The Essential Digital Art and Design Skills Every Creature Designer Needs

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Amazon recently relaunched the video game New World: Aeternum for top gaming consoles as well as PC, and it features a roster of weird and wonderful creature designs that mix all sorts of influences. I’ve been talking with the game’s art team about creating creatures for Aeternum, but I wanted to get more information on what the team is looking for in new recruits and what kind of skills they’re looking for in artists.

“When evaluating artists, I look for strong artistic vision, technical skills, and a variety of creature designs that reflect creativity,” reflects Sojin Hwang, associate art director on New World: Aeternum. “A collaborative mindset and willingness to learn are also key qualities that contribute to successful team dynamics.”

“The essential skills of a creature designer in a modern game encompass a mix of artistic, technical, and collaborative abilities,” he tells me. Below, I’ve listed the basic skills and traits that Sojin looks for in new artists hired at Amazon Games.

1. Artistic talent

“A solid foundation in traditional artistic skills, including drawing and an understanding of anatomy and shapes, is crucial for creating visually compelling and believable creatures.”

2. Creativity and imagination

“The ability to generate unique and innovative ideas while pushing the boundaries of creativity is vital. A good creature designer must be able to think outside the box and come up with original concepts.”

3. Problem-solving skills

“Designing creatures often involves overcoming technical constraints and gameplay challenges, so strong problem-solving skills are essential to finding effective solutions.”

4. Collaboration and communication

“Working closely with other teams, such as gameplay designers, animators, and technical artists, requires excellent communication skills and the ability to incorporate feedback and ideas from others. »

5. Adaptability

“The ability to adapt to changing project requirements and adopt new tools or techniques is important in the rapidly changing environment of game development.”

If you’ve been inspired by Sojin’s ideas, grab one of the best drawing tablets and start creating. We have a list of recommended digital art software and have collected tips in our Photoshop and Procreate tutorial hubs.

There’s also more inspiration in my in-depth look at how the Amazon Games art team created the complex environments for New World: Aeternum.