Manager, Art Design

2K; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the gaming industry is seeking a talented Manager, Art Design for their Global MapleStory project. This role involves overseeing visual content production and collaborating with international teams to ensure brand consistency and quality. With a blend of creative direction and project management, the ideal candidate will help elevate the franchise's visual identity and engage its audience effectively. This position supports a hybrid work model, prioritizing work-life balance and professional growth.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision plans

Flexible work hours

Monthly wellness credits

Bi-monthly catered lunches

Well-stocked snack bar

Paid time off and holidays

Qualifications

• 7+ years art direction/design experience in the entertainment or games industry required.
• Expert proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Bi-lingual in English and Korean is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead the visual design process across all phases of production.
• Establish and uphold the overall visual direction for Global MapleStory.
• Oversee and approve all visual assets prior to public release.

Skills

Creative skills

Design fundamentals

Project management

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Figma

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

About Nexon

Nexon America is a branch of Nexon Co., Ltd., a global video game publisher and leading developer of online virtual worlds for PCs, consoles, and mobile devices. Nexon proudly offers celebrated franchises like MapleStory and Mabinogi that have been enjoyed by millions of players for over two decades. When we founded our Nexon America branch in 2006, we made it our goal to bring those unique games to western players using a player-first approach. We achieve that goal by applying our team’s outstanding free-to-play expertise and live game support to every decision, every day.

But we’re committed to more than our games! Here at Nexon America, we’re all about open communication, diversity, mutual respect, and collaboration, so we can bring out the best in each other. Nexies find support, friendship, and career growth all in one place! And because we know a healthy work-life balance is the key to happiness, Nexies also enjoy flexible hours, a hybrid work model, and extra perks like food trucks, happy hours, and team events. It’s why we’ve earned the Great Place to Work certification for 5 years running!

We’re looking to expand our team with passionate individuals who want to learn, play, and grow with us. Ready for a new challenge?

Summary of Position

We are seeking a talented and passionate Manager, Art Design to manage the creative direction for Global MapleStory, overseeing a wide range of visual content including key art, digital assets, social media creatives, partnership materials, promotional and educational videos, and more.

This role requires close and continuous collaboration with the development team in Korea, as well as cross-functional coordination with various teams at Nexon America, including production, creative, web, marketing, community, partnership & events and more.

The ideal candidate will provide clear and strategic creative direction, demonstrating a strong ability to communicate visually and translate feedback into compelling, on-brand visual assets that effectively represent and elevate the Global MapleStory IP.

We are currently working in the office 2-3x a week in a hybrid work model.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the visual design process across all phases of production—from initial concept development and brainstorming through to final execution and delivery—ensuring a cohesive and high-quality visual output.
• Establish and uphold the overall visual direction for Global MapleStory, including its style, tone, and aesthetic, while collaborating closely with internal stakeholders to guide the creation of compelling and brand-consistent visual assets.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the development team in Korea and Nexon America's functional teams, ensuring alignment on visual direction, production standards, and creative strategy.
• Oversee and approve all visual assets for Global MapleStory prior to public release, maintaining the highest standards of visual quality, consistency, and brand integrity.
• Optimize and manage art production workflows, ensuring they are efficient, scalable, and aligned with the technical and creative requirements of the game.
• Other duties as assigned

Work Experience

• 7+ years art direction / design experience in the entertainment or (mobile, pc) games industry required
• Strong creative skills and design fundamentals; typography, color theory, composition
• The ability to visualize ideas (e.g., through storyboards, key visuals, etc.)
• Project management and organizational experience
• Experience partnering with international teams in a cross-functional or cross-cultural context

Education, Professional Training, Technical Training or Certification

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Knowledge/Skills

• Expert proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, namely Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
• Experience working with 2D graphic/pixel art style
• Bi-lingual in English and Korean is a plus
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal
• Excellent writing, organizational and time management skills
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills
• Strong ability to mentor and direct team members to meet business goals
• Strong working knowledge of marketing and game production
• Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to create and document processes/proposals clearly
• Strong understanding of digital media and a keen sense for trends
• Experience in designing with consideration for responsive design, app design, and web accessibility
• Must be able to work effectively both individually and as a team member

Management has the right to add or change duties and job requirements at any time.

Nexon’s Benefits and Perks

We offer medical, dental and vision plans for you, your spouse or domestic partner and your children. Employees who enroll in the high deductible health plan receive an annual employer contribution to a health savings account and company paid hospital indemnity benefits. We also provide company paid life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability benefits as well as access to voluntary life and AD&D for yourself and your dependents, flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) savings plan with a company match, and pet insurance. Nexies are encouraged to take advantage of our monthly wellness credit, participate in lunchtime yoga, and enroll in language classes. We host bi-monthly catered lunches, monthly happy hours, and maintain a well-stocked snack bar. To help you maintain a good work life balance, we offer paid time off, sick days, company holidays, and a year-end break.

Nexon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Compensation Description for Pay Transparency (annually)

The base salary range for this position in El Segundo, CA is $118,000 - $145,000 annually.

Our salary ranges are determined by market data based on position and level. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum salaries for that position. An individual’s pay is determined by factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s qualifications, skills, experiences, relevant education or training, and location.

Base pay is one part of the Total Rewards package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work. This role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, however the salary range listed in this job posting reflects the base salary only.

Beware of Recruitment Scams

We have been made aware of fraudulent recruitment activities by individuals falsely claiming to represent Nexon America. Our recruiters will only contact you from official company email addresses ending in @nexon.com and will follow a formal interview process. We will never request for payment or personal financial information such as photos of government-issued identification during the recruitment process or offer a job without a formal interview process. If you receive suspicious email, we advise you to mark the email as junk or spam, so your email provider will block future messages from the sender.