with the insight to know when to seek feedback. You welcome challenges, setting high standards for yourself and delivering high-quality work consistently.

While your influence is vital to the department's success and you provide mentorship to junior developers, creating UI assets remains your core focus. You excel in independent work but also value collaboration through teamwork.

Location: This is a full-time position offering the flexibility to work from our Irvine office, Austin office, or remotely, preferably within the western United states, and based on the needs of the organization.

Salary Range: The salary range being considered for this role is $107,000.00 - $127,000.00 USD. This base pay range is for the U.S. and is not applicable to locations outside of the U.S. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance, and location.

Role And Responsibilities

Blind Squirrel Games (BSG) is looking for a Senior UI Artist to join us for an upcoming project!

Supported by the UI Lead, the Senior UI Artist will work alongside other talented artists and developers to conceptualize and implement intuitive systems, synthesizing complex design features into practical in-game interfaces that incorporate the project's visual style.

As a Senior UI Artist at BSG, you will contribute to the project by leading the implementation and iteration of UI components and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to innovate user-friendly and dynamic interfaces.

The ideal candidate for this role has extensive experience in creating UI components for AAA games and can translate a thorough understanding of flow chart and wireframe development into fabricating cutting-edge assets that meet project expectations and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team of UI artists to define the overall UI aesthetic and ensure the project's visual style is maintained.
• Create and oversee the development of polished user interfaces that reinforce gameplay.
• Prototype and refine UI art elements with high consideration for consistency, visual art principles, and a user-centric mindset.
• Develop icons, new screen art mocks, and interpret visual look and feel for new features.
• Generate and review frontend content, heads-up displays, and other core menus.
• Collaborate cross-functionally in the implementation of UI components, such as maps, buttons, HUD, menus, basic effects, and animations.
• Conduct user research and usability testing to inform UI design decisions and iterate on UI layouts based on feedback.
• Create wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes to visualize UI layouts and interactions before finalizing designs.
• Ensure UI designs meet accessibility standards and guidelines to accommodate players with different needs and preferences.
• Conduct comparative analysis of UI designs from competitors or similar products to identify trends, strengths, and areas for improvement.
• Develop and maintain UI style guides to ensure consistency and coherence across all UI elements.
• Create animations for UI elements using in-engine animation tools or scripting languages.
• Design and create materials for UI elements to achieve desired visual effects and aesthetics.
• Create high-fidelity UI mockups that align with the project's visual style and reinforce gameplay.
• Collaborate with UI engineers and developers to implement UI designs in the game engine or UI development environment.
• Create reusable UI widgets and prefabs to streamline UI development and ensure consistency across different UI screens and components.
• Collaborate with localization teams to adapt UI designs and assets for different languages, cultures, and regions.
• Ensure UI designs meet console certification requirements and guidelines for platforms such as PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
• Create original artwork for UI elements such as icons, buttons, backgrounds, and character portraits.
• Design and create icons that are visually appealing, easily recognizable, and effectively communicate their function.
• Select appropriate fonts and typography styles to enhance readability and convey the desired tone and mood.
• Create storyboards and visual narratives to communicate UI design concepts and interactions.
• Conduct research and gather references from various sources to inform UI design decisions and inspire creative solutions.
• Iterate on UI designs based on feedback from stakeholders, playtesting sessions, and usability testing to improve usability and user experience.
• Optimize UI assets for performance and memory usage to ensure smooth rendering and responsiveness on various platforms and devices.
• Organize and maintain a library of UI assets, including icons, buttons, backgrounds, and animations, for easy access and reuse.
• Collaborate with version control systems to track changes and manage asset revisions throughout the development process.
• Document UI design decisions, guidelines, and best practices for reference by team members and stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of UI pipelines and workflows to streamline the creation, iteration, and implementation of UI assets.
• Mentor and guide junior UI artists, providing feedback and support to foster their growth and development.
• Other relevant duties and responsibilities as assigned to help complete company or department objectives.
  
  

Qualifications And Education Requirements

• 5+ years of industry experience in game development specializing in UI art.
• At least two shipped titles as a UI Artist.
• Portfolio demonstrating ability to design and craft high-quality UI elements for games.
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Proficiency in Adobe Suite.
• Experience creating motion graphics using Flash, Nuke, or After Effects.
• Strong graphic design and layout sense.
• Understanding of user-centric UX design.
• Skilled in identifying and accommodating end-user needs.
• Experienced in translating written concepts into visual designs.
• Demonstrated understanding of the limitations of consoles, memory, and performance issues.
• Well-versed in giving and receiving professional critiques.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Pride in everything you create and an aptitude for problem-solving.
• Maintain a positive attitude in a highly collaborative and iterative team environment.
  
  

Blind Squirrel Entertainment, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Eligibility to participate in benefits and perks may vary depending on position term and location.

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