Art Director
Impact Theory · Los Angeles · $20,000–$25,000/month (stated in the posting)
About Level Up Games
Level Up Games, LLC is the game development studio behind Kyzen. Level Up Games is a well funded, fast-paced indie studio nearly 4 years into development on Kyzen, a kid-focused dynamic open world survival crafting game that combines the best of Minecraft and Palworld with the playful energy of a Shonen anime.
Role Overview
We are hiring an experienced Art Director on a temporary, full-time basis to lead a focused visual improvement effort on Kyzen over an approximately four (4) to six (6) month term beginning in October or November 2026.
The core problem is cohesion. Kyzen's world currently reads as a set of individually built pieces rather than one coherent world with a distinct and memorable identity. You will help establish a coherent, exciting, and unified look and feel for the game, raise the quality bar on the game's art, materially improve mob designs, world assets, and procedural asset distribution rules. As well as help elevate the lighting and atmosphere in the game by working with our talented team of technical artists.
This is a senior, hands-on role. At Level Up Games, everyone is a doer. While there is a small team to manage, the core of the role will be actual design work. You will set direction, produce references and paintover work yourself, and partner closely with our engineering team to establish a look and style that both works visually and is highly performant.
You will be expected to work with AI in any way that helps advance the project and delight players. If you’re philosophically opposed to AI, this is not the right opportunity for you. We believe AI is a powerful tool that in the right hands can radically accelerate human creativity.
Key Responsibilities
Visual Cohesion and Art Direction
- Conduct a full visual audit of Kyzen's existing assets and identify opportunities.
- Establish a unified art direction for the title — color script, lighting language, material and silhouette rules, scale conventions, and readability standards.
- Document that direction in an art bible usable by the internal team and any outsourced partners.
- Produce reference and hero assets that demonstrate the target look and feel.
- Assess the game’s lighting and work with a lighting artist to elevate the game’s overall visual quality.
- Work with the game designer to ensure a high-impact final product that our target audience will love.
Procedural Asset Placement and Biomes
- Work with our procedural engineer to upgrade our procedural asset placement rules across all biomes — density, clustering, scale and rotation variance, slope and altitude rules, and biome transition zones.
- Improve per-biome art direction: palette, flora and rock language, landmark strategy, and silhouette hierarchy.
Documentation and Handoff
- Deliver all standards, rulesets, and technical approaches in written form so the work is maintainable after the term ends.
- Conduct a structured handoff session with the internal team covering completed work, open items, and recommended next steps.
Key Deliverables
- Visual audit and prioritized remediation plan
- Kyzen art bible / style guide
- Reference hero assets
- Per-biome art definitions and procedural placement rulesets
- Final handoff package and session
Requirements
Must-Have Experience
- 7+ years of professional game art experience, including 3+ years as an Art Director, Environment Artist, or Character Artist.
- At least one shipped title where you held meaningful responsibility for visual direction.
- Enough current Unreal Engine 5 experience that you can communicate effectively with technical leads to ensure performant asset design.
- Familiarity with voxel art and/or procedurally generated terrain.
- Strong world-building fundamentals and the ability to produce paintovers, reference, and prototype assets directly rather than only directing.
- Ability to communicate visual direction clearly to engineers and to translate art goals into technical requirements.
- Portfolio demonstrating cohesive stylized worlds.
- Availability to commit to the full duration of the temporary assignment.
- Ability to work on-site, Monday through Friday, at our West Hollywood location.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods working at a desk, using a computer, and reviewing content on screens.
- Ability to maintain concentration and attention to detail for extended periods.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills for feedback, concept discussions, and production coordination.
Benefits
Compensation & Benefits
- Salaried at $20,000 - $25,000 USD per month for the duration of the assignment
- Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
- Life insurance and 401(k) retirement plan.
- Flexible PTO policy.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Impact Theory is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable laws. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
California Compliance Notice
As required by California law, Impact Theory provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Note: This job description is intended to outline the general nature and level of work performed in this role. Responsibilities, duties, and activities may evolve over time at the company’s discretion.