Principal Concept Artist - League of Legends Job at Riot Games in Los Angeles

Principal Concept Artist – League of Legends

Join to apply for the Principal Concept Artist – League of Legends role at Riot Games. 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.

Responsibilities

• Partner with creative leadership to explore new cosmetic thematics that elevate League’s champions, environments and express powerful fantasy.
• Concept compelling characters, environments, props, and skin lines that support gameplay clarity, aesthetic appeal, and originality.
• Translate design intent and gameplay constraints into visually satisfying concepts that align with League’s art and game design direction.
• Develop moodboards, style guides, and pitch materials grounded in research, taste, and trend awareness. Create production‑ready concept art and orthographics for 3D artists, VFX, and animation teams.
• Actively participate in craft reviews and offer/receive feedback with clarity and intent.
• Mentor and support other artists by modeling quality, consistency, and collaboration.
• Work closely with cross‑disciplinary partners to ensure visual solutions serve both gameplay and fantasy.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience in concept art for games or animation.
• Expert‑level proficiency in Photoshop (or equivalent software).
• Strong grasp of stylized art fundamentals: anatomy, form, lighting, color, and value.
• Ability to draw inspiration from diverse sources including fantasy, pop culture, historical references, and global trends.
• Portfolio demonstrating strong concept work across characters, props, and environments, balancing visual storytelling with gameplay clarity.
• Strong communicator who thrives in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments.

Desired Qualifications

• Shipped content for at least one AAA title.
• Familiarity with League of Legends, its champions, cosmetics, and player expectations.
• Experience designing for isometric camera gameplay.
• Ability to deliver broad‑appeal visuals while pushing boundaries in creative expression.
• Learning mindset and openness to evolving tools and workflows.

For this Role

For this role, you’ll find success through craft expertise and a collaborative spirit that prioritizes the delight of players. We will look at your past studies and experience, but for this role, we also look for dedicated people with a personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players’ experiences, this is the role for you!

Perks

Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and 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 401(k) with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.

Duties

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.

Seniority level

Not Applicable

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Design, Art/Creative, and Information Technology

Industries

Computer Games, Software Development, and Technology, Information and Internet

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.