CHARACTER DESIGNER JOB DESCRIPTION TEMPLATE

A Character Designer shapes the visual and mechanical identity of playable characters shipped to millions of players across console and PC platforms. The role requires owning both artistic output and production documentation - two responsibilities that rarely live in the same person. On AAA titles, a single Character Designer may oversee assets reviewed by teams of 75 or more 3D artists, with approval ratios tracked per project. That scale demands someone who can read a script description, translate it into technical specifications, and hold a visual standard across simultaneous productions without losing fidelity.

As the Character Designer, you own the creation and quality assurance of character assets from initial concept through final in-engine implementation, directly shaping what players see and interact with in shipped titles. You work alongside Art Directors, Concept Artists, Animators, Riggers, and Production Managers, operating across multiple projects at once and reporting into senior art leadership.

Career Impact: Shipping characters on AAA console titles under an Art Director credit is one of the clearest signals of senior-level credibility in the game development market.

Business Impact: The visual and mechanical accuracy of every character asset you deliver determines whether a title meets its gold milestone and reaches players on schedule.

Growth Opportunity: Consistent delivery across multiple simultaneous projects builds the production leadership track record needed to advance into an Art Director or Lead Character Artist role.

• Design character assets from script descriptions to finished specifications that meet technical and artistic requirements for current-gen console platforms.
• Lead pre-production documentation for character content, including pipeline definitions and asset specifications per client or project standards.
• Review incoming character assets from external art teams and provide clear written and visual feedback to maintain approval ratios.
• Mentor senior and mid-level character artists across concurrent projects, setting expectations for quality, productivity, and professionalism.
• Collaborate with Concept Art, Animation, Rigging, and Game Design departments to align character output with the title's overall creative vision.
• Coordinate with production and project management to build schedules, identify risks, and deliver assets on time across multiple active projects.
• Drive research and development into new artistic techniques, evaluating competitive titles and emerging methods to evolve the team's visual output.

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Game Art, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of character art or character design experience on shipped console or PC game titles, with AAA pipeline exposure.
• Expert understanding of current-gen game content development processes, including high and low poly modeling, UV layout, texturing, and engine implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret creative direction and translate aesthetic requirements into actionable technical specifications for internal and external teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience documenting production pipelines and providing structured asset feedback.
• Portfolio of photorealistic or stylized 3D character models demonstrating accurate anatomy, detailed clothing, and consistent visual quality across multiple styles.
• Proven track record of mentoring less experienced artists and maintaining quality standards across multi-artist teams.

• Experience managing outsourced art teams or working as a service vendor for external game development clients, including international collaboration.
• Knowledge of character rigging principles, in-game animation constraints, and engine optimization parameters as they affect character asset creation.
• Familiarity with cloth simulation and photogrammetry workflows used in AAA character pipelines.
• Previous credit in a Lead or Associate Art Director role on a shipped multiplayer or live-service title.

• Asset approval ratio per project, reflecting how well feedback translates into first-pass quality from external teams.
• On-time delivery rate across concurrent character asset batches, measured against production schedule milestones.
• Number of active projects managed simultaneously without quality regression, typically 2 to 3 at senior level.
• Mentor output rate, tracking how consistently junior and mid-level artists under guidance meet quality benchmarks.
• Revision cycle count per asset, indicating clarity and precision of written and visual feedback provided.
• Typical tools: 3D modeling and sculpting (commonly Maya or 3DS Max and ZBrush), texturing (commonly Substance Painter and Substance Designer), and game engines (commonly Unreal Engine or Unity).

• Base Salary Range: $85,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on seniority and studio size.
• Bonus: Project completion or annual performance bonus, typically 5 to 15% of base salary.
• Equity: Stock options or profit-sharing offered at larger studios and publicly traded publishers.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage standard across most US game studios.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, with additional studio closure days common around major releases.
• Common Perks: Game library access, hardware stipends, professional development budgets, and remote or hybrid work options at select studios.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Successful completion of a background check is required as a condition of employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process upon request. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

The Character Designer owns the end-to-end delivery of character content across multiple simultaneous projects, overseeing teams of 75+ 3D artists while managing client relationships and production pipelines. Working alongside Project Managers and Account Managers, this role ensures that externally and internally created specifications are met at the highest quality standard, directly enabling client satisfaction and project success.

Key Responsibilities

• Interface directly with clients to understand their needs and form a solid working relationship.
• Collaborate with on-site and overseas teams to find production solutions that uphold client quality expectations and adhere to established technical requirements.
• Contribute innovative and original ideas towards all aspects of production and support of PMs and Account Managers.
• Lead pre-production support for characters and environment content, including creation of technical and artistic specifications and production pipelines per client requirements.
• Train and mentor teams in India and Japan to internalize established processes and best practices, with international travel required.
• Prioritize and provide feedback and review across more than two projects at a time.
• Work with Project Managers and other leads to identify risks, develop estimates, pipelines, schedules, and production plans.
• Manage and mentor Senior level character Outsource Artists, communicating clear expectations for quality, productivity, and professionalism.
• Ensure quality of all incoming art assets across up to 3 projects and teams of 75+ 3D artists, improving approval ratio through clear visual and written feedback.
• Create assets as needed across Maya, 3DS Max, Zbrush, Substance, and Photoshop.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of industry experience with at least one published game credited in a Lead or Associate Art Director role.
• Expert-level understanding of current-gen game content development processes, pipelines, limitations, and dependencies as they relate to character creation.
• Proven ability to produce and direct top-quality current-gen content in a variety of styles across multiple platforms.
• Skilled in 3D sculpting, modeling, texturing, and material creation for game content.
• Proficient in Maya or 3DS Max, UE4, Unity, Zbrush, Photoshop, Substance Designer and Painter, and Marvelous Designer.
• Able to analyze client aesthetic requirements and translate them into actionable feedback for external art teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with solid understanding of issue tracking tools like JIRA or Shotgun.
• Previous team leadership experience on multiple projects with demonstrated ability to mentor less experienced artists.

Embedded within a studio that has partnered with top-tier developers including Naughty Dog, Guerrilla Games, and Insomniac Games, the Character Designer delivers photorealistic, highly detailed 3D character models that uphold the artistic vision of each project. Working closely with art leads, Concept Art, Animation, Rigging, and Game Design teams, this role advances the studio's visual quality and contributes directly to shipped console titles.

Core Functions

• Use modeling and texturing skills to create photorealistic, highly detailed 3D character models with personality.
• Ensure character assets maintain the highest artistic quality and uphold the integrity of the game's design and artistic vision.
• Follow the direction of art leads and collaborate with Concept Art, Animation, Rigging, and Game Design to align artwork with the title's vision.
• Mentor other artists and serve as a resource for complex artistic development issues.
• Work with production to follow and build schedules, delivering assets on time.
• Collaborate with outsourcing to help create and integrate art assets.
• Communicate updates and voice concerns clearly to appropriate team members and managers.
• Contribute to the development of artistic techniques and processes that define or evolve a product's visual style.
• Participate in research and development on the latest tools, tech, and methodology.
• Actively improve skills by tracking industry trends, evaluating competitive products, and learning new software and traditional art methods.

Qualifications and Experience

• 5+ years of experience as a 3D character artist.
• Familiarity with video game product development workflows including high and low poly modeling, texture painting, material setup, character skinning, UV layout, in-game animation, rigging, and engine optimizations.
• Portfolio demonstrating realistic, highly detailed 3D character models with photorealistic textures covering skin, hair, fabric, and accessories, accurate anatomy, and detailed clothing.
• Mastery of Maya, Photoshop, Zbrush, and Substance Designer.
• Experience working with a game engine and implementing 3D assets in-engine, with previous console experience on a shipped title preferred.
• Experience on AAA titles as a character artist, including creating animals for AAA pipelines.
• Familiarity with Marvelous Designer, Mari, Agisoft, Substance, and Mudbox recommended.
• Strong understanding of scale, proportion, human anatomy, and surface properties.
• Good communication, organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills.

Reporting to game leadership, the Character Designer defines and leads in-game narrative development for a Puzzle studio title, crafting cohesive interactive storytelling from concept through final integration. Partnering with level designers, game designers, artists, animators, and audio designers, this role shapes the tone, world, and player experience that give each F2P mobile game its identity and emotional resonance.

Primary Duties

• Work hands-on on a game story within the Puzzle studio.
• Review and contribute creatively to the game's overall design, participating in defining themes and tones that support the creative vision.
• Collaborate with the game team to brainstorm ways of encapsulating core mechanics through story and narrative.
• Establish the tone of the game's world and propose ways of presenting it effectively to players.
• Review and provide feedback on all creative elements, including identifying narrative problems and developing solutions with development teams.
• Find and steer external writers to align with the project's narrative direction.
• Lead the narrative strategy and ensure its consistent communication across development teams.
• Collaborate with level designers, game designers, artists, animators, and audio designers to ensure correct integration of all narrative elements.
• Identify, develop, and communicate best practices for storytelling in games.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience leading a creative team.
• Extensive knowledge of interactive storytelling, plot, and narrative structure in F2P mobile games and digital media.
• Proven ability to build believable, lovable worlds in mobile F2P games, with released successful F2P game(s) as a narrative writer or director.
• Professional experience as a writer in the mobile game industry with ability to craft sharp, clear dialogue for diverse target audiences.
• Strong ability to communicate ideas through verbal, written, and visual means.
• Ability to switch between different writing styles and tones, working independently or as part of a design team.
• Experience steering external contributors and a keen interest in sharing learnings across teams.

Sitting at the intersection of systems design and live game operations, the Character Designer works alongside the Combat Lead and development team to create, maintain, and iterate on core combat mechanics, character abilities, and combat itemization. Operating across ideation, documentation, balancing, and mentorship responsibilities, this role ensures the long-term health and player satisfaction of a live multiplayer title's combat experience.

Duties

• Assist the Lead Combat Designer in developing and executing plans to improve and expand the combat experience.
• Adhere to guidelines and restrictions for combat gameplay as defined by the Lead Combat Designer and Creative Director.
• Take ownership of specific combat features and improvement efforts, from ideation through delivery.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation for all mechanics, balance, and systems under responsibility.
• Stay current on the state of combat on live servers and incorporate that knowledge into development efforts.
• Mentor other designers on the Combat team to improve their design, technical, and communication skills.
• Seek internal and external feedback on the Combat product and work with leadership to identify response actions.
• Maintain and iterate on combat-centric systems including character stats, progression, itemization rules, and player onboarding.
• Create and maintain character mechanics, abilities, and items with an eye toward game balance, and propose new gameplay systems.

Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum 3+ years of combat design experience on a shipped or live online multiplayer game.
• Deep expertise in action and RPG combat systems and what makes them satisfying.
• Experience designing for both casual and competitive audiences.
• Proficiency with scripting tools or languages, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Word.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Ability to think logically, break down complex problems, and maintain attention to detail.
• Confidence working within established processes to maintain live game integrity.

A key member of the character art team, the Character Designer creates high-quality art assets and maintains the established aesthetic of characters throughout the production process under the guidance of the Production Designer. Collaborating across the Modeling Department and mentoring junior designers, this role directly enables the delivery of unified, visually consistent character output across the full production lifecycle.

Scope of Work

• Create high-quality art assets supplying enough information for 3D modeling development.
• Interpret script descriptions and provide accurate and original designs.
• Coordinate with the Modeling Department to recreate designs in 3D and adapt designs based on concept or script changes.
• Lead and mentor other Character Designers to ensure the entire team works in one unified, appealing style.
• Delegate assets to team members and manage their workflow and deadlines.
• Contribute to the evolution of artistic methodologies and stay current on technology trends and tools suited to production.
• Provide support, guidance, and instruction that contributes to team members' artistic and professional growth.
• Clearly meet assigned expectations with low supervision and encourage less experienced colleagues to do the same.
• Follow the Production Designer's guidance throughout production.

Background and Experience

• 4+ years of professional experience in VFX or animation industries.
• Strong creative and technical skills with ability to share them effectively.
• Understanding of human and animal anatomy and movement.
• Portfolio of character designs in a range of styles showing personality and range of emotions.
• Highly skilled in expressing, transmitting, and presenting new ideas, tasks, and results.
• Strong work ethic with ability to perform well under pressure.

Cohesive, competitive multiplayer experiences depend on the Character Designer, who leads the creation of new playable characters for Apex Legends while maintaining high-quality gameplay systems in script. Based within a cross-disciplinary team spanning design, engineering, and production, this role serves as the central driver of Legend development from ideation through delivery and live playtesting.

What You'll Do

• Work closely with a team of passionate developers across all disciplines to create new playable characters for Apex Legends.
• Create and maintain high-quality gameplay systems in script.
• Collaborate with other disciplines to implement core game mechanics and assets for the best possible gameplay experience.
• Support and grow teammates through knowledge-sharing, debugging, mentoring, and training.
• Set priorities and goals for the work of the Legends team and maintain an up-to-date bug list.
• Help set goals and plans for future Apex Legends releases, working closely with all departments to ensure cohesive themes.
• Playtest the game extensively and provide proactive feedback on all features, not just Legends.
• Lead design reviews and proactively guide the team toward good solutions to design and development problems.
• Propagate a culture of creative ownership, candid feedback, and a safe working environment.

Professional Experience

• 5+ years of experience as a technically oriented game designer with multiplayer experience.
• At least one shipped AAA game with a strong understanding of competitive integrity in multiplayer games.
• Experience designing characters in a multiplayer game.
• Proficient in text-based scripting or other programming languages.
• Strong desire to creatively collaborate with diverse teams.
• Strong opinions on game improvement with a drive to accomplish them.
• Familiarity with Apex Legends and ability to discuss its design in depth.

As the Character Designer, this role produces character designs from rough concepts through finished rotations, working directly with the Director and Art Director to establish and maintain the visual language of the show. The design team relies on this work to ensure consistent style, coherent character expression, and timely delivery of all visual assets needed to support animation production.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Work with the Director and Art Director to design characters in the style of the show.
• Produce character designs in various forms from rough concepts to finished rotations, including expression and pose sheets to assist animation.
• Collaborate with the Art Director and design team to develop a consistent look for the show.
• Contribute substantially to the evolution of the show's design and take on various art tasks including prop design, character illustrations, cover art, and mock-ups.
• Demonstrate commitment to creative collaboration in a time-sensitive environment.

Technical Qualifications

• Previous experience in character design for production.
• Excellent drawing and design skills with strong knowledge of human and animal anatomy and posing.
• Thorough understanding of character design and how designs are used through the production pipeline.
• Experience with Photoshop and Illustrator, with knowledge of other art and graphics software an asset.
• Experience on a 3D production with knowledge of modeling characters preferred.
• Excellent creativity with demonstrated ability to generate innovative concepts and design within specified proportions and overall look.
• Ability to productively discuss, decide, and communicate ideas across a wide variety of aesthetic areas.