Verified Job
Arts - Entertainment - Publishing
Lead Concept Artist
Arts - Entertainment - Publishing
#42582
Remote / WFH
Fanatics Collectibles
Job Description
Lead Concept Artist — Fanatics TCG
About the Team
Fanatics Collectibles is building the next generation of trading card games.
The Fanatics TCG studio exists to create original worlds that can endure for decades — expressed through gameplay, art, story, collectibles, and community. Our ambition is not simply to launch games, but to build iconic franchises that become deeply embedded in culture and fandom over time.
We are assembling a world-class creative team capable of building genre-defining universes from the ground up, and we are seeking a Lead Concept Artist to help shape the visual identity of those worlds at the highest level.
This is a rare opportunity for an artist who wants to move beyond production execution and play a foundational role in defining the artistic vision, emotional tone, and visual DNA of entirely new franchises.
Role Overview
The Lead Concept Artist will serve as a senior creative leader within the Fanatics TCG studio, helping establish and elevate the visual direction of our original IPs across characters, worlds, factions, environments, cultures, and key moments.
This role goes beyond creating exceptional artwork. We are looking for someone who can help define the creative bar for the studio — a highly conceptual thinker with exceptional artistic taste, strong worldbuilding instincts, and the ability to guide visual development at both a strategic and executional level.
You will partner closely with Creative Leadership, Design, Product, Narrative, and external artists to shape the foundational imagery and visual storytelling that will influence entire franchises for years to come.
The ideal candidate combines elite-level craft with leadership, mentorship, and the ability to bring clarity and cohesion to large-scale creative exploration.
What You'll Do
Define the Visual Identity of Original Worlds
Lead the visual development of original TCG universes from earliest exploration through established franchise direction
Create concept art that defines tone, atmosphere, visual language, emotional resonance, and world cohesion
Help establish iconic characters, creatures, factions, environments, props, symbols, and visual motifs that become foundational to the franchise
Push visual exploration beyond expected genre conventions to create distinct, memorable, and ownable worlds
Drive Creative Vision & Artistic Excellence
Help establish and uphold the artistic quality bar across the studio
Influence visual direction through strong creative authorship, taste, and storytelling instincts
Develop foundational artwork and visual targets that guide both internal teams and external partners
Ensure consistency and cohesion across multiple visual initiatives and evolving franchise needs
Contribute to long-term franchise identity and visual evolution strategy
Collaborate Across Leadership & Development Teams
Partner closely with Creative Directors, Game Designers, Narrative, Product, and Brand teams during early ideation and worldbuilding
Translate abstract ideas, themes, and gameplay pillars into compelling visual direction
Participate in high-level creative discussions influencing the future direction of original IP development
Help align visual storytelling with gameplay, player fantasy, emotional engagement, and collectible appeal
Mentor & Elevate the Creative Team
Provide guidance, feedback, mentorship, and artistic direction to internal artists and external partners
Contribute to the development of scalable visual development pipelines and workflows
Explore, Experiment & Innovate
Drive rapid visual ideation and concept exploration across multiple creative directions
Balance highly polished presentation work with fast iterative sketch and exploratory workflows
Bring curiosity, experimentation, and fresh perspective into the development process
Continuously push for stronger originality, emotional impact, and artistic differentiation
What You Bring
An exceptional portfolio demonstrating world-class concept art, visual storytelling, taste, and originality
Expertise in one or more areas such as character design, creature design, environment design, costume design, or visual worldbuilding
Deep understanding of composition, shape language, lighting, color, mood, cinematic storytelling, and franchise visual development
Strong understanding of how concept art translates into scalable production pipelines
Ability to lead visual exploration from ambiguity into clear and compelling creative direction
Excellent communication and collaboration skills within highly creative and iterative environments
Strong mentorship instincts and ability to elevate the work of others
Genuine passion for fantasy, sci-fi, games, trading card games, and immersive worldbuilding
Preferred Qualifications
8+ years of experience in concept art, visual development, or franchise development within games, film, animation, publishing, or related industries
Experience contributing to original IP creation or long-term franchise development
Experience leading or mentoring artists within collaborative creative environments
Experience working with external studios, freelancers, or outsourcing partners
Strong understanding of collectible-driven art and fan engagement
Passion for TCGs, gaming culture, fantasy art, and visual storytelling ecosystems
Why Join Fanatics TCG
About the Team
Fanatics Collectibles is building the next generation of trading card games.
The Fanatics TCG studio exists to create original worlds that can endure for decades — expressed through gameplay, art, story, collectibles, and community. Our ambition is not simply to launch games, but to build iconic franchises that become deeply embedded in culture and fandom over time.
We are assembling a world-class creative team capable of building genre-defining universes from the ground up, and we are seeking a Lead Concept Artist to help shape the visual identity of those worlds at the highest level.
This is a rare opportunity for an artist who wants to move beyond production execution and play a foundational role in defining the artistic vision, emotional tone, and visual DNA of entirely new franchises.
Role Overview
The Lead Concept Artist will serve as a senior creative leader within the Fanatics TCG studio, helping establish and elevate the visual direction of our original IPs across characters, worlds, factions, environments, cultures, and key moments.
This role goes beyond creating exceptional artwork. We are looking for someone who can help define the creative bar for the studio — a highly conceptual thinker with exceptional artistic taste, strong worldbuilding instincts, and the ability to guide visual development at both a strategic and executional level.
You will partner closely with Creative Leadership, Design, Product, Narrative, and external artists to shape the foundational imagery and visual storytelling that will influence entire franchises for years to come.
The ideal candidate combines elite-level craft with leadership, mentorship, and the ability to bring clarity and cohesion to large-scale creative exploration.
What You'll Do
Define the Visual Identity of Original Worlds
Lead the visual development of original TCG universes from earliest exploration through established franchise direction
Create concept art that defines tone, atmosphere, visual language, emotional resonance, and world cohesion
Help establish iconic characters, creatures, factions, environments, props, symbols, and visual motifs that become foundational to the franchise
Push visual exploration beyond expected genre conventions to create distinct, memorable, and ownable worlds
Drive Creative Vision & Artistic Excellence
Help establish and uphold the artistic quality bar across the studio
Influence visual direction through strong creative authorship, taste, and storytelling instincts
Develop foundational artwork and visual targets that guide both internal teams and external partners
Ensure consistency and cohesion across multiple visual initiatives and evolving franchise needs
Contribute to long-term franchise identity and visual evolution strategy
Collaborate Across Leadership & Development Teams
Partner closely with Creative Directors, Game Designers, Narrative, Product, and Brand teams during early ideation and worldbuilding
Translate abstract ideas, themes, and gameplay pillars into compelling visual direction
Participate in high-level creative discussions influencing the future direction of original IP development
Help align visual storytelling with gameplay, player fantasy, emotional engagement, and collectible appeal
Mentor & Elevate the Creative Team
Provide guidance, feedback, mentorship, and artistic direction to internal artists and external partners
Contribute to the development of scalable visual development pipelines and workflows
Explore, Experiment & Innovate
Drive rapid visual ideation and concept exploration across multiple creative directions
Balance highly polished presentation work with fast iterative sketch and exploratory workflows
Bring curiosity, experimentation, and fresh perspective into the development process
Continuously push for stronger originality, emotional impact, and artistic differentiation
What You Bring
An exceptional portfolio demonstrating world-class concept art, visual storytelling, taste, and originality
Expertise in one or more areas such as character design, creature design, environment design, costume design, or visual worldbuilding
Deep understanding of composition, shape language, lighting, color, mood, cinematic storytelling, and franchise visual development
Strong understanding of how concept art translates into scalable production pipelines
Ability to lead visual exploration from ambiguity into clear and compelling creative direction
Excellent communication and collaboration skills within highly creative and iterative environments
Strong mentorship instincts and ability to elevate the work of others
Genuine passion for fantasy, sci-fi, games, trading card games, and immersive worldbuilding
Preferred Qualifications
8+ years of experience in concept art, visual development, or franchise development within games, film, animation, publishing, or related industries
Experience contributing to original IP creation or long-term franchise development
Experience leading or mentoring artists within collaborative creative environments
Experience working with external studios, freelancers, or outsourcing partners
Strong understanding of collectible-driven art and fan engagement
Passion for TCGs, gaming culture, fantasy art, and visual storytelling ecosystems
Why Join Fanatics TCG
