Hire the best Character designers

Character designers, such as those who design characters for video games, bring imaginary worlds and personas to life. 

Whether you’re developing a video game, creating an animated series, or designing characters for a children’s book, finding the right character designer is key to realizing your vision.

This guide will walk you through hiring a character designer, from understanding their role to crafting an effective job post.

What is a character designer?

A character designer, or character artist, specializes in character design. They combine artistic skills with technical knowledge to develop unique, appealing, and functional character designs for video games, animations, comics, and other visual storytelling mediums.

Character designers often use digital tools like Photoshop for digital illustration, as well as software such as Blender, Maya, or ZBrush for 3D modeling. They may work closely with concept artists, game developers, and art directors to ensure their designs align with the project’s vision and technical requirements.

Many character designers also have skills in 2D animation and 3D animation.

Why should you hire a character designer?

Hiring a character designer offers several benefits, including:

• Professional expertise in character design and anatomy
• Character assets ready for production, including model sheets showing characters from different angles
• Consistency in art style across your project
• Time savings by delegating specialized design work
• Access to industry-standard tools and techniques
• Ability to create characters with distinct facial expressions that convey the character’s personality

How to hire a character designer in 7 steps

To hire a character artist, follow these steps:

1. Define your project requirements and art style. This first step helps you attract designers who can deliver your desired style, whether it’s anime characters, realistic avatars, or stylized mascots.
2. Determine the scope of work (e.g., concept art, 3D modeling, character sheets). Outlining the deliverables helps designers understand the project’s complexity and allows for more accurate time and cost estimates.
3. Set a budget and timeline. Establishing these parameters upfront helps you filter candidates and ensures both parties have realistic expectations for the project.
4. Create a detailed job post. A comprehensive job description attracts qualified candidates and reduces misunderstandings about the role and project requirements.
5. Review portfolios and proposals. Assess the designer’s style, skill level, and experience with similar projects and evaluate their proposed approach to your project. Look for examples of good character design that align with your needs.
6. Conduct interviews and assign test projects. Use interviews to evaluate communication skills and artistic ability. If necessary, assign a small paid test project to assess the designer’s work process and ability to follow directions, such as creating a new character concept.
7. Finalize the agreement and establish the workflow. Sign a contract outlining clear terms and set up communication channels and feedback processes so the project stays on track.

Writing a character designer job post

To attract the right talent, craft a clear and specific job post. Here’s how:

Job post title

Choose a title that accurately reflects the role you're hiring for. Examples include:

• 2D character designer for indie game project
• 3D character designer for animated series
• Concept artist for fantasy RPG characters

Project description

Provide a brief overview of the project, including the type of media, art style, and any specific requirements. For example:

“We’re seeking a talented character designer for our upcoming mobile RPG. The game features an art style inspired by classic JRPGs. We need designs for 10 main characters and 20 supporting characters over a three-month period.

Experience with 2D concept art and 3D modeling is preferred. Professional designers with experience in character design services are encouraged to apply.”

Job responsibilities

List the key responsibilities, such as:

• Developing character concepts based on provided briefs
• Creating high-quality 2D or 3D character models
• Designing character variations and expressions
• Collaborating with the art team to maintain a consistent style
• Iterating on designs based on feedback
• Optimizing character models for the intended platform
• Creating storyboards for character animations or cutscenes

Qualifications

Detail the necessary qualifications, such as:

• Proven experience in character design (3-5 years of experience preferred)
• Proficiency in industry-standard software (e.g., Photoshop, Blender, Maya)
• Strong understanding of anatomy, proportion, and color theory
• Ability to work within established art styles, including pixel art if required
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Portfolio demonstrating range and quality of work, showcasing their best character designs
• Relevant degree in fine arts, game design, or a related field (optional)
• Additional skills in graphic design or logo design (plus)

Essential information before hiring a character designer

The following insights will guide you through the key aspects of character design and its place in the creative process.

What does a character designer do?

Character designers are responsible for bringing characters to life visually. They typically interpret briefs and concept art to create detailed character designs. This process often involves developing character sheets that show multiple angles and expressions, giving a comprehensive view of the character’s appearance and personality.

Character designers create 2D illustrations or 3D models of characters, depending on the project requirements. They also design character variations, outfits, and accessories, allowing for flexibility in the character’s presentation across different scenes or scenarios.

A big part of their role is ensuring characters fit within the project’s art style and technical requirements. This might involve adapting designs to suit specific platforms or optimizing models for game engines. Character designers often collaborate with animators to ensure their designs work well in motion, considering factors like how clothing or hair might move during animations.

2024 hiring demand for character designer

The demand for character designers remains strong, driven by the growing gaming industry, increased use of animation in various media, and the rise of virtual and augmented reality applications.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects an 8% growth rate for special effects artists and animators, including character designers, from 2022 to 2032.

Common projects

Character designers work on a variety of projects, including:

• Game art and modeling
• Comic book and manga character illustrations
• Mascot designs for brands and organizations
• Character concept art for various media
• 3D character models for VR/AR applications

Industries hiring character designers

Character designers are in demand across several industries:

• Game development
• Animation studios
• Film and television production, including VFX
• Advertising and marketing agencies
• Publishing (especially for children’s books and comics)
• Toy and merchandise design

How much does a character designer charge?

The cost of hiring a character designer can vary widely based on experience, project complexity, and location. Generally, hourly rates on Upwork range from $15 to $30 for illustrators, $25 to $40 for 3D artists, and $15 to $22 for manga artists. 

Character designer FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about hiring and working with character designers.

What’s the difference between a character designer and a concept artist?

While there’s often overlap, character designers typically focus on finalizing and detailing character designs, while concept artists generate initial ideas and explore various design possibilities.

Character designers may create more polished, production-ready assets, while concept artists work on rougher, exploratory sketches.

How long does it take to create a character design?

The time required can vary greatly depending on the complexity of the character, the level of detail required, and the artist’s experience. A simple 2D character concept might take a few hours, while a fully realized 3D character model could take several days or weeks.

What file formats do character designers typically deliver?

Common file formats include:

• 2D art. PSD (Photoshop), AI (Illustrator), PNG, JPEG
• 3D models. FBX, OBJ, MAX (3ds Max), MB/MA (Maya)
• Textures. PSD, PNG, TGA

The specific formats will depend on your project requirements and the software used in your pipeline.

Get started with character designer on Upwork

Ready to bring your characters to life? Upwork connects you with talented character designers from around the world.

Find the right character designer for your project on Upwork today and take the first step toward creating unforgettable characters.