Riot Games

Principal Concept Artist, Environment/Character - League of Legends

Riot Games$125K — $150K *
Media
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of professional experience in concept art for games or animation
  • Strong portfolio showcasing early ideation, diverse styles, and creative process
  • Expert-level proficiency in Photoshop (or equivalent software)
  • Strong understanding of stylized art fundamentals: anatomy, form, lighting, color, and value
  • Ability to draw inspiration from varied sources, including fantasy and pop culture
  • Demonstrated concept work across characters, props, and environments with visual storytelling
  • Strong communication skills for collaborative, interdisciplinary environments

Responsibilities

  • Partner with creative leadership to explore cosmetic themes for champions and environments
  • Concept characters, environments, props, and skin lines emphasizing gameplay clarity and originality
  • Translate design intent and gameplay constraints into visually compelling art
  • Develop moodboards, style guides, and pitch materials based on research and trends
  • Participate in craft reviews providing and receiving clear, intentional feedback
  • Mentor and support fellow artists, modeling quality and collaboration
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary partners to ensure visual solutions enhance gameplay

Benefits

  • Open paid time off policy
  • Flexible work schedules
  • Medical, dental and life insurance
  • Parental leave for employees and their families
  • 401k with company match
Full Job Description
As a Concept Artist at Riot you will bring characters, creatures, environments and props to life. Drawing inspiration from as little as a napkin sketch or as much as a full-blown narrative concept, you will generate ideas and craft designs that are resonant, compelling and iconic. As a problem solver, first and foremost, you will help come up with visual solutions for game concepts.

As a Principal Concept Artist for League of Legends at Riot Games, you will bring champions, and gameplay moments to life through compelling, stylized visuals. Your work will help define iconic experiences for players around the world. You'll join the League of Legends, where you'll navigate constrained game design spaces and find elegant, thoughtful ways to express fantasy. Reporting to the Concept Art Lead, you'll help shape the future of League's art style, set standards through your work, and uplift your teammates through feedback and mentorship. This role is for someone who thrives on creative problem-solving, deeply understands the League IP, and believes that player delight starts with strong visual storytelling.
Responsibilities:
  • Partner with creative leadership to explore new cosmetic thematics that elevate League's champions, environments and express powerful fantasy
  • Concept compelling characters, environments, props, and skin lines that support gameplay clarity, aesthetic appeal, and originality
  • Translate design intent and gameplay constraints into visually satisfying concepts that align with League's art and game design direction
  • Develop moodboards, style guides, and pitch materials grounded in research, taste, and trend awareness. Create production-ready concept art and orthographics for 3D artists, VFX, and animation teams
  • Actively participate in craft reviews and offer/receive feedback with clarity and intent
  • Mentor and support other artists by modeling quality, consistency, and collaboration
  • Work closely with cross-disciplinary partners to ensure visual solutions serve both gameplay and fantasy
Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of professional experience in concept art for games or animation
  • A strong portfolio highlighting early ideation, a range of visual styles, and case studies that showcase your process and creative decision-making
  • Expert-level proficiency in Photoshop (or equivalent software)
  • Strong grasp of stylized art fundamentals: anatomy, form, lighting, color, and value
  • Ability to draw inspiration from diverse sources including fantasy, pop culture, historical references, and global trends
  • Portfolio demonstrating strong concept work across characters, props, and environments, balancing visual storytelling with gameplay clarity
  • Strong communicator who thrives in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments
Desired Qualifications:
  • Shipped content for at least AAA title
  • Familiarity with League of Legends, its champions, cosmetics, and player expectations
  • Experience designing for isometric camera gameplay
  • Ability to deliver broad-appeal visuals while pushing boundaries in creative expression
  • Learning mindset and openness to evolving tools and workflows

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!
Our Perks:

Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

About Riot Games

Riot Games is a video game developer and publisher based in Los Angeles, California. The company was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill, and is best known for its flagship game, League of Legends. The game has become one of the most popular esports titles in the world, with millions of players and fans around the globe. Riot Games is committed to creating high-quality, immersive gaming experiences that bring people together and foster a sense of community. The company is also dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the gaming industry, and has launched several initiatives to support underrepresented groups.
Learn more about Riot Games
Size
2,500 employees
Industry
Founded
2006

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