What does a Concept Artist do?
Concept artists visualize and compose art for creative assets including characters, creatures, vehicles, and environments. They envision and create artwork in multiple mediums and design art in every phase of its production. They also design spec sheets, showing dimensions and calculations for other artists and animators and artists draw various types of artwork, including architecture, environments, and characters, which may include drawing of artwork that adheres to a client’s specifications, including certain style patterns or a particular brand image.
Concept artists collaborate with other art team members to share ideas and criticisms on various pieces of concept art and design presentation packages showcasing concept art to share with the rest of an art team and an art director. Concept artists need a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or another artistic discipline.
- Audit a brand's visual language against other competitors, identifying trends and providing recommendations to the internal team based on findings.
- Lead creative projects in collaboration with project teams to tackle all aspects of the design process, bringing stories and concepts to life.
- Create visually relevant, engaging stories through both static and motion design concepts for client brands.
- Work with client partners, traffic manager, and senior leadership on estimating, resource planning, and project milestone development.
- Maintain strong command of visual design across typography, color, composition and imagery.
- Bachelor's Degree in business or computer science.
- Hands-on experience with Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop.
- Skilled with ZBrush and other illustration tools and programs.
- Experienced with programming languages like C++ and Java.
- Requires careful attention to detail.
Concept Artist Salaries
Average Base Pay
Concept Artist Career Path
Learn how to become a Concept Artist, what skills and education you need to succeed, and what level of pay to expect at each step on your career path.
Years of Experience Distribution
Concept Artist Insights
Vine FX“Occasionally you could get help from a friendly artist but dealing particularly with production/management wasn't fun.”
Deluxe Entertainment“Good people and team to work.”
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital“There is so much joy in creating designs and experiences that are helping people in such a dramatic way.”
Technicolor“Good good good good good”
Rooster Teeth Productions“Pay wasn’t as good but it was a decent starting pay for people right out of college”
Roxor Gaming “Nice and kind people you really enjoy time collaborating with them.”
Dunkin'“There are always difficult consumers and the pay was not great.”
Gameloft“Stable and above average salary.”
Frequently asked questions about the role and responsibilities of a Concept Artist
- Animator
- Environment Artist
- 3D Artist
- Character Artist