Old Skull Games is an independent powerhouse of approximately 60 creative professionals. We are a studio that thrives on diversity, currently managing 3 to 4 simultaneous projects across mobile, console, and PC platforms. Our portfolio is a testament to our versatility, spanning genres from high-octane platformers and punishing roguelites to deeply immersive narrative experiences.

Old Skull Games is seeking a Studio Art Director to act as the primary champion of our artistic ambition. This is a high-level, cross-functional leadership role designed for a visionary who can raise the visual standards of the entire studio. You will not just oversee art; you will define the aesthetic soul of our games, ensuring that every frame, character, and environment aligns with our strategic objectives and player promises. At OSG, we operate on Agile principles—valuing autonomy, multidisciplinary collaboration, and leadership through coaching rather than command.

Core Responsibilities: The Pillars of Leadership

The Studio Art Director serves as the point of convergence between creative vision, technical feasibility, and production reality. Your mission is divided into five strategic pillars:

1. Studio Artistic Vision & Strategy

• Aesthetic North Star: Define and champion the studio’s overarching artistic identity. You are responsible for ensuring a level of visual excellence that sets OSG apart in a crowded market.
• Strategic Growth: Actively contribute to the “pitch” phases for new IPs. You will provide clear, distinctive, and realistic visual visions that help secure new opportunities and partnerships.
• Coherence: Guarantee that the art direction perfectly mirrors the player experience and the core product promise.

2. Project Supervision & Mentorship

• Guidance: Support Project Art Directors by challenging their visions in a constructive manner. You help them navigate complex aesthetic choices and clarify their creative intent.
• Intervention: Provide hands-on support for high-stakes projects or those facing creative challenges. You will participate in key reviews and critical milestones to ensure long-term consistency.
• Alternative Leadership: When necessary—such as during the scoping of a new IP or staffing constraints—you will step in to provide complete, operational art direction for specific strategic projects.

3. Team Management & Culture

• Direct Leadership: Manage the cohort of Project Art Directors, serving as their mentor and guide in their journey as artistic leaders.
• Evaluation: Coordinate with the Studio Art Manager to evaluate key artistic profiles, ensuring that the studio’s talent pool remains top-tier.
• Feedback Culture: Foster a studio environment rooted in “Radical Candor”—promoting honest, professional, and impact-oriented feedback.

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• The Trinity of Production: Work in a tight loop with the Studio Art Director (team organization), the Technical Art Director (pipelines and feasibility), and Game Directors (creative gameplay alignment).
• Operational Balance: Seamlessly transition between high-level studio strategy and deep-dive operational involvement when a project requires your specific expertise.

5. Trend Monitoring & Excellence

• Artistic Intelligence: Maintain a constant watch on global artistic and cultural trends, ensuring OSG remains at the cutting edge of visual storytelling.
• Standard Setting: Define the benchmarks for what constitutes “OSG Quality,” ensuring these standards are documented and maintained across all multidisciplinary teams.

Old Skull Games is looking for a veteran of the industry who possesses both the technical “chops” and the emotional intelligence to lead a diverse studio.

• Experience: A minimum of 10+ years in the video game industry, with a proven track record as an Art Director on major published projects.
• Artistic Legitimacy: Recognized expertise in game art, with the ability to carry a vision from the initial napkin sketch to final gold master delivery.
• Multitasking Ability: Proven capability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously without losing sight of the fine details.
• Technical Literacy: A deep understanding of modern technical constraints, engine capabilities (Unity/Unreal), and production pipelines.
• Communication: Fluent in both French and English. You must be an influential leader who can challenge ideas without imposing them, fostering a truly collaborative spirit.

The role of a Studio Art Director has evolved significantly in recent years. In 2026, visual fidelity is no longer just about polygon counts; it is about Artistic Intent and Narrative Cohesion. As hardware reaches a plateau of realism, the “stylized” and “distinctive” visual identities are what capture player attention in the indie and AA space.

At Old Skull Games, we understand that a Studio Art Director must also be a “Bridge Builder.” With the rise of AI-assisted workflows and procedural generation, the Art Director’s role is to ensure that technology serves the art, not the other way around. You will be tasked with integrating these modern tools into our pipeline while maintaining the “human touch” that makes our games memorable.

The OSG Lifestyle: Beyond the Screen:

Old Skull Games believe that exceptional games are made by happy people. Our studio in Villeurbanne (Lyon) is designed to be a sanctuary for creativity:

• The Location: Situated right next to the beautiful Parc de la Tête d’Or, our premises include a rooftop, concierge services, and showers for those who bike or run to work.
• Social Connection: From our weekly breakfasts to the legendary annual Summer Camp, we invest heavily in building a warm, inclusive community.
• Inclusion: We are committed to equal opportunities. We provide additional leave for people with disabilities and strive to accommodate any specific needs during the recruitment process.

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