Concept Artist (Characters) - EA SPORTS FC

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans worldwide. All employees are part of the story here, part of a connected community across the globe. This is a place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are welcomed, and ideas matter. One team where everyone is engaged in the games.

EA SPORTS is one of the world's leading sports entertainment brands, known for top-selling video game franchises, award-winning interactive technology, and cross-platform digital experiences. EA SPORTS creates connected gaming experiences that bring the emotion of sports to life through industry-leading titles, including Madden NFL, EA SPORTS FC, NHL, NBA LIVE, and UFC.

As a Concept Artist (Characters) on the EA SPORTS FC team, you will play a crucial role in shaping the game's visual identity. Your work will serve as the visual building blocks for environments, characters, lighting, and props. You will collaborate closely with the Art Team to visually interpret creative briefs, explore original ideas, and create artwork that determines the final style and mood of the project.

Responsibilities:

• Communicate with Development Directors on tasks, scheduling, and assignments; collaborate with Art Directors to hit visual targets; and support the Character Art team during production cycles.
• Work with the Concept Art Lead to gather reference and create Mood Boards for various garments, shoes, and accessories across multiple styles and fashion genres.
• Prepare and present multiple design roughs for directional approval, implement feedback, and create detailed final garment and outfit concept art in a timely manner.
• Support 3D artists by delivering clear, well-structured visual guides that translate seamlessly into in-game assets.
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and techniques, bringing fresh ideas and innovations to the team.

Required Qualifications:

• A passion for fashion is essential, as the main focus of this position will be to concept a multitude of player clothing items for an in-game vanity system.
• Experience designing and concepting game characters in all phases, including rough sketches, refined line art, and full-color renderings.
• Familiarity with creating Directional Packages, including turnarounds, detail shots of accessories, and material call-outs.
• Ability to reinterpret and render realistic real-world fashion garments, including structural details like hems, seams, pockets, patterns, fit, and folds in a clear and accurate manner.
• Knowledge of realistic anatomy and the fundamentals of the human body, including core muscle groups and how they connect to the skeleton, proportion, weight and mass, figure posing, and costuming.
• Knowledge of clothing, fabric, materials, and how they drape and fold around bodies.
• Ability to render various materials accurately, including lighting, weight, and surfacing.
• Skilled in rendering and dynamically posing figures in motion, action, and dramatic situations.
• Versatile and able to design and concept realistic-looking and stylized characters and costumes, both from imagination and from reference.
• Experience creating multiple pattern variations using color, texture, and graphics.
• Solid awareness of posing figures, posture, facial expression, gesture, and movement.
• Good graphic design and typography skills, and the ability to create logos, tattoos, faux brand names, and other stylized art treatments often found on clothing.

Nice to Have:

• Basic knowledge of 3D workflows and the ability to integrate 3D greyblocks or models into concept development.
• Collaborative by nature and able to work with Cine, VFX, and other visual directors to determine a specific vision.
• Storyboard experience, including working knowledge of cinematography terms, shots, and common techniques and terminology used when creating storyboards.
• Ability to read and interpret scripts, discuss cinematic team requirements, and be a strong visual partner in storyboard creation.
• Skilled in creating concept key frames for animation, VFX, and motion graphics.

Software & Tools Proficiency:

• Experience with industry-standard 2D digital painting (e.g., Photoshop).
• Familiarity with 3D tools (e.g., Blender, Maya, Substance Designer, Marmoset).
• Familiarity with Miro, Slack, and other common communication software.