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Creative Designer Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

Support the Art Direction of external development teams; translating and upholding the creative ... Substance Painter / Designer and PBR workflows. * Houdini, AfterEffects, Nuke or similar.

Support the Art Direction of external development teams; translating and upholding the creative ... Substance Painter / Designer and PBR workflows. * Houdini, AfterEffects, Nuke or similar.

Support the Art Direction of external development teams; translating and upholding the creative ... Substance Painter / Designer and PBR workflows. * Houdini, AfterEffects, Nuke or similar.

The Observability team within ASE is a fast moving, highly skilled team this is designing and ... Gain in-depth understanding of the domain and come up with creative ideas in the domain ...

About the Role BAGGU is looking for a Full-Time Assistant Product Designer to join our Product ... Ability to identify design challenges and develop creative solutions to address them Nice to Haves

About the Role BAGGU is looking for a Full-Time Assistant Product Designer to join our Product ... Ability to identify design challenges and develop creative solutions to address them Nice to Haves

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Showing results 1-20

Creative Designer information

See Santa Rosa, CA salary details

$42.1K

$95.2K

$153.1K

How much do creative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative designer in Santa Rosa, CA is $95,238.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,100.00 and $125,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is AI replacing designers?

AI tools are increasingly used in creative design to automate repetitive tasks and generate ideas, but they do not fully replace creative designers. Creative designers bring human intuition, originality, and problem-solving skills that AI cannot replicate, making their role essential in the design process. AI serves as a complement to enhance productivity and creativity rather than a complete substitute.

How much does a creative designer get paid?

The average salary for a creative designer varies by experience and location but typically ranges from $45,000 to $85,000 annually. Entry-level positions may start around $40,000, while experienced designers with specialized skills can earn over $100,000. Salaries often depend on the industry, company size, and whether the role is freelance or full-time.

What is a Creative Designer?

A Creative Designer is a professional responsible for developing visual concepts and designs for various media, such as advertisements, branding, websites, and product packaging. They use their artistic skills and knowledge of design software to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. Creative Designers often work with marketing teams, clients, or art directors to create visually appealing content that aligns with a brand's identity. Their role may involve brainstorming, sketching, creating digital assets, and ensuring that all visuals meet project objectives. They play a key role in shaping the visual aspects of a company's communications.

What is the difference between Creative Designer vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative DesignerGraphic Designer
Primary FocusConcept development, branding, and visual storytellingCreating visual content like logos, posters, and digital graphics
Skills & ToolsDesign software, creativity, branding knowledgeAdobe Photoshop, Illustrator, layout skills
Work EnvironmentAdvertising agencies, branding firms, marketing teamsPrint and digital media companies, design studios
CredentialsDesign degree or portfolio, sometimes certificationsDesign degree or portfolio, certifications optional

While both roles involve visual creation, a Creative Designer focuses on conceptualizing branding and storytelling, whereas a Graphic Designer primarily produces visual content for specific projects. The roles often overlap, but the Creative Designer has a broader scope in the creative process.

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

To thrive as a Creative Designer, you need a strong grasp of design principles, proficiency in visual storytelling, and typically a degree in graphic design or a related field. Mastery of tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and familiarity with digital design platforms are essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication help set standout designers apart in collaborative environments. These skills ensure the creation of visually impactful, brand-consistent work that meets client needs and drives project success.

What does a creative designer do?

A creative designer develops visual concepts to communicate ideas and solve design problems, often using tools like Adobe Creative Suite. They create graphics, layouts, and branding materials for various media, collaborating with clients or teams to meet project goals.

What's the highest paying creative job?

Creative directors and senior art directors often earn the highest salaries in creative fields, especially in advertising, film, and digital media. These roles typically require extensive experience, leadership skills, and proficiency with design and project management tools. Salaries can vary based on industry, location, and company size but are generally among the top-paying positions in creative careers.

How does a Creative Designer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Creative Designers frequently work closely with marketing, product, and development teams to ensure visual concepts align with overall business goals. They participate in brainstorming sessions, gather input from stakeholders, and adjust designs based on feedback from cross-functional colleagues. This collaborative process helps ensure that creative outputs not only look appealing but also support strategic objectives, meet technical requirements, and resonate with the target audience. Maintaining open communication and adaptability is key for success in these collaborative environments.

What Is a Creative Designer?

A creative designer, also known as a graphic designer, is involved with advertising and marketing. Some creative designers are employed directly by an organization while others work for an advertising agency. Another option is to work as a self-employed freelance creative designer. Your main job duties involve creating advertising materials for a company. As a creative designer, you create a rough layout for design projects and follow them through to completion. You use digital illustration software to create the finished products. It is often essential to collaborate with other designers as well as writers, marketers, advertisers, and vendors on the project.

What are the most commonly searched types of Creative Designer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA? The most popular types of Creative Designer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA are:
What are popular job titles related to Creative Designer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA? For Creative Designer jobs in Santa Rosa, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities near Santa Rosa, CA are hiring for Creative Designer jobs? Cities near Santa Rosa, CA with the most Creative Designer job openings:
Infographic showing various Creative Designer job openings in Santa Rosa, CA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 75% Full Time, 22% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,238 per year, or $45.8 per hour.

Associate Art Director

Cloud Chamber

Novato, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Job description

As an Associate Art Director at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help shape the visual excellence and output of our Art Department, defining and evangelizing the realization pillars for our game visuals while managing quality expectations for both internal and external development teams. You will be responsible for managing the relationship with our co-development partner; aligning with their art team, upholding the creative vision of the project, and delivering clear, actionable briefs that translate the overarching creative vision into cohesive, actionable benchmarks for deliverables. By leading this passionate group of artists to craft breathtaking environments, characters, and effects that support the overarching Art Vision, we will bring the richly imagined world of BioShock to life.
What You'll Do:
  • Ensure the successful creation and execution of domains within the internal Art Department, and external partners, by setting and managing quality expectations in alignment with the Art Vision and Production Strategy.
  • Support the Art Direction of external development teams; translating and upholding the creative vision, submitting clear, actionable briefs, reviewing work and giving meaningful feedback.
  • Define and evangelize the realization pillars to the team for the visuals of the game in accordance with the overarching Art Vision and Creative Direction.
  • Partner with Tech Art, Level Design, Mission Design, Narrative, and Cinematics to ensure a cohesive and holistic approach to the realization of the characters, UI, and VFX in support of the Creative Direction.Partner with Stakeholders in other art teams to ensure requirements/needs are being met to deliver on the art needs of the game.
  • Develop and maintain appropriate references and documentation to guide the team.
  • Support Art Leads and Production to plan and mandate work for the team.
  • Participate in reviews to validate the quality of the implementation of the departments under your purview.
  • Train and empower the Leads and ICs in your care to integrate art direction in their work to unleash their creativity and the ownership of their work.
  • Assist in the preparation of documentation and presentations.
  • Act as a stakeholder for recruitment, hiring, and onboarding.
  • Actively contribute to talent development, including identifying high-potential individuals, supporting succession planning, and supporting the ongoing development of skills and capabilities across the team.

What We'll Do Together:
At Cloud Chamber, we are champions of high standards, pushing for progress and embracing change. We will work closely and constructively across design, art, engineering, animation, and audio teams to realize our creative ambitions. Together, we will stay current on technological advancements and identify solutions to overcome developmental obstacles to deliver a world-class AAA experience.
Skills & Experiences:
  • A minimum of 10 years in game development, with at least 3+ years as an Associate Art Director.
  • Shipped at least one full cycle AAA game in a Leadership capacity.
  • Had significant impact on a AAA title recognized for its high visual fidelity.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Art or equivalent work experience.
  • Previous experience leading large art teams for AAA game development.Experience working with Art Directors/Creative Directors and spearheading translation of sophisticated art vision.
  • UE5 Experience.
  • Lighting and VFX experience, working with Lumen.
  • Maya, 3ds Max, Blender and ZBrush.
  • Substance Painter / Designer and PBR workflows.
  • Houdini, AfterEffects, Nuke or similar.
  • Background in 3D Art for games.
  • Experience working with hybrid/distributed teams and co-development.
  • Art and environmental storytelling experience.
  • Knowledge of asset creation pipelines.
  • Focus on First-Person Shooter is a plus
  • Bilingual French/English is a plus.

Who You Are:
  • Proven leadership and mentoring skills with a track record of guiding teams.
  • Being a manager of people who work in leadership positions with the ability to model best in class management philosophies.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly, package information for diverse audiences, and deliver difficult feedback with empathy and professionalism.
  • A reliable, positive force multiplier, actively seeking opportunities to integrate work across disciplines and contribute to a healthy, supportive team environment.
  • Persistent and self-motivated with a proactive mindset.
  • Able to maintain effectiveness and quality under pressure, ambiguity, and fast-changing priorities.
  • Can build and maintain trust-based relationships across all levels of the organization, showing an ability to listen actively, understand differing perspectives, and navigate organizational complexity with tact and emotional intelligence.
  • Highly open to feedback and direction, possessing a desire to learn new skills, and capable of producing quick, quality revisions based on new insights or constraints.
  • Shows a strong ownership of tasks, drives work forward autonomously, and maintains a critical eye for detail and organization to ensure high standards of quality.

Who We Are:
At Cloud Chamber we strive to make BioShock games that move people: evocative, immersive, and meaningful experiences that stay with you long after you've rolled credits. Great games are born from great collaborations, supported by a culture that brings out the best in our teams. We work openly, learn through play, take ownership, push ourselves to be better, and deliver for our players.
For candidates located in Quebec:This position requires professional proficiency in both French and English. Proficiency in English is required to collaborate with our U.S. teams and international partners, as well as to handle specialized technical documentation (reading, writing, and communication).
#LI-Hybrid
The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $176,600 and $261,380 per Year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program. Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses.
As an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to ensuring that qualified individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform their essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us if you need reasonable accommodation.
Please note that 2K Games and its studios never use instant messaging apps or personal email accounts to contact prospective employees or conduct interviews. When emailing prospective employees, we only use 2K.com accounts