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Game Character Design Internship Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AEG

Social Media & Graphic Design Intern

OH · On-site

$14 - $17.75/hr

Lake County Captains: 2026 Social Media & Graphic Design Internship The Lake County Captains are ... Exhibit willingness to attend events outside of normal game days to capture social media content ...

AEG Presents

Social Media & Graphic Design Intern

Eastlake, OH · On-site

$14 - $17.75/hr

Lake County Captains: 2026 Social Media & Graphic Design Internship The Lake County Captains are ... Exhibit willingness to attend events outside of normal game days to capture social media content ...

Epic Games

Character Animation Lead

Cary, NC · On-site

What You'll Do Epic Games is looking for a Character Animation Director to join our Special ... design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to ...

A Thinking Ape

$70K/yr

A 2D art portfolio that demonstrates creativity, versatility, and strong art fundamentals--particularly human anatomy, character design, and colour theory. * Experience creating 2D game art assets ...

Thatgamecompany

3D Character Artist (Mid-Senior)

$81K - $114K/yr

Brainstorm ideas and create rapid 3D prototypes during the concept and design phase * Support the ... Passion for creating memorable characters for games * Understanding of Industry Standard Software ...

Deeplocal

Fall Design Intern

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$19 - $29/hr

Design interns work alongside experience designers, creative marketing strategists, and ... game from thousands of miles away, to a single button that dims the lights, orders food, silencers ...

TapBlaze

Narrative Design Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

This is a 12 week internship where you'll work directly with the game and design teams to ideate, write, and refine in-game dialogue, event arcs, and character moments that delight players and stay ...

TapBlaze

Narrative Design Intern

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

This is a 12 week internship where you'll work directly with the game and design teams to ideate, write, and refine in-game dialogue, event arcs, and character moments that delight players and stay ...

Deeplocal

Fall Design Intern

Pittsburgh, PA

$19 - $29/hr

Design interns work alongside experience designers, creative marketing strategists, and ... game from thousands of miles away, to a single button that dims the lights, orders food, silencers ...

teamLFG

OR

$120.90K - $126.90K/yr

Do you think a lot about how art impacts gameplay, how character design can enable fan cosplays, or how character poses and environments speak to different cultures all around the world? As the ...

Absurd Ventures

Art Director

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$185K - $225K/yr

Solid understanding of game development pipelines, including concept art, character design, 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, and visual effects. * Proven ability to translate creative concepts into ...

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Game Character Design Internship information

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How much do game character design internship jobs pay per hour?

As of May 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for game character design internship in the United States is $19.38, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $21.63 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Game Character Design Intern, you need a solid understanding of character anatomy, drawing skills, and familiarity with design principles, often supported by coursework in art, animation, or game design. Proficiency in digital art tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D modeling software such as Blender or Maya is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong collaboration skills help you stand out in team-based, iterative environments. These abilities are crucial for producing compelling, visually consistent characters that enhance gameplay and storytelling.

What types of collaborative projects can I expect to work on during a Game Character Design Internship?

As a Game Character Design Intern, you’ll typically collaborate closely with concept artists, 3D modelers, animators, and game designers. You may contribute to brainstorming sessions, help iterate on character concepts, refine visual details based on feedback, and assist in preparing assets for integration into the game engine. This teamwork offers valuable exposure to the full game development pipeline and helps you build professional relationships that can lead to full-time roles in the industry.

What is a Game Character Design Internship?

A Game Character Design Internship is a temporary position where aspiring artists or designers work with game development teams to create, refine, and visualize characters for video games. Interns typically assist with concept art, 3D modeling, texturing, and sometimes animation under the guidance of experienced character designers. The internship provides hands-on experience in the gaming industry, helping interns build a portfolio and gain practical skills. It is ideal for students or recent graduates interested in pursuing a career in game art and design.

What is the difference between Game Character Design Internship vs Game Environment Design Internship?

AspectGame Character Design InternshipGame Environment Design Internship
Required SkillsConcept art, 3D modeling, character anatomyLevel design, environment modeling, landscape creation
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, gaming companies, remoteDesign studios, gaming companies, remote
Industry UsageUsed in character creation teams within game developmentUsed in level and environment teams within game development

Both internships are common in the gaming industry and often require skills in design software and a portfolio. The main difference lies in their focus: Game Character Design Internships concentrate on creating characters, while Game Environment Design Internships focus on designing immersive game worlds. Candidates should choose based on their interest in characters or environments within game development.

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Game Character Design Internship jobs near you
Principal Concept Artist (Character) - VALORANT

Principal Concept Artist (Character) - VALORANT

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$130.40K - $136.80K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

As a Character Concept Artist at Riot, you will bring characters and creatures to life. Drawing inspiration from as little as a napkin sketch or as much as a full-blown narrative concept, you will generate ideas and craft designs that are resonant, compelling, and iconic. As a problem solver, first and foremost, you will help come up with visual solutions for game concepts.
As a Principal Character Concept Artist on the VALORANT team, you'll be responsible for designing characters that fit the thematics and tone of the game, while helping to define a unique interpretation of the IP that fits within our genre and gameplay needs. You'll partner with the Art Director and character art leaders as you work across disciplines to shape the visual identity of new characters. You will also collaborate closely with designers, writers, and producers to bring these characters to life through strong, story-driven design.
Responsibilities:
  • Build, sketch, ideate, and iterate new character concepts in collaboration with other developers
  • Craft detailed concept art and orthographics for 3D artists and animators to implement into working game assets
  • A visual storyteller, able to design visual reads and details that breathe life into a character and communicate the core fantasy and persona in original ways that successfully push the boundaries of the VALORANT IP
  • Creatively solve problems and figure out efficient solutions on executing the look and feel of the character
  • Hold the Creative Vision and drive other discipline to build characters that are cohesive in their visuals, narrative, and gameplay
  • Take your skillful knowledge of story tropes, archetypes, and narrative devices of all kinds to help improve the designs that go into our worlds.
  • Bring your deep understanding of human and animal anatomy and know how to stretch the limits while still maintaining a consistent art direction.
  • Mentor and support concept artists on your team through your craft
Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of experience in the video game industry as a Character Concept Artist
  • 5+ years of experience working with Photoshop or other relevant painting/design tools
  • Mastery of human and animal anatomy, color theory, value, and silhouette.
  • A portfolio demonstrating not just high-quality stylized artwork, but the ability to solve complex design challenges (e.g., functional clothing, mechanical components, or unique silhouettes).
  • Ability to transform creative briefs into a range of initial ideas and iteratively strengthen designs throughout the full development lifecycle.
  • Experience mentoring other artists and working cross-functionally with 3D, Animation, and Narrative teams to bring a character from concept to ship.
  • Exceptional skill in synthesizing contemporary styles and global trends into unique IP-specific aesthetics to drive character identity and visual storytelling.
Desired Qualifications:
  • Shipped a AAA title as a Character Concept Artist
  • Experience working as a Character Concept Artist on an FPS title
  • Ability to create 3D proxies/blockouts or paint over 3D models as part of your visual design process.

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!
When submitting your application, please provide a portfolio of your high-quality concept art - including stylized artwork.
Our Perks:
Riot has a focus on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy, in addition to other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.
At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.
It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.
Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:
  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.
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About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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