On a video game or animated film, the 3D art director works in close collaboration with the director or 3D project manager, whose intentions he or she understands and integrates
On a 3D project (video game, animated film, 3D communication, etc.), the 3D art director is the reference par excellence. They work in close collaboration with the director or project manager, whose intentions they understand and integrate. Overall, they manage the artistic and creative supervision of a 3D computer graphics project.
THE TASKS OF THE 3D ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
The 3D artistic director is an orchestra conductor who sets the tempo, defines the project’s universe, may have to sketch out graphic ideas himself, validates or invalidates the artists’ proposals, and has to make a decision when opinions clash..
Logically, he or she has a major monitoring role with the artists (storyboarders, animators, game designers, etc.), providing them with the best possible guidance through collaborative work, so that they can deliver work that is as close as possible to the expectations of the director, project manager or client.
Clearly, the Art Director is in charge of directing the animation and the team of animators. He or she is a leader.
THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Passionate about everything to do with the graphic arts, the Art Director must draw on a very broad knowledge of the image, including a good understanding of the moving image sector and a perfect command of 2D software, as well as a very good knowledge of 3D rendering methods using software such as 3DS Max, Vray, Keyshot or Maya.
This is an important job that also requires knowledge of other professions.
Keeping an eye on everything, being a good team manager, maintaining coherence and continuity between the different parts of the project, dealing with a wide range of constraints – these are the keys to success.
For a 3D art director, knowledge of architecture and anatomy are additional assets for the creation of sets and characters.
CAREER AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
You need to have a certain amount of experience to be a truly operational 3D art director, which means that there is no standard route to becoming a 3D art director.
As a result, the future manager will usually go through various stages (trainee, assistant, graphic designer, web designer, game designer) before being offered this major position.
As is often the case in this field, salaries fluctuate depending on the company and the type of project (3D film or video game). The salary for a 3D art director is around 3,000 euros (2,400 euros gross for a beginner). Freelancers negotiate their remuneration on a flat-rate basis.
In the constantly evolving digital field, 3D art directors may choose to broaden their field of activity and take on larger projects.
They may move into advertising or set up their own design studio.
