If you love video games, leading a team of exceptional artists to create fantastical new worlds might sound like a dream job. But in an industry that’s more competitive than ever, how can you set yourself apart? And what do you have to do to forge a path to the top of the companies making titles for theA veteran art director with close to three decades’ experience working on AAA titles such as the God of War series is Cecil Kim.
While Alexander did study at art school himself, it’s not where he learned how to do his job. “From the start I was a sponge, absorbing all the knowledge,” he recalls. “While I’m appreciative of what I learned at school, most of my modern-day skills were learned on the job, and I’ve thankfully had great leads inspiring me the whole way.” He also notes another key characteristic: “One thing I never stopped doing was learning in my free time.
Another piece of advice that both Beth and Eric agree upon is the need for originality in your artwork. Beth stresses: “I can’t emphasise this enough: look outside of ArtStation when seeking inspiration!” It’s a point that’s enthusiastically echoed by Loric Games art director Ilya Nazarov. “The best skills to work on are communication, problemsolving, and being a team player,” he says. “Art skills come a close second. Working on games is a collaborative effort and some of the best work is the result of multiple talented people working on a creative problem together.”