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Senior Visual Development Artist Jobs in Chicago, IL

Senior Visual Communication Designer In a nutshell: Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the ... Contribute to the development and expression of brand identities across mediums * Create looks-like ...

Senior Visual Communication Designer In a nutshell: Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the ... Contribute to the development and expression of brand identities across mediums * Create looks-like ...

Teaching Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$6.8K/mo

... areas of visual art, theater, dance, and music. In partnership with the Chicago Public Schools ... ALIZE experience culminates in the presentation of a Senior Portfolio This position is part-time, ...

Include examples of visual brand development, photography direction, campaign concepting, and team ... In this fully remote role, you will be responsible for the conceptual development and artistic ...

New

Include examples of visual brand development, photography direction, campaign concepting, and team ... In this fully remote role, you will be responsible for the conceptual development and artistic ...

New

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Creatives

Crown Point, IN · On-site

$75 - $100/day

Visual Arts * Drawing * Painting * Watercolor * Acrylics * Mixed Media * Sculpture * Pottery ... Marketing * Small Business Development * Entrepreneurship * Portfolio Development Essential ...

New

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$130K - $156K/yr

Experience implementing visual effects in an industry standard or proprietary Game Engine from ... Support for personal professional development

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

Experience implementing visual effects in an industry standard or proprietary Game Engine from ... Support for personal professional development

Our student body includes individuals from early childhood to senior adults. Teaching Artist ... Must regularly explore skill development to grow as an artist and must be open to feedback.

Lead concept development, visual storytelling, art direction, and execution for integrated ... Bachelor's degree in graphic design, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field, or ...

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Senior Visual Development Artist information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$22

$58

$112

How much do senior visual development artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior visual development artist in Chicago, IL is $58.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.62 and $64.62 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Senior Visual Development Artist vs Concept Artist?

AspectSenior Visual Development ArtistConcept Artist
CredentialsPortfolio, relevant art degrees, experience in visual storytellingPortfolio, art degrees, strong drawing skills
Work EnvironmentFilm, animation, gaming studios, collaborative teamsPre-production, brainstorming sessions, independent or team projects
Industry UsageUsed in animation, gaming, film for visual style developmentPrimarily in entertainment, gaming, film for initial design concepts

The main difference is that Senior Visual Development Artists focus on creating the overall visual style and look for projects, working closely with art directors. Concept Artists primarily generate initial character, environment, and object designs during early production stages. Both roles require strong artistic skills and industry experience, but their focus and stage of involvement differ.

How does a senior visual development artist typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

As a Senior Visual Development Artist, you will frequently collaborate with directors, art directors, character designers, and 3D modelers to ensure a unified visual style across the project. Your role often involves translating story concepts into detailed visuals that serve as references for other departments. Effective communication and the ability to receive and incorporate feedback are essential, as you’ll participate in regular reviews and brainstorming sessions to align creative direction. This collaborative environment allows you to contribute to the overall artistic vision while learning from cross-functional teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior visual development artist?

To thrive as a Senior Visual Development Artist, you need advanced drawing and painting skills, a strong understanding of color theory and composition, and a portfolio showcasing experience in concept art for animation or games. Mastery of digital painting tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, and familiarity with 3D software like Blender or Maya is often expected. Strong communication, creative problem-solving, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams are standout soft skills in this role. These skills ensure the effective translation of storytelling ideas into compelling visuals that drive the overall look and feel of a project.

What is a senior visual development artist?

A Senior Visual Development Artist is a creative professional who helps define the visual style, mood, and look of animated films, video games, or other media projects. They create concept art, color scripts, environments, characters, and props that guide the production team in achieving a cohesive visual direction. Senior artists in this role are also responsible for mentoring junior artists, collaborating with directors and other departments, and ensuring that the visual storytelling aligns with the project's vision. Their work is critical in establishing a project’s unique identity and atmosphere.
What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Development Artist jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Visual Development Artist jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Senior Visual Development Artist jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Senior Visual Development Artist job openings:

Senior Visual Communication Designer

IDEO

Chicago, IL • Hybrid

$80K - $100K/yr

Other

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Senior Visual Communication Designer
In a nutshell:

Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the biggest impact through visual storytelling. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to bring ideas, research, strategy, and stories to life through strong craft execution.
The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in graphic design and experience applying practical and conceptual design principles across brand expression, interaction and digital product experiences, motion, and storytelling. We're looking for designers who bring a distinct visual voice, curiosity, and a commitment to craft excellence. 

In this role, you will... 

You'll work as a key contributor on project teams, supporting all phases of the design process-from early exploration and prototyping through to polished, client-facing deliverables. Your work may span brand, storytelling, motion, interaction and digital product, information design, packaging, and environmental expression.

Once here you will:
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate research and strategy into compelling visual narratives
  • Contribute to the development and expression of brand identities across mediums
  • Create looks-like/works-like prototypes at varying levels of fidelity to explore and communicate design directions
  • Design thoughtful experiences across digital, physical, and hybrid touchpoints with the end user in mind
  • Produce high-quality visual deliverables that communicate user stories and strategic intent working across a variety of industries (health, financial services, consumer products, etc.)
  • Advocate for exceptional visual craft through making, iteration, and collaboration
Some previous projects to check out:
  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology Brand
  • Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
  • The Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California Berkeley
  • Cities United Rebrand
Design Craft:
  • Relevant experience and/or educational background required in interactive/graphic design across a variety of applications and media
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating elevated design craft, typography, layout, and visual storytelling
  • Extensive experience with tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and Figma
  • Familiarity with motion and interaction tools (After Effects, prototyping platforms, etc.)
  • Comfort collaborating in client-facing presentation environments such as Google Slides and FigJam/Figma Slides
  • Curiosity and openness to experimenting with emerging mediums including 3D, motion, and AI-assisted design
Diverse Experience:
  • Experience establishing and expressing brand identity, from understanding strategy through creative interpretation and execution, including: visual identities, brand systems, and guidelines for implementation
  • Experience in concept ideation, design research, and prototyping, with a curiosity for learning and experimenting across visual, digital, and experiential mediums
  • Ability to work across a wide range of design challenges, recognizing patterns, and translating insights into thoughtful visual solutions
  • Comfort moving between exploratory and polished work, helping teams bring ideas to life through strong craft and storytelling
Key Mindsets:
  • Collaborative and adaptable: able to navigate team dynamics,timelines, and client contexts while delivering exceptional design. 
  • Growth oriented and resilient: open to feedback, eager to iterate, and comfortable learning through experimentation and critique
  • Curious and proactive: able to generate ideas, take initiative, and contribute wherever needed, from early exploration to final delivery. 
What does IDEO offer you?

IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients and their organizations, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and humility. We intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.

Payscale & Benefits

IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity.

The salary range for this role is $80,000-$100,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on candidate experience, location, and other factors. As a full-time position, this role is eligible for employee benefits.