Axis Studios is looking for a creative and diverse Art Director. In this role you will have the opportunity to work on creating commissioned and original entertainment experiences in Film, Television, Games and Theme Parks.

The primary role of the Art Director is to manage and guide the Art Team on a given Project, ensuring the team's output meets the desired Creative/Artistic Vision and Quality/Budget targets set by the Studio, Director, Art Director and Head of Department in order to deliver work that meets and/or exceeds Client expectations.

Working with the Director, Department  Head, CG Supervisor  and  Production,  the  Art  Director  is required to understand, assess and answer the Creative, Visual and Artistic goals of the Project, ensuring clear communication of requirements, the smooth running of the Project and the delivery by the Art Team of Art Works that fulfil Project objectives while meeting Creative, Budgetary and Schedule requirements.

The Art Director may also be required to flag and manage any departmental dependencies, maintaining an overview of Department/Art Team scope and ensuring tasks are being delegated based on ability and Project requirements.

The Art Director is also required to work with the Head of Art during the initial set-up of the Project at the 'green light' stage, inputting on the Project bid, helping to develop Project planning and execution for the department; suggesting artistic, creative and technical solutions to help bring efficacy, development and progression to the Project's Art pipeline.

Basic Line Management tasks are also expected of the Art Director, working with the Head of Department to help manage the performance and well-being of Artists on Projects and inputting, when necessary, on recruitment decisions for the Project.

The Art Director should actively look to mentor and guide the Art Team on their Project, ensuring that Artists are educated through all stages of Production, passing on knowledge and methodology on best practice and technique and making sure the team is supported creatively, artistically and technically during their time on the Project.

The Art Director, along with CG Supervisor,  Producer  and/or  other  Leads (as  required), is also responsible throughout the Project for ensuring that other departments stay on brief in terms of look and feel of work created and it meeting aesthetic, visual and Creative needs.

This means providing feedback, guidance and approval/sign-off where appropriate for departments such as ASSETS, FX and Lighting Rendering and Comping (LRC). Involvement and discussion with CG Supervisor, Producer and Director are part of this process. The level and necessity of this responsibility may vary from Project to Project.

Artistic Responsibilities:

Defining Aesthetic and Style Objectives: Understanding, detailing and communicating aesthetic and style objectives with Client, Studio and Director requirements in mind.

Concept Designs: Create Concepts/Art Works for a broad range of characters, creatures, environments, vehicles and props, ensuring the style is suitable for the desired Direction.

Paint-overs/Sketch-overs and feedback: Giving clear feedback verbally and/or creating Paint-overs and Sketch-overs communicating changes needed to meet Project requirements.

Reference Gathering: Sourcing and collating references which help guide and/or set the visual and aesthetic benchmark for the Project or help focus and steer the direction that the Artists need to take.

Team Management Responsibilities:

Guide Creative Reviews: Assist Production and the Director in steering and conducting Project departmental reviews. Helping to interpret feedback being given, ensuring an understanding by the artist is sought.

Contribute Creative Direction: Work alongside the Director to help contribute Creative Direction to the Art Team and Project where necessary.

Sign Off Final Output: Creatively sign off Art task, making sure it's suitable for the quality/budget targets of the Project.

Quality Control Final Output: Analyse the output of the department on the Project ensuring the work is suitable for a Client presentation/delivery, making sure any non-creative quality control issues have been resolved.

Task Briefing: Provide verbal/written briefs to Artists before the start of any task, outlining the creative, stylistic and aesthetic intentions required and artwork needed while also breaking down the scheduled time and milestones for the task.

Define Project Pipeline: work with Head of Department (HOD) to identify any pipeline requirements  for the Project, helping to define processes that will allow for a stable workable pipeline for the project.

Artist Pipeline Education: Ensure that Artists within the department are informed and trained on any new technique or process required to execute the Project.

Team Structure: Work with HOD to outline the team structure needed and input on suggested level/suitability of Artists required to execute a Project.

Milestone Scheduling: Work alongside Production and HOD in creating a methodology for scheduling of tasks and reviews, enabling accurate task tracking and the creation of the Project internal/Client review milestones.

Task Assignment: Direct the assignment and breakdown of the Project tasks, making sure tasks are assigned based on ability while taking into account interdepartmental dependencies.

Task Monitoring: Maintain and an overview of the completion and progress of departmental tasks, flagging to Production any concerns or developments that have occurred.

Client Interaction: Help Production to manage the information being sent to the client, making sure we're offering the client clearly defined issues and potential solutions, while also outlining any ramification if issues aren't resolved.

Scope Monitoring: Actively monitor and re-scope the content being created, flagging to Production any changes that have occurred and the likely impact that might result.

Outsource Liaison: Guide the communication and spec'ing of any outsource team or service, helping to quality control the output/designs/art works being created.

Team Line Management: Help Production and HOD to monitor the well-being of all members of the team and where relevant input on basic administrative tasks such as holiday cover, contract extensions etc.

Performance Monitoring: Identify and flag to HOD any performance issues and any steps taken to resolve, providing evidence to support any conclusions found. Direct resolution of performance issues will be handled by HOD.

Artist Induction: Help educate new artists to the Project on the department's expected targets and any production milestones/iterations they should be working to

Bid Estimation: When relevant, work alongside HOD and EP's in initial scoping of Project department budget, inputting on quality targets in respect to budget and any departmental scoping concerns

Artist Recruitment: Work with HOD and HR to identify suitable Artists for the Project, helping to conduct interviews alongside HOD when required

An opportunity to work across multiple styles, IPs and genres, with a talented international team of designers, artists and directors.