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Concept Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll: sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA

$136K - $157K/yr

You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint ...

Sega of America

Senior Graphic Designer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$86K - $107K/yr

Create and maintain brand guidelines and concept decks for Sonic the Hedgehog and Transmedia IPs ... Mentor designers by providing instructional technique demonstrations, encourage questions ...

SEGA OF AMERICA INC

Senior Graphic Designer

Burbank, CA · On-site

$68K - $94K/yr

Create and maintain brand guidelines and concept decks for Sonic the Hedgehog and Transmedia IPs ... Mentor designers by providing instructional technique demonstrations, encourage questions ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

Newport Beach, CA · On-site

$71K - $158K/yr

Designer, Project Designer & Senior Designer For five decades, HPI Architecture has shaped ... Contribute to the design of architectural projects from early concept through approvals and ...

THE HILL PARTNERSHIP INC

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$71K - $158K/yr

Designer, Project Designer & Senior Designer For five decades, HPI Architecture has shaped ... Contribute to the design of architectural projects from early concept through approvals and ...

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Concept Designer information

See California salary details

$35K

$82.1K

$108.6K

How much do concept designer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for concept designer in California is $82,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a concept designer?

Concept designers are creative professionals who develop and visualize original ideas for products, characters, environments, or experiences, often in industries such as film, video games, animation, and product design. They use sketches, digital art, and other visual tools to communicate concepts to teams and clients before final production begins. Their work helps establish the look and feel of a project and serves as a blueprint for further development.

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

To thrive as a Concept Designer, you need a strong background in visual design, creativity, and an understanding of design principles, often supported by a degree in art, design, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, 3D modeling software, and digital sketching platforms is typically required. Exceptional communication, problem-solving, and collaboration skills help Concept Designers articulate ideas and work effectively with multidisciplinary teams. These abilities are crucial for translating abstract ideas into compelling visuals that guide the creative direction of projects.

How does a concept designer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

As a Concept Designer, you’ll regularly collaborate with teams such as art direction, 3D modeling, animation, and game design to ensure your concepts align with the project’s vision and technical requirements. This often involves participating in brainstorming sessions, presenting your visual ideas, and incorporating feedback from stakeholders to refine your designs. Clear communication and adaptability are crucial, as you’ll often need to balance creative ambitions with practical production constraints. Successful collaboration helps ensure the end product maintains a cohesive look and feel across all stages of development.

What are popular job titles related to Concept Designer jobs in California?

For Concept Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Concept Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Concept Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Concept Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Concept Designer job openings:

Concept Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Concept Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,059 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Concept Designer and Illustrator (Video Games) - Digital Eclipse

Digital Eclipse Entertainment Partners

Emeryville, CA • On-site

$80K - $95K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, PTO

Re-posted 12 days ago

Job description

Concept Designer and Illustrator (Video Games) - Digital Eclipse
Salary + benefit package | Remote (US based)
($80,000 - $95,000)
The Company
Classic video games deserve better. At Digital Eclipse, we treat them with the same care and respect given to other artistic mediums. In its original incarnation in 1994, Digital Eclipse pioneered accurate video game re-releases, emulating vintage arcade games well before "emulation" was a household word. 25 years later, we've been reborn as a new kind of studio - one dedicated to not only restoring gaming's heritage, but to preserving it and keeping it alive and available for future generations.
We've released critically acclaimed games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection and Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, worked with Mega Man, Street Fighter, and Disney, and developed successful original IP like #IDARB. And we're just getting started.
The Role
We're looking for a highly versatile Concept Designer and Illustrator to support multiple game projects across concept, pre-production, and production. This role is ideal for an artist who thrives on tackling a wide variety of styles, adapts quickly, can translate loose direction into strong visual execution and work effectively within the confines of different Intellectual Properties (IP).
You must be able to translate the essence of a brand into identifiable and communicative designs, hone in on an IP's visual language to create new and exciting artwork, and ideate conceptual illustrations from scratch. You'll help establish the visual tone of projects early, support ongoing production needs across disciplines, and collaborate closely with design, production, and engineering. This role requires comfort owning work end-to-end and jumping between styles and mediums as needed.
What You'll Do
  • Create background art, character art, and illustrative assets across multiple projects
  • Produce concept art to help define the visual tone and style of a game, especially during early phases
  • Support art needs for retro or stylized projects, including adherence to established "house styles"
  • Help rapidly establish and evolve an art style from business development through pre-production and into production
  • Translate written or verbal direction, often vague or evolving, into clear, actionable visual solutions
  • Iterate quickly based on feedback, balancing creative ambition with scope and production realities
  • Conceptualize and design the experience-focused User Interface (UI) and Heads-Up Display (HUD), prioritizing atmosphere and emotion for the game experience.
  • Execute art clean-up and restoration tasks for classic titles, including addressing dust specs, wear and tear, and ensuring image integrity.
  • Assist in the creation of production assets, leveraging proficiency across digital art categories, including 3D, pixel art, raster art, and vector art.
  • Collaborate closely with design, production, engineering, and external partners as needed
  • Support multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and consistency
  • Contribute to storyboarding, visual exploration, and early narrative or gameplay ideation when needed
  • Support additional art tasks and visual needs as projects shift between production phases

Must Haves
  • Strong ability to concept from scratch and develop ideas visually without heavy direction
  • Demonstrated experience iterating quickly with fast turnaround times
  • Professional experience in commercial art (games, animation, film, or related industries)
  • Comfort working across diverse art styles and mediums, including adapting to existing house styles
  • Strong color sense and illustrative fundamentals
  • Experience with storyboarding or sequential visual storytelling
  • Demonstrated experience in conceptual UI/HUD design or entertainment design.
  • Commitment to creating original artwork without reliance on AI generation tools.
  • Proficiency with industry-standard tools (Blender, Adobe Suite, etc.)
  • Comfort working across different categories of digital art including raster, vector, and pixel based mediums
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally
  • Ability to take unclear or high-level feedback and turn it into concrete action items
  • Welcomes feedback as part of a collaborative, iterative creative process
  • Clear awareness of scope, timelines, and production constraints
  • Ability to commute or relocate to the Emeryville, California area

Bonus Points
  • Passion for video games, especially retro games
  • 3+ years of experience in commercial art
  • Experience working with established IP
  • Familiarity with licensors and licensed properties
  • Experience coordinating with or supporting external contractors
  • Understanding of traditional art styles and techniques
  • Foundational knowledge of 3D art (modeling or block-outs) or modeling experience.

Compensation, Benefits + Perks
  • Salary Range: $80,000 - $95,000/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
  • Full medical and dental benefits
  • Generous parental leave
  • 15+ paid holidays + PTO
  • A friendly office with collaborative and talented colleagues, an arcade, and rooftop deck to enjoy office lunches and BBQs

To Apply
Please submit a resume, cover letter and link to portfolio
EEO Statement
Digital Eclipse is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to equal employment regardless of race, religion or lack thereof, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, medical condition, veteran status, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

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