UI Artist - Dead by Daylight | Artiste UI - Dead by Daylight
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: UI Artist - Dead by Daylight
Company: Behaviour Interactive
Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
Job Type: Permanent Full-Time
Category: Art & Design / Game Development
Date Posted: May 13, 2026
Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)
Remote Status: Hybrid
🚀 Role Summary
-
This role focuses on the creation and refinement of user interface (UI) assets, with a strong emphasis on iconography and interface layouts, crucial for enhancing player experience in a live, widely-played game.
-
The UI Artist will be instrumental in designing and iterating on UI elements that promote clarity, usability, and overall player immersion within the Dead by Daylight game environment.
-
Integration of UI assets into the game engine, specifically an in-house engine based on Unreal Engine, will be a core responsibility, requiring close collaboration with technical teams.
-
The position involves continuous support for the evolution of UI systems in a live game context, necessitating adaptability and proactive contributions to updates and new content.
📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "UI Artist - Dead by Daylight" and the description of creating "clear, readable, and visually compelling user interfaces for a live game enjoyed by millions of players" strongly indicate a focus on maintaining and evolving a high-traffic, established game's user experience, rather than a new product launch. This implies a need for artists who can work within existing design systems while also contributing to iterative improvements and new feature integrations.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
-
Create and illustrate high-quality UI assets, with a particular emphasis on iconography and detailed interface layouts that align with the game's aesthetic and functional requirements.
-
Design and iteratively refine UI layouts to ensure optimal clarity, intuitive usability, and a high degree of player immersion, directly impacting player engagement and satisfaction.
-
Integrate created UI assets into the game using the in-house engine (Unreal Engine-based), ensuring seamless implementation and visual fidelity within the game environment.
-
Collaborate closely with game designers, programmers, and other artists to ensure UI elements are harmoniously aligned with gameplay mechanics, narrative elements, and technical constraints.
-
Actively support the ongoing evolution of UI systems for the live game, contributing to updates, new content releases, and feature enhancements to maintain a dynamic and engaging player experience.
-
Maintain strict visual consistency and uphold a high standard of quality across all UI elements, ensuring a cohesive and professional presentation within the game.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Support the evolution of UI systems for a live game environment through updates and new content" suggests that the role involves not just creation but also ongoing maintenance and adaptation of UI elements. This requires an understanding of iterative design processes and the ability to work within established design frameworks while introducing new visual elements or functional improvements.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Graphic Design, Digital Art, Game Design, or a related field is highly recommended.
Experience: A minimum of 2-5 years of professional experience in UI Art, with a proven track record in game development or a closely related interactive media field.
Required Skills:
-
Solid experience in UI art, demonstrating a strong foundation in illustration, with a particular specialization in icon design.
-
A comprehensive portfolio showcasing expertise in UI layout design and compelling icon illustration; examples featuring characters or human figures are a significant advantage.
-
Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and a strong command of the broader Adobe Creative Suite for asset creation and manipulation.
-
Familiarity with Unreal Engine or a similar game engine's UI system, enabling effective asset integration.
-
Ability to collaborate effectively within cross-functional teams, including game design, programming, and art departments.
Preferred Skills:
-
Prior experience working on a live game title, understanding the nuances of ongoing content updates and player feedback integration.
-
Foundational knowledge or practical experience in motion design or UI animation to bring interfaces to life.
-
Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) for asset management and collaborative workflows.
-
Understanding of user-centered design principles and the ability to apply them to create intuitive player experiences.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level, coupled with the need for "expert-level proficiency" in core tools like Photoshop and familiarity with Unreal Engine, suggests this role is geared towards a mid-level artist who can operate with a good degree of autonomy and contribute meaningfully to established projects. The preference for live game experience highlights the dynamic and evolving nature of the Dead by Daylight environment.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
-
Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct UI projects, with a strong emphasis on icon design and comprehensive UI layout examples.
-
Include case studies that detail the iterative design process, from initial concept to final asset, highlighting problem-solving steps and design decisions.
-
Demonstrate visual consistency and adherence to established art direction within the portfolio pieces.
Process Documentation:
-
Evidence of a structured approach to asset creation, including workflow documentation for icon design and layout implementation.
-
Examples of how UI assets were integrated into a game engine or similar development pipeline, detailing any technical considerations or optimizations.
-
Documentation of how user feedback or testing informed UI design iterations, particularly relevant for live game environments.
-
A clear demonstration of adherence to project timelines and a systematic method for managing and delivering UI assets.
📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "icons and interface layouts" and the "live game" context, a portfolio should not only display aesthetic quality but also functional clarity and the ability to integrate within a complex system like Unreal Engine. The "icons featuring characters or people are a plus" suggests a need for character-focused iconography, which is a specific niche within UI art.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Mid-Level UI Artist in Montreal, QC, with 2-5 years of experience in the gaming industry, the estimated salary range is CAD $65,000 - $90,000 annually. This range accounts for the cost of living in Montreal, the specific demands of the role within a live game environment, and the expertise required in tools like Photoshop and Unreal Engine.
Benefits:
-
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
-
Retirement savings plan with company matching contributions.
-
Generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation days, personal days, and public holidays.
-
Opportunities for professional development, including workshops, conferences, and training sessions.
-
Employee assistance program (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services.
-
Access to company-provided hardware and software, including the latest creative tools.
-
Potential for performance-based bonuses and stock options.
Working Hours: The standard working hours are 40 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday. Behaviour Interactive offers a hybrid work model, allowing for a flexible balance between in-office collaboration and remote work, with specific in-office days to be coordinated with the team.
📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from analyzing average salaries for UI Artists with 2-5 years of experience in Montreal's tech and gaming sectors, referencing data from industry salary aggregators and job market reports. The inclusion of specific benefits like "company matching contributions" and "Employee Assistance Program" are standard offerings in the gaming industry that contribute to a competitive compensation package for operations professionals.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Video Game Development. Behaviour Interactive operates within the highly competitive and rapidly evolving global video game industry, known for its innovation, creative demands, and community-driven nature.
Company Size: Over 1200 employees. This indicates a large, established studio with robust infrastructure, diverse departments, and ample opportunities for cross-functional collaboration and career development.
Founded: Behaviour Interactive was founded in 1992. This long history signifies stability, extensive experience in the industry, and a deep understanding of game development lifecycles and market trends.
Team Structure:
-
The UI Art team is likely a specialized unit within the larger Art department, focusing exclusively on interface design and asset creation for specific titles like Dead by Daylight.
-
Team members will report to a Lead UI Artist or Art Director, with close reporting lines to Game Designers and Technical Artists for seamless integration.
Methodology:
-
Data-driven design: UI elements are often informed by player analytics, A/B testing results, and community feedback to optimize usability and engagement.
-
Agile development: Iterative design sprints, regular stand-ups, and collaborative problem-solving are common practices to adapt to evolving project needs.
-
Focus on player experience: All design decisions are geared towards creating intuitive, accessible, and immersive interactions for the player base.
-
Emphasis on visual quality and consistency: Maintaining a high aesthetic standard that aligns with the game's overall art direction.
Company Website: https://www.bhvr.com/
📝 Enhancement Note: Behaviour Interactive's dual focus on "Services" and "Original Games" suggests a dynamic work environment where artists may contribute to diverse projects. For a UI Artist on Dead by Daylight, the emphasis will be on the "Original Games" side, focusing on a flagship title with a massive, engaged player base.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level UI Artist. This means the individual is expected to be proficient in core UI art skills, capable of working independently on defined tasks, and able to contribute to design discussions and problem-solving. They are beyond entry-level tasks and are expected to deliver high-quality work with minimal supervision on day-to-day tasks.
Reporting Structure: The UI Artist will likely report to a Lead UI Artist or an Art Director. They will work closely with Game Designers, UI Programmers, and other members of the Art team, fostering a collaborative environment where feedback and iteration are prioritized.
Operations Impact: The UI Artist's work directly influences the player's primary interaction point with the game. Clear, intuitive, and aesthetically pleasing UI is critical for player retention, onboarding, and overall satisfaction. Effective UI design can reduce player frustration, improve navigation, and enhance the perceived quality of the game, thereby contributing significantly to the game's success and revenue.
Growth Opportunities:
-
Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UI art, such as complex icon systems, dynamic interface animations, or accessibility design for diverse player needs.
-
Lead Role: Progress to a Senior UI Artist position, taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior artists, and contributing to high-level design strategy.
-
Art Direction: With significant experience and leadership potential, a path towards Lead UI Artist or even UI Art Director roles may be available, involving broader creative oversight and team management.
-
Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Opportunities to learn about game design principles, technical art pipelines, and even basic UX research to broaden skill sets.
📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path from Mid-Level UI Artist to Senior or Lead roles is standard in game development. The emphasis on "live game" experience also opens up opportunities for artists who excel in iterative design and community engagement through UI improvements.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: Behaviour Interactive operates with a hybrid work model. This means the role involves a combination of working from the company's modern office facilities in Montreal and working remotely. This setup is designed to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration, team building, and focused work with the flexibility and autonomy of remote work.
Office Location(s): The primary office for this role is located in Montreal, QC, Canada. This vibrant city offers a strong tech and gaming ecosystem, with excellent public transportation and amenities. Specific office details regarding layout, amenities, and accessibility will be provided during the interview process.
Workspace Context:
-
Collaborative Spaces: The office environment likely features open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and breakout zones designed to foster spontaneous collaboration and idea sharing among team members.
-
Technology & Tools: Employees will have access to high-performance workstations, industry-standard software licenses (Adobe Creative Suite, Unreal Engine), and necessary peripherals to perform their duties effectively.
-
Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, design reviews, and social events are organized to promote strong working relationships and a cohesive team culture, both within the UI team and across departments.
Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, primarily Monday to Friday. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in structuring the work week, with core hours expected for team synchronization and collaboration, particularly on designated in-office days.
📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, indicating a modern approach to work-life balance. For a UI Artist, this means needing to be comfortable with both remote asset creation and in-person design critique sessions.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
-
Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.
-
Technical Interview: This stage will likely involve a deeper dive into your portfolio, focusing on your UI design process, icon creation techniques, and understanding of game engines like Unreal Engine. You may be asked to walk through specific projects and explain your design rationale.
-
Practical Test/Challenge: Candidates might be given a small UI design challenge or a case study to assess their problem-solving skills, creative approach, and ability to work within specific constraints. This could involve designing a specific UI element or proposing improvements to an existing one.
-
Team/Cultural Fit Interview: An opportunity to meet with the hiring manager and potential team members to discuss your work style, collaboration preferences, and how you would fit into the Behaviour Interactive culture. Questions may focus on how you handle feedback, collaborate with designers and programmers, and your passion for gaming.
-
Final Interview: Potentially a final discussion with a studio lead or director to confirm suitability and discuss terms of employment.
Portfolio Review Tips:
-
Curate Selectively: Showcase your strongest work, focusing on projects that best demonstrate your UI layout design and icon illustration skills. Prioritize quality over quantity.
-
Highlight Process: For each project, clearly explain your thought process, design decisions, challenges faced, and how you overcame them. Visual examples of sketches, wireframes, and iterations are valuable.
-
Emphasize Iconography: Since icon design is a key requirement, ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of your icon work, ideally showing variety and attention to detail.
-
Tailor to the Role: While showcasing your best work, ensure some pieces are relevant to the type of UI found in games like Dead by Daylight (e.g., menu systems, in-game HUD elements, character selection screens).
-
Technical Familiarity: Briefly mention your experience with Unreal Engine or similar systems, and how you approach asset integration.
Challenge Preparation:
-
Understand Game UI: Familiarize yourself with the UI of Dead by Daylight and other similar live-service games. Analyze their strengths and weaknesses in terms of usability, aesthetics, and clarity.
-
Problem-Solving: Be ready to articulate how you would approach a given UI problem, considering user needs, technical constraints, and the game's overall vision.
-
Efficiency & Iteration: Demonstrate an understanding of how to create efficient UI assets that are easy to implement and can be iterated upon.
📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of "icons featuring characters or people are a plus" means that any portfolio pieces or challenge responses that include character portraits, avatar frames, or character-specific icons will likely stand out positively.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
-
Adobe Photoshop: Expert-level proficiency is mandatory for creating raster-based UI assets, textures, and icons.
-
Adobe Creative Suite: Strong knowledge of other Adobe tools like Illustrator (for vector assets) and potentially After Effects (for motion design prototypes) is highly beneficial.
-
Unreal Engine: Familiarity with its UI system (UMG - Unreal Motion Graphics) or a similar game engine's UI implementation framework is crucial for asset integration.
Analytics & Reporting:
CRM & Automation:
- Not directly applicable to this role's core function.
📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Unreal Engine" as the basis for their in-house engine is a critical piece of information. Candidates should highlight any experience they have with UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics) or similar visual scripting tools for UI creation within Unreal Engine.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
-
Player-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the player base, ensuring that all UI decisions prioritize player experience, ease of use, and immersion.
-
Collaboration & Communication: Valuing open dialogue, constructive feedback, and seamless teamwork across disciplines to achieve shared goals.
-
Excellence & Quality: A drive for high standards in all aspects of work, from visual fidelity and polish to functional robustness and attention to detail.
-
Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies, creative approaches, and the dynamic nature of live game development to continuously improve and evolve the player experience.
-
Passion for Gaming: A genuine enthusiasm for video games and the culture surrounding them, which fuels creativity and dedication to creating exceptional gaming experiences.
Collaboration Style:
-
Cross-Functional Integration: UI artists work hand-in-hand with game designers to translate gameplay mechanics and features into intuitive interfaces, and with programmers to ensure smooth technical implementation.
-
Feedback-Driven Iteration: A culture where receiving and giving constructive feedback is encouraged, leading to iterative improvements in design and functionality.
-
Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging team members to share best practices, techniques, and insights, fostering a learning environment where everyone can grow.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "live game" context for Dead by Daylight means that the team culture likely emphasizes agility and responsiveness to community feedback, as well as maintaining a consistent brand identity across frequent updates.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
-
Balancing Aesthetics and Functionality: Creating visually stunning UI that is also highly functional, intuitive, and accessible across various player demographics and skill levels.
-
Adapting to Evolving Game Systems: As Dead by Daylight grows and introduces new features, the UI must adapt seamlessly without disrupting the established player experience or visual consistency.
-
Working within Technical Constraints: Integrating UI assets effectively into the Unreal Engine-based system, adhering to performance budgets and technical limitations.
-
Maintaining Consistency in a Live Environment: Ensuring visual and functional uniformity across all UI elements, menus, and in-game interfaces, especially with frequent content updates.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
-
Advanced UI/UX Techniques: Access to training and resources to deepen understanding of user experience principles, interaction design, and advanced UI workflows.
-
Game Engine Specialization: Opportunities to become an expert in Unreal Engine's UI tools (UMG) and related pipelines, enhancing technical proficiency.
-
Motion Design & Animation: Developing skills in UI animation and motion graphics to create more dynamic and engaging interfaces.
-
Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry conferences (e.g., GDC) or internal workshops to stay abreast of the latest trends in game art and UI design.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of "Adapting to Evolving Game Systems" is particularly relevant for a live game. UI artists must be prepared to not only create new elements but also refactor or redesign existing ones to accommodate new game features or balance changes.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
-
"Describe your process for designing a new icon set for game characters. How do you ensure consistency and clarity?" (Focus on: Iconography, illustration process, consistency, character focus).
-
"Walk us through a complex UI layout you designed. What were the challenges, and how did you ensure usability and player immersion?" (Focus on: UI layout design, problem-solving, user experience, portfolio walkthrough).
Company & Culture Questions:
-
"What interests you about Dead by Daylight and Behaviour Interactive specifically?" (Focus on: Researching the game, understanding the company's mission/values, genuine interest).
-
"How do you handle constructive criticism on your UI designs from designers or programmers?" (Focus on: Collaboration, feedback reception, iterative process, professionalism).
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
-
Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly outline the project goal, your role, the design process, key challenges, and the final outcome, emphasizing quantifiable results where possible.
-
Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visual aids extensively. Highlight the iterative nature of your design by showing early concepts, wireframes, and final polished assets.
-
Focus on Impact: Explain how your UI designs contributed to improved player experience, usability, or engagement. If possible, use metrics or player feedback to support your claims.
-
Be Ready for Live Game Questions: Prepare to discuss how you would approach UI design for a live game, considering ongoing updates, player feedback, and maintaining visual consistency over time.
📝 Enhancement Note: When discussing your portfolio, be prepared to specifically address your experience with character-related icons or any UI elements that directly interact with character models or character-specific features, given the "characters or people are a plus" note.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this UI Artist position:
-
Submit your application through the provided Lever link.
-
Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest UI layout designs and icon illustrations, especially any related to characters or human figures. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your proficiency with Adobe Photoshop and your understanding of game UI principles.
-
Resume Optimization: Highlight your experience with UI art, icon design, and game development. Use keywords such as "UI Artist," "Icon Design," "Unreal Engine," "Adobe Photoshop," and "Live Game" to align with the job description and improve ATS compatibility.
-
Interview Preparation: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, articulating your design process, and explaining your technical familiarity with game engines. Prepare to discuss your approach to UI challenges in a live game environment.
-
Company Research: Gain a deep understanding of Dead by Daylight's current UI, Behaviour Interactive's company culture, and their position in the gaming industry. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest during the interview process.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Requires solid experience in UI art and illustration with expert proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and familiarity with Unreal Engine. A portfolio demonstrating UI layout and icon design is essential, with live game experience and motion design skills considered assets.