Tribe AI is hiring: Character Concept Artist in New York

Tribe AI; New York (NY); Remote; USD 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative firm is seeking a talented freelance 3D character concept artist to explore the transformation of a real person into a stylized 3D avatar. This role focuses on creating multiple visual directions that capture the individual's likeness and personality while considering the limitations of a real-time conversational interface. The ideal candidate will have a strong portfolio in character design, the ability to work from provided materials, and knowledge of how designs translate into 3D models. If you're passionate about character creation and eager to contribute to an exciting project, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio of character design or concept art required.
• Ability to translate real-world features into stylized forms.

Responsibilities

• Create 3-4 distinct visual directions for a stylized 3D character.
• Deliver concept pieces focusing on face and head-and-shoulders.

Skills

Character Design

Concept Art

3D Modeling

Rigging

Game Engine Experience

Real-Time Rendering Optimization

Tools

Blender

Maya

ZBrush

3ds Max

Cinema 4D

Character Creator

Unity

Unreal Engine

Job description

We’re looking for a talented freelance 3D character concept artist to help explore how that person could be translated into a stylized 3D character. This is a concepting and exploration phase—not a production modeling task.
You’ll create 3–4 distinct visual directions for how this real person could be interpreted as an avatar. These directions could vary in level of stylization, tone, or presentation. The goal is to find the right visual identity that captures their likeness and personality, while also working in a 3D conversational interface with a model with simple rigging.
The real-time interface is going to have limitations to how well we can do lip-syncing, so we're also trying to avoid overly complex models that will venture into the uncanny valley. Bonus points if you also have experience doing the 3D modeling and rigging (or can use a tool like Character Creator to quickly help us get a prototype) but this particular job is first focused on the concept directions.
Deliverables
3–4 concept pieces, each showing a different visual style or treatment of the same real person
Focus on face/head-and-shoulders, with enough detail to guide 3D modeling
Optional: expressions, color studies, or brief notes on each direction
Timeline:
Looking to get started immediately and have time for at least one round of revision before 4/15.
Skills & Requirements Requirements
Strong portfolio of character design or concept art (must include human characters)
Ability to translate real-world features into stylized or simplified forms
Experience in game, animation, or digital avatar work is a plus
Understanding of how designs translate into 3D models
Ability to work from provided photos and brief personality notes
Bonus but not required
Experience with 3D modeling, rigging, and/or game engines
Modeling tools (Blender, Maya, ZBrush, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D)
Familiarity with quick head asset creation tools like Character Creator
Experience with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine
Lip and facial rigging, motion capture
Knowledge of real-time rendering constraints and how to optimize designs for performance
Polygon management, physical based rendering, shader, and/or performance optimization in web native platforms
How to Apply Email [e-mail], include 3D Artist in the subject line.
Please share a few relevant portfolio pieces (ideally showing stylized or likeness-based work), along with your quote and any questions you have about the project. Once you're selected, we'll send over a contract covering IP ownership and an NDA, and then share the assets we have for the real person whose likeness we're using.