If you are an artist interested in working with animation and stylized video games, then a visual development program may be the right path for you.
Visual development artists create visual design, direction, and style for media projects like films, video games, or graphic novels. They work closely with other production team members to ensure the final product is consistent with the original vision.
What Is a Visual Development Artist?
Visual development artists create the worlds audiences will enter when watching animated movies. They work closely with the film’s director, art directors, set designers, costume designers, and other creative team members to bring the movie’s vision to life.
Their duties include creating concept art and storyboards to help the entire production team stay on the same page throughout the process. This concept artwork can be anything from a scene or character to an overall look for the movie. It is also the visual development artist’s responsibility to create color keys to help set the mood for each scene.
A visual development artist works in many industries, including animation studios, film and video game production companies, graphic design, and advertising agencies. They can also find employment with electronics manufacturing businesses to assist in creating their technology products.
Because this field is so competitive, aspiring visual development artists must begin their career journey with a valid bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject from online programs or schools like the Academy of Art University. An ideal major would be one focusing on visual arts, but other relevant degrees could include graphic design, art history, or animation. Pursuing an internship to gain hands-on experience in the industry is also a good idea.
How to Become a Visual Development Artist
A visual development artist (often referred to as a “vis dev”) is a multimedia artist who specializes in creating the world and characters for an animated movie or TV show. They are responsible for using lighting, color keys, and visual effects to create immersive cinematic worlds for audiences. They also work closely with the art director on setting the visual tone for the film or video game.
To become a visual development artist, having a solid portfolio showcasing your talent and creativity is essential. This can be a mixture of personal projects and academic or professional work. A well-rounded portfolio will demonstrate a solid design foundation in perspective, composition, painting, and lighting. It should also include storyboard samples that show the thought process behind your work, including character sketches and facial expressions.
Animation is a highly collaborative industry, so it is essential to network with other animation professionals. Finding entry-level positions can help you build connections and learn the necessary skills to advance your career. It is also helpful to join professional organizations to stay current on new technology and trends in entertainment production.
While animation is a very competitive industry, it can be gratifying for those who are successful. Producing an animated movie or TV show takes much time and effort. It is critical that a business or advertiser clearly defines their goals and expectations for the visual content they are looking to develop. This will ensure the visual development artist can create engaging and captivating visuals that resonate with their audience.
What Is the Role of a Visual Development Artist?
Visual development artists, or visual dev artists, work closely with the art director of a film or video game to bring the story to life on screen. They collaborate with other departments and can have a variety of duties, depending on the project. They may pitch ideas, help troubleshoot, and even make changes during production. They also help the rest of the team by creating a vision that will align with the project’s desired outcome.
They build and create the world where the animated movie will take place, so they must have a strong imagination. They also need to develop a range of moods and emotions within their art, which can be challenging. This job requires incredible creativity, but seeing the final product and knowing that you were part of the creative process is advantageous.
It’s also important that a visual development artist has a solid foundation in the art fundamentals, such as perspective, composition, drawing, and painting. This will allow them to be able to design a world and create characters that are relatable and realistic to the storyline. They should also be able to work well with other designers, such as concept artists and illustrators. They should be able to communicate their ideas effectively and be comfortable using computer software programs, such as Adobe Animate, Photoshop, and Maya.
What Is the Job of a Visual Development Artist?
Visual development artists play a pivotal role in producing animation, film, and video games. Essentially, they take the raw concept of what needs to be made and create detailed designs for each element. These include anything from character design and props to background scenery and lighting.
They are also responsible for developing ideas for capturing the story’s emotion and tone. This includes using color and lighting to set the mood, such as a cool blue or green to convey peace and calmness or a warm red or orange to get action and tension.
Another critical job responsibility is creating concept art to show their ideas of what should be made. This can be done through various mediums, including clay models, paint and ink, or digital media. The final product explains how the animation will look when finished and is often shown to clients and directors for approval.
Those interested in working as a visual development artist should have a playful imagination and high artistic skills. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, illustration, painting, or visual art is the minimum requirement for this career. In addition, becoming a member of a society is helpful to network with other professionals in the industry and stay up to date on trends and best practices.
