2D Character Design Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Join the Fun at Arrow International!
Arrow International is the world's #1 maker of charitable gaming products, from pull tabs and bingo paper to cutting-edge electronic gaming systems. Our products power entertainment in social and gaming venues around the globe, and we're growing fast!
We're building a winning culture that's all about teamwork, passion, and innovation. At Arrow, you're not just another employee, you're part of a high-performing team that's redefining fun and giving back to communities. We believe in rewarding your hard work with profit-sharing, 401(k) matching, great benefits, and paid time off, including a bonus week every July!
If you're looking for a career that's exciting, meaningful, and full of opportunity, Arrow is the place to be.
Position Summary
We are seeking a Senior Artist to join our Visual Development Team. The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography, animation, visual FX and character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a key role in the overall development of our games' look and style, ensure creative alignment, and maintain a high standard of work. The ideal candidate will have experience providing feedback, solving creative challenges, and driving visual consistency across projects.
Salary range commensurate with experience. This role provides competitive benefits including an annual performance bonus, profit sharing program, and a 401K with company match.
The Targeted Pay Range for this role is $80 - $120,000.
Primary Roles and Responsibilities
Leadership and Team Support:

• Provide mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to artists at various experience levels to promote growth and skill development.
• Support team members by troubleshooting artistic challenges and offering creative solutions.
• Ensure the team's output aligns with project goals and meets Arrow's quality standards.
• Foster collaboration across the art team, programmers, and other stakeholders.

Artistic Contribution:

• Conceptualize and design visuals for layouts, UI, logos, characters, and other game elements across multiple styles and themes.
• Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX.
• Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet production deadlines while maintaining visual consistency.

Requirements
Experience and Education

• Degree in Design, Fine Arts, Visual Arts, or related field (Associates or Bachelors).
• 5+ years of work experience as an Illustrator, Graphic Designer, or similar role, with demonstrated leadership experience.
• Portfolio showcasing high-quality industry-standard artwork, including 2D game assets and animations.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) and experience with After Effects for VFX animation.
• Strong understanding of design principles, color theory, and composition, with an eye for detail and precision.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate with team members and provide leadership.
• Open to constructive critique and committed to ongoing learning and development.
• Must work well in a team environment

Preferred Experience:

• Gaming or casino-related knowledge or background.
• Knowledge of animation principles. Usage of Spine is considered a plus
• Experience with 3D Software (Maya, Blender, etc.).

We offer a dynamic and creative environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to work on exciting projects in the gaming industry. If you are passionate about animation and gaming, we would love to hear from you!
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is low.
• May be required to sit for long and/or extended periods of time.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement
At Arrow International, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We believe that embracing our differences makes us stronger, more innovative, and better positioned to serve our communities. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Arrow International is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, hire, train, and promote individuals in all job titles without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, results of genetic testing,
veteran status, or physical or mental disability-except where such disability prevents performance of essential job functions and cannot be reasonably accommodated in accordance with applicable laws.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement
Arrow International is committed to complying with the spirit and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, undergo any pre-employment testing, or otherwise take part in the employee selection process, please contact us at hr@arrowinternational.com.
Arrow International does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party agencies. Resumes submitted without an approved vendor agreement will become the property of Arrow International, and no fees will be paid if the candidate is hired.
To ensure a safe and productive work environment, all candidates who receive a conditional job offer must successfully pass a confidential pre-employment drug screening, which generally consists of a hair drug test, and receive an acceptable result as a condition of employment.