Art Careers / Video Game Artist
What Does a Video Game Artist Do? An Art Career for Kids
Curious about this job? Here is what the work looks like, a typical day, the tools, where people do it and how to get started, plus a small activity so you can try it yourself.
What a video game artist does
A video game artist creates the characters, worlds, items and effects you see in games. Some focus on level design, which means planning the look and layout of each level.
Real-world examples: Nintendo.
A day on the job
- Design characters, objects or game levels
- Build 2D art or 3D models on the computer
- Test art inside the game
- Work closely with programmers and other artists
Tools of the job
- Computer
- 2D art and 3D modeling software
- Game engine software
- Drawing tablet
- Sketchbook
- Game controller for testing
Where they work
- Video game studios
- Independent game teams
- Home offices
The path in 4 steps
Start now
- Design a game level on graph paper
- Make pixel art on grid paper
- Try kid-friendly game-making tools
In your teens
- Take art and computer science classes
- Join a coding or game club
- Make a small game with friends
Training
The typical path is a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, animation, fine art or a related field, plus a strong portfolio. Many game artists also build skills on their own.
Build a portfolio
Characters, environments and game assets, ideally shown working inside a game.
Skills that help
- Drawing and 3D modeling
- Teamwork
- Understanding how games play
- Problem solving
- Software skills
Try this job
A small taste of the real work, using things you already have.
Draw a 10 by 10 grid. Design one game level on it: a start, a goal, three obstacles and one secret. Color each square to show ground, water, walls or treasure. Then have someone 'play' it by tracing a path with a finger. If they get stuck or bored, tweak it. That is real level design.
Related art careers
Learn more
For pay, job outlook and training details, read the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook page for this kind of work.
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What does a video game artist do?
A video game artist creates the characters, worlds, items and effects you see in games. Some focus on level design, which means planning the look and layout of each level.
How do you become a video game artist?
The typical path is a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, animation, fine art or a related field, plus a strong portfolio. Many game artists also build skills on their own.
What skills does a video game artist need?
Drawing and 3D modeling, Teamwork, Understanding how games play, Problem solving and Software skills.
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