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Character Design Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Pathway Design & Construction

Design Consultant

Hobart, WA · Hybrid

$65K - $75K/yr

Design Consultant - Pathway Design & Constrution Hybrid position - Hobart, WA Part time - 30-35 hours per week Do you love guiding clients through design decisions - but also understand how things ...

ShelfGenie

In-Home Design Consultant

Puyallup, WA · On-site

Selling tools and support - 3D design software, CRM system, and demo kit * An amazing team that you can ALWAYS turn to for support ShelfGenie of Seattle just won the 2023 Best in the PNW Gold Award ...

ShelfGenie

In-Home Design Consultant

Poulsbo, WA · On-site

Selling tools and support - 3D design software, CRM system, and demo kit * An amazing team that you can ALWAYS turn to for support ShelfGenie of Seattle just won the 2023 Best in the PNW Gold Award ...

DC Structures

Be Seen First

Architectural Residential Homes Designer

Seattle, WA · Remote

Lead the design and documentation of high-end custom residential projects, translating client goals into clear architectural direction with strong planning, character, and refined composition.

AST

Controls Engineer

Tacoma, WA · On-site

$70K - $120K/yr

Design and develop control systems for complex automated systems using programmable logic ... Character that complements AST's long-standing culture of high integrity throughout all areas of ...

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All JobsCharacter Design JobsCharacter Design Jobs in Seattle, WA

Character Design information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$11

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$43

How much do character design jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for character design in Seattle, WA is $21.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.34 and $27.64 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Character Designer typically collaborate with other team members during the production process?

Character Designers work closely with art directors, animators, writers, and sometimes 3D modelers to ensure their designs align with the project's visual style and narrative. Regular meetings and feedback sessions are common, where designers present sketches, receive input, and make iterative changes. Effective communication and openness to feedback are essential, as character designs often need to be adapted for animation, merchandising, or game mechanics. Collaboration helps ensure the characters not only look appealing but also function well in different media formats.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Character Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Character Designer, you need strong drawing skills, a solid understanding of anatomy, color theory, and visual storytelling, often supported by a degree in art, illustration, or animation. Proficiency with digital illustration tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and drawing tablets is typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and effective communication help character designers collaborate with teams and bring unique concepts to life. These skills are essential for creating compelling, memorable characters that visually support narratives and resonate with audiences.

What is the difference between Character Design vs Character Modeling?

AspectCharacter DesignCharacter Modeling
Primary FocusCreating the visual concept, style, and personality of charactersBuilding the 3D digital model based on designs
Required SkillsDrawing, illustration, concept art, creativity3D modeling, software proficiency (e.g., Maya, Blender)
Work EnvironmentConcept art studios, animation, gaming companies3D animation studios, game development, VFX
Common UsageDesigning characters' appearance and personalityCreating detailed 3D models for animation or games

While both roles are essential in character creation, Character Design focuses on conceptualizing and visualizing characters, whereas Character Modeling involves transforming those concepts into detailed 3D models. Understanding these differences helps professionals and employers identify the right skill set for each stage of character development.

How do you get a job as a character designer?

To become a character designer, build a strong portfolio showcasing your drawing and design skills, often using digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Gaining experience through internships, freelance work, or art school can improve your chances, and understanding character development, anatomy, and storytelling is essential for success in the field.

What do you do as a character designer?

A character designer creates visual concepts and designs for characters used in animation, video games, comics, and other media. They develop unique appearances, costumes, and personalities, often using digital tools like Photoshop or Illustrator, and collaborate with writers and directors to ensure the character fits the story. Strong drawing skills and understanding of anatomy and storytelling are essential for this role.

Is character design a good career?

Character design is a viable career for those with strong artistic skills, creativity, and proficiency in digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. It often involves working in entertainment, gaming, or animation industries, with job stability depending on industry demand and individual skill level.

How hard is it to get a job in character design?

Securing a job in character design can be competitive, requiring a strong portfolio demonstrating artistic skills, creativity, and proficiency with tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Building experience through internships, freelance work, or personal projects can improve chances, and a background in art, animation, or related fields is often preferred.

What is character design?

Character design is the process of creating the visual appearance, personality, and style of characters for use in media such as animation, video games, comics, and films. Character designers combine art skills and storytelling to develop unique and memorable characters that fit the project's narrative and aesthetic. This includes designing physical features, clothing, expressions, and poses, often collaborating with writers, directors, and animators to ensure the characters support the story and appeal to the target audience.
What are the most commonly searched types of Character Design jobs in Seattle, WA? The most popular types of Character Design jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What are popular job titles related to Character Design jobs in Seattle, WA? For Character Design jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Character Design jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Character Design jobs in Seattle, WA are:
What cities near Seattle, WA are hiring for Character Design jobs? Cities near Seattle, WA with the most Character Design job openings:
Character Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Design job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 67% Full Time, 24% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 76% In-person, and 24% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,182 per year, or $21.7 per hour.

Lead Concept Artist - TCG

Fanatics Collectibles

Seattle, WA

Other

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

About the Team

Fanatics Collectibles is a new company operating at the intersection of collectibles, culture, and technology. Backed by world-class investors, operators, and sports & entertainment partners, we are building the global leader in next-generation collectibles. As part of the broader Fanatics ecosystem, we leverage a digital sports platform that spans over 900 sports properties and engages more than 81 million fans. Together, we are reimagining every part of the collectibles experience for fans, partners, and creators.

Lead Concept Artist - Fanatics TCG

About the Team

Fanatics Collectibles is building the next generation of trading card games.

The Fanatics TCG studio exists to create original worlds that can endure for decades - expressed through gameplay, art, story, collectibles, and community. Our ambition is not simply to launch games, but to build iconic franchises that become deeply embedded in culture and fandom over time.

We are assembling a world-class creative team capable of building genre-defining universes from the ground up, and we are seeking a Lead Concept Artist to help shape the visual identity of those worlds at the highest level.

This is a rare opportunity for an artist who wants to move beyond production execution and play a foundational role in defining the artistic vision, emotional tone, and visual DNA of entirely new franchises.

Role Overview

The Lead Concept Artist will serve as a senior creative leader within the Fanatics TCG studio, helping establish and elevate the visual direction of our original IPs across characters, worlds, factions, environments, cultures, and key moments.

This role goes beyond creating exceptional artwork. We are looking for someone who can help define the creative bar for the studio - a highly conceptual thinker with exceptional artistic taste, strong worldbuilding instincts, and the ability to guide visual development at both a strategic and executional level.

You will partner closely with Creative Leadership, Design, Product, Narrative, and external artists to shape the foundational imagery and visual storytelling that will influence entire franchises for years to come.

The ideal candidate combines elite-level craft with leadership, mentorship, and the ability to bring clarity and cohesion to large-scale creative exploration.

What You'll Do

Define the Visual Identity of Original Worlds

  • Lead the visual development of original TCG universes from earliest exploration through established franchise direction
  • Create concept art that defines tone, atmosphere, visual language, emotional resonance, and world cohesion
  • Help establish iconic characters, creatures, factions, environments, props, symbols, and visual motifs that become foundational to the franchise
  • Push visual exploration beyond expected genre conventions to create distinct, memorable, and ownable worlds

Drive Creative Vision & Artistic Excellence

  • Help establish and uphold the artistic quality bar across the studio
  • Influence visual direction through strong creative authorship, taste, and storytelling instincts
  • Develop foundational artwork and visual targets that guide both internal teams and external partners
  • Ensure consistency and cohesion across multiple visual initiatives and evolving franchise needs
  • Contribute to long-term franchise identity and visual evolution strategy

Collaborate Across Leadership & Development Teams

  • Partner closely with Creative Directors, Game Designers, Narrative, Product, and Brand teams during early ideation and worldbuilding
  • Translate abstract ideas, themes, and gameplay pillars into compelling visual direction
  • Participate in high-level creative discussions influencing the future direction of original IP development
  • Help align visual storytelling with gameplay, player fantasy, emotional engagement, and collectible appeal

Mentor & Elevate the Creative Team

  • Provide guidance, feedback, mentorship, and artistic direction to internal artists and external partners
  • Help shape the studio's artistic culture through collaboration, critique, references, and visual leadership
  • Support external vendors and freelance artists to ensure alignment with franchise quality and direction
  • Contribute to the development of scalable visual development pipelines and workflows

Explore, Experiment & Innovate

  • Drive rapid visual ideation and concept exploration across multiple creative directions
  • Balance highly polished presentation work with fast iterative sketch and exploratory workflows
  • Bring curiosity, experimentation, and fresh perspective into the development process
  • Continuously push for stronger originality, emotional impact, and artistic differentiation

What You Bring

  • An exceptional portfolio demonstrating world-class concept art, visual storytelling, taste, and originality
  • Expertise in one or more areas such as character design, creature design, environment design, costume design, or visual worldbuilding
  • Deep understanding of composition, shape language, lighting, color, mood, cinematic storytelling, and franchise visual development
  • Strong understanding of how concept art translates into scalable production pipelines
  • Ability to lead visual exploration from ambiguity into clear and compelling creative direction
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills within highly creative and iterative environments
  • Strong mentorship instincts and ability to elevate the work of others
  • Genuine passion for fantasy, sci-fi, games, trading card games, and immersive worldbuilding

Preferred Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience in concept art, visual development, or franchise development within games, film, animation, publishing, or related industries
  • Experience contributing to original IP creation or long-term franchise development
  • Experience leading or mentoring artists within collaborative creative environments
  • Experience working with external studios, freelancers, or outsourcing partners
  • Strong understanding of collectible-driven art and fan engagement
  • Passion for TCGs, gaming culture, fantasy art, and visual storytelling ecosystems

Why Join Fanatics TCG

This is an opportunity to help create entirely new worlds at scale - worlds that will live across games, collectibles, communities, and global fandom for years to come.

At Fanatics TCG, artists are not simply supporting production. They are helping define the emotional and visual identity of original franchises from the ground up.

As a Lead Concept Artist, your work will shape the images, characters, and worlds that players and collectors connect with for years - potentially decades - into the future.

If you want to build something enduring, ambitious, and culturally meaningful, we'd love to hear from you.

Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don't fall victim to fraud.  Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics email address (including @collectfanatics.com).  For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers

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