UI Artist (Mobile Game)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: UI Artist (Mobile Game)

Company: IGG.com Canada

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Game Art & Design (UI/UX)

Date Posted: April 3, 2026

Experience Level: Experienced (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and implement engaging user interfaces for mobile games, focusing on visual appeal, usability, and brand consistency.

• Create essential UI assets including icons, buttons, and graphical elements that enhance the player experience.

• Collaborate closely with UX designers, product managers, and engineers to translate game design concepts into intuitive and visually compelling user interfaces.

• Maintain a high standard of art quality and style adherence across all UI elements for a cohesive game aesthetic.

• Contribute to the overall visual direction of the game by staying current with mobile UI trends and player expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a UI Artist focused on mobile games, requiring a blend of artistic talent and technical understanding of UI/UX principles within the gaming industry. The emphasis on "Pre-production 3D SLG Game Team" suggests involvement in the early stages of game development for Strategy-Lite-Games, requiring a strong foundational understanding of UI implementation within game engines.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute the visual design language of the user interface, incorporating iconography, typography, visual hierarchy, and motion design elements under the guidance of the Associate Producer.

• Ensure the overall visual creativity, consistent style, appropriate color schemes, and effective layouts align with product requirements and target audience appeal.

• Design and produce key visual assets such as in-game icons, logo treatments, and other graphical elements integral to the user experience.

• Efficiently manage multiple design tasks and projects simultaneously, ensuring high-quality output and timely delivery.

• Collaborate effectively with UX designers, engineers, and UI technical artists to ensure seamless integration of UI assets and functionalities within the game engine.

• Participate in art tests and interviews to demonstrate design skills and problem-solving capabilities.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of UI production techniques and workflows.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Producer and the game development team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to UI asset creation and implementation, requiring a strong understanding of visual hierarchy, iconography, and typography within the context of mobile gaming. Collaboration with UX and engineering teams highlights the need for strong communication and integration skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree or above in Art, Design, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in game UI design.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of dedicated experience in game UI design, with a strong portfolio showcasing mobile game UI projects.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop for creating and editing UI assets.

• Demonstrated understanding of color theory, typography, layout principles, user flow, and motion design.

• Familiarity with UI/UX prototyping tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, or InVision.

• Ability to manage multiple design tasks and prioritize effectively to meet project deadlines.

• Strong artistic eye for visual creativity, style consistency, and attention to detail.

• Excellent communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Proactive, self-motivated, and resilient when working under pressure.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in U3D production or general graphic design relevant to game development.

• Experience in mobile game development, understanding platform-specific design considerations.

• Passion for gaming, with an in-depth understanding of game art styles and user experience principles in mobile titles.

• Familiarity with AI tools such as MidJourney, NijiJourney, or Stable Diffusion for concept generation or asset creation.

• Experience with UI technical design or implementation within game engines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio featuring mobile game UI design projects is critical. Candidates should highlight projects that demonstrate their ability to create intuitive, visually appealing, and functional interfaces specifically for mobile platforms, showcasing an understanding of touch interactions and screen real estate limitations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of at least 2-3 significant mobile game UI design projects.

• Each project should clearly demonstrate your role, design process, and the final UI implementation.

• Showcase a range of UI elements including main menus, HUDs, in-game icons, pop-ups, and settings screens.

• Highlight your understanding of visual hierarchy, information architecture, and user flow within the context of mobile gaming.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio piece, briefly outline your design process: problem identification, research, ideation, wireframing/prototyping, asset creation, and implementation considerations.

• Demonstrate how you collaborated with other team members (UX, engineers) and incorporated feedback to refine designs.

• Show examples of how you ensured UI consistency and scalability across different screen sizes and resolutions common in mobile devices.

• Include any instances where you improved production techniques or workflow efficiency for UI asset creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "mobile game UI design projects" means generic UI/UX portfolios might not suffice. Candidates should tailor their portfolios to showcase specific mobile game UI work, detailing the challenges and solutions encountered in that domain. The "showreel/portfolio & gameplay review" aspect suggests that understanding game mechanics and how UI supports them is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $63,000 - $85,000 CAD annually.

Explanation of Range: This range is based on industry benchmarks for experienced UI Artists in Vancouver, British Columbia, considering the company's stated compensation for this role and the cost of living in a major Canadian tech hub. The specific salary within this range will be determined by the candidate's years of relevant experience, skill proficiency, and performance during the hiring process.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage.

• Prescription drug coverage.

• 18 days of accrued paid Vacation time plus additional Sick Days.

• Reimbursement for Active Living Benefits after 3 months of employment.

• Reimbursement for Training and Development fees after 3 months.

• Dependent/Child Benefits to support family needs.

• Paid Holiday Closure between Christmas and New Year's week.

• Paid Statutory holidays throughout the year.

• RRSP matching program after 1 year of service, providing retirement savings support.

• Monthly Commuter Allowance after 3 months to assist with transportation costs.

• Monthly team lunches to foster camaraderie and team bonding.

Working Hours: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with a paid lunch break, totaling 40 hours per week.

Employment Terms: Contract duration varies based on experience: less than 1 year (3-month contract), 1-3 years (1-year contract), over 3 years (permanent position).

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is quite comprehensive, reflecting a competitive offering in the Vancouver tech and gaming industry. The tiered employment terms based on experience are a key factor to consider, with opportunities for permanent roles for highly experienced candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Interactive Digital Entertainment / Mobile Gaming. IGG Canada operates within the highly dynamic and competitive global mobile gaming market, known for its rapid innovation, player engagement focus, and continuous content updates. The company's specialization in SLG (Strategy-Lite-Games) implies a focus on accessible strategy experiences that appeal to a broad audience on mobile devices.

Company Size: IGG is a global company with studios in multiple countries, indicating a substantial operational footprint. The Canadian division, IGG Canada, is part of this larger network, likely benefiting from global resources while maintaining a focused team environment.

Founded: IGG was established in 2006, with the Canadian studio opening in 2013. This history suggests a mature company with established processes and a proven track record in game development and publishing.

Team Structure:

• The UI Artist reports to an Associate Producer within the "Pre-production 3D SLG Game Team." This indicates a structured development environment with clear reporting lines.

• The team likely comprises various specialists including game designers, 3D modelers, animators, programmers, UX designers, and QA testers, all working collaboratively on game development projects.

Methodology:

• The company's focus on mobile games suggests an agile development methodology, emphasizing iterative design, rapid prototyping, and continuous player feedback integration.

• Data analysis and player metrics are likely key to understanding player behavior and optimizing UI/UX for engagement and retention.

• Workflow optimization is crucial given the need to produce high-quality assets efficiently for mobile platforms and potentially for multiple game titles or updates.

Company Website: https://www.igg.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's global presence and established history suggest a professional and organized work environment. The focus on "Pre-production" for an SLG team implies that UI Artists will be involved in defining the game's look and feel from an early stage, influencing core player interactions and visual identity.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at an "Experienced" level, indicating a need for candidates who can work with a degree of autonomy and contribute meaningfully from day one, rather than requiring extensive training. It's a mid-level position suitable for artists looking to specialize further in mobile game UI or transition into more senior art roles.

Reporting Structure: Reporting to an Associate Producer means direct involvement in project management and production cycles, providing exposure to game development timelines and stakeholder management. This structure offers opportunities to learn about project planning and execution.

Operations Impact: As a UI Artist, your primary impact will be on the player experience, directly influencing usability, engagement, and the overall aesthetic appeal of the mobile game. Effective UI design can significantly contribute to player retention and positive reviews, thereby impacting the game's commercial success.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in mobile game UI design, motion graphics for UI, or explore UX design principles.

• Advancement: Progress to Senior UI Artist, Lead UI Artist, or Art Director roles, managing teams and defining art direction.

• Skill Development: Opportunity to learn new tools, AI art generation techniques, and game engine integration for UI (e.g., U3D production).

• Cross-functional Learning: Gain exposure to game design, programming, and production management through collaborative projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Experienced" hiring level and the tiered contract structure suggests that candidates with 3+ years of experience are highly valued and will be offered permanent positions, indicating a clear path for career stability and growth within IGG Canada for skilled UI artists.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description highlights a modern, high-tech, and inspiring studio located at 988 West Broadway in Vancouver, featuring spectacular views. This suggests a professional, aesthetically pleasing, and well-equipped workspace conducive to creative work.

Office Location(s): The studio is located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, at 8/F, 988 West Broadway, V5Z 1K7. This is a central urban location, likely accessible via public transportation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The description emphasizes teamwork and collaboration with UX, engineers, and producers, suggesting an open and communicative workspace.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design software (Photoshop, Figma, Adobe XD, etc.) and potentially game engine environments (U3D) is expected.

• Team Interaction: Regular team lunches and on-site amenities like table tennis and a gym foster a sense of community and encourage informal interaction.

Work Schedule: The standard work hours are 10 am to 6 pm, with a paid lunch break. This schedule provides a consistent routine while offering a typical 8-hour workday. The office environment also includes a casual dress code.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description paints a picture of a modern, amenity-rich office environment designed to attract and retain creative talent in Vancouver's competitive tech landscape. The focus on views and on-site facilities indicates a commitment to employee well-being and a positive work atmosphere.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Step 1: Resume & Showreel/Portfolio & Gameplay Review: Initial screening focuses on your application materials. Critically, only portfolios featuring mobile game UI design projects will be considered. A gameplay review might also be part of this stage to assess your understanding of game flow.

• Step 2: Art Test: A practical assessment designed to evaluate your UI design skills, problem-solving abilities, and proficiency with required tools under timed conditions. This is a crucial step to demonstrate your capabilities beyond your portfolio.

• Step 3: Interview(s): Typically involves meeting with the Associate Producer, potentially other art leads, and possibly HR. This stage assesses your communication skills, cultural fit, and deeper understanding of UI/UX principles and game development.

• Step 4: Offer: Successful candidates will receive a job offer, detailing compensation, benefits, and employment terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Mobile-First Focus: Ensure your portfolio prominently features mobile game UI projects. Detail the specific challenges of designing for mobile (screen size, touch input, performance) and how you addressed them.

• Process Over Polish: While polished visuals are important, clearly articulate your design process. Show wireframes, user flows, iterative design stages, and rationale behind your decisions.

• Showreel Value: A showreel can be highly effective for UI artists, demonstrating motion design capabilities and the dynamic flow of interfaces. Keep it concise and impactful.

• Tool Proficiency: Mention the specific tools used for each project (e.g., Photoshop for assets, Figma for prototyping).

• Context is Key: For each project, briefly explain the game genre, target audience, and your specific contributions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Art Test: Practice creating UI elements under time constraints. Focus on delivering a functional and aesthetically pleasing solution rather than perfection. Be prepared to justify your design choices.

• Interview Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, experience with specific tools, how you handle feedback, and your understanding of game UI trends. Prepare examples from your portfolio to illustrate your answers. Be ready to discuss your experience with SLG games or similar genres.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "mobile game UI design projects" being the sole criterion for portfolio consideration is a critical filter. Candidates must ensure their submission directly addresses this requirement. The multi-stage process, including an art test, is standard for creative roles and requires thorough preparation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Photoshop: Essential for creating and editing UI assets, icons, textures, and graphical elements. Proficiency is a key requirement.

• UI/UX Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with tools like Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, or InVision is required for creating interactive mockups, user flows, and wireframes. Figma and Adobe XD are frequently used in game development.

• U3D Production (Bonus): Experience with the Unity 3D engine for UI implementation is a significant advantage, indicating an ability to work with game development pipelines.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this UI Artist role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is heavily on design and prototyping tools. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their mastery of Photoshop and at least one major prototyping tool. Mentioning any experience with Unity's UI system or similar game engine UI implementation would be a strong plus, even if not a strict requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A drive to create visually appealing and novel UI solutions that enhance gameplay.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively with designers, engineers, and producers to achieve shared project goals.

• Player-Centricity: Designing with the end-user (player) in mind, ensuring intuitive and enjoyable experiences.

• Quality & Detail: Maintaining high artistic standards and meticulous attention to detail in all UI assets.

• Adaptability & Proactivity: Embracing new trends, tools, and feedback to continuously improve designs and workflows.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role requires close collaboration with UX designers to ensure usability and with engineers to ensure technical feasibility and efficient implementation of UI assets.

• Feedback Loop: An open environment where constructive feedback is exchanged between team members to refine designs and address challenges.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, new techniques, and insights into art trends within the design and art teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value a collaborative and innovative environment, typical of creative studios. The emphasis on "Pre-production 3D SLG Game Team" suggests a forward-thinking approach to game development where UI plays a foundational role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Aesthetics and Functionality: Creating visually stunning UI that is also highly intuitive and performant on various mobile devices.

• Rapid Iteration: Adapting to frequent design changes and feedback cycles in a fast-paced game development environment.

• Platform Constraints: Designing for the limitations and opportunities of mobile platforms (screen size, touch input, performance optimization).

• Staying Current: Keeping up with evolving art trends, UI/UX best practices, and new technologies in the mobile gaming industry.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Opportunities to attend industry workshops or online courses focused on advanced UI design, motion graphics, or UX principles for games.

• Tool Mastery: Deepening proficiency in industry-standard design tools and potentially exploring new software or AI generative art tools.

• Mentorship: Learning from experienced art leads and producers within the IGG Canada team.

• Project Variety: Exposure to different game projects and genres within the company's portfolio, broadening design experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlighted are inherent to the role of a UI Artist in mobile game development. The growth opportunities focus on continuous learning and skill enhancement, which are crucial for career progression in the ever-evolving gaming industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Philosophy: "Describe your approach to designing user interfaces for mobile games. How do you balance visual appeal with usability?" Prepare to discuss your core principles and how they apply to game UI.

• Problem-Solving: "Tell me about a challenging UI design problem you encountered in a previous project and how you solved it. What was the outcome?" Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answer, focusing on your problem-solving process and impact.

• Collaboration: "How do you typically collaborate with UX designers and engineers during the game development process?" Be ready to provide specific examples of your communication and teamwork skills.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Knowledge: "What do you know about IGG and our games? What interests you about working for us?" Research IGG's portfolio, especially their SLG titles, and articulate why you want to contribute to their specific projects.

• Team Fit: "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?" Demonstrate openness to feedback and a professional approach to design iteration.

• Industry Awareness: "What current trends in mobile game UI are you excited about?" Show your passion and awareness of the industry's evolving landscape.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each featured project, don't just show the final screens. Tell the story of the project: the goals, the challenges, your process, your specific contributions, and the results or lessons learned.

• Highlight Mobile Specifics: Clearly articulate how your designs address mobile constraints and user behaviors (e.g., one-handed play, touch targets, information density).

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used for each project and be ready to discuss why you chose them.

• Conciseness: Focus on your strongest mobile game UI projects. Quality over quantity is key. Be prepared to walk through your portfolio efficiently and answer specific questions about your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should heavily lean into demonstrating practical UI design skills for mobile games, a clear understanding of the development pipeline, and an ability to articulate your design decisions and process effectively. Given the role is in "Pre-production," be ready to discuss how UI influences early game design and player onboarding.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this UI Artist position:

• Submit your application through the IGG.com Canada careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to this role. Specifically, curate your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest mobile game UI design projects. If you have a showreel, make sure it highlights your UI animation and motion design skills.

• Resume Optimization: Highlight quantifiable achievements and specific UI/UX skills relevant to mobile games. Use keywords from the job description such as "Photoshop," "Figma," "UI Design," "Mobile Game," "Iconography," and "Visual Hierarchy."

• Art Test & Interview Prep: Prepare thoroughly for the art test by practicing UI element creation under timed conditions. Review common UI/UX interview questions and have concrete examples from your portfolio ready to discuss your process and problem-solving skills.

• Company Research: Understand IGG's game portfolio, particularly their SLG titles. Research their company culture and values to articulate your fit and interest during the interview stages.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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