As a Character Artist at Riot, you will bring champions to life by creating and texturing high and low poly models. You will help craft some of the most iconic characters in the world of gaming. Your sculpting skills, artistic eye and keen understanding of anatomy, form, and color will lead the way in character creation. Working within both technical and design constraints, you will use your knowledge of proportions, anatomy and readability to ensure models are optimized in game. Your craft expertise, high-level execution and attention to detail will enrich the player’s immersive experience.

In your application, you will select which product you prefer to apply for:

• League of Legends
• VALORANT

Responsibilities:

• Create 3D assets ranging from humanoid to creatures
• Understand game requirements to create low poly assets that are optimized for deformation and animation
• Work with various materials/shaders from hand painted diffuse to PBR workflows
• Interpret concept designs while taking into account technical and design constraints such as poly counts, texture memory limits, and topology
• Use your strong sense of human/creature anatomy to push character quality to its fullest potential
• Communicate with various other disciplines to ensure all assets are performant

Required Qualifications: 

• Currently enrolled in a college, university or non degree program
• Available to work full-time hours for 10-12 week at our Santa Monica Headquarters (subject to change based on COVID-19 restrictions)
• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• A keen eye for anatomy, form, color, lighting, materials and shaders
• Experience with 3D programs/tools (Maya, ZBrush, and Photoshop) and render technology (Marmoset, Unity, Unreal, Arnold or Vray)

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will certainly be looking 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 the experiences of players, this could be the role for you!

General Portfolio Advice:

• Please limit application submission to 1 role. You will automatically be considered for similar roles based on your portfolio 
• Online format is preferred (Artstation, personal websites, etc.)
• If you have private work that is under NDA, please include the password in your application. Otherwise, we recommend you do not password protect your portfolio
• Test that your Portfolio or reel is accessible. Please include access to your portfolio on your resume in addition to the application form in case the link breaks 
• Ensure your portfolio showcases your best work
• Fan Art? Sure! It shows your versatility as it relates directly to our art style
• Depending on the role, immersing yourself in the game to get the feel, tone and look can go a long way for your portfolio

Applications Close January 10th 11:59pm PT

Our Perks:

Riot Internships are paid, and we offer relocation and housing support. Interns can also participate in our 401(k) plan. You can expect subsidized meals, in-game perks, and the ability to participate in our Play Fund, so you can broaden and deepen your knowledge of our players and community through games. The University Programs team also invites you to intern focused events so you can connect with your fellow interns and Rioters to make the most out of your experience.

Riot Games fosters a player and workplace experience that values teamwork embodied by the Summoner's Code and Community Code. Our culture embraces differences as a strength, and our values are the guiding principles for how we approach work. We are committed to putting diversity and inclusion (D&I) at the center of everything we do, and promoting a fair and collaborative culture where Rioters treat one another with dignity and respect. We encourage you to read more about our value of thriving together and our ongoing work to build the most inclusive company in Gaming.

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, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance relating to an applicant's criminal history.