Job Description

We’re looking for a talented freelance 3D character concept artist to help explore how that person could be translated into a stylized 3D character. This is a concepting and exploration phase—not a production modeling task.

You’ll create 3–4 distinct visual directions for how this real person could be interpreted as an avatar. These directions could vary in level of stylization, tone, or presentation. The goal is to find the right visual identity that captures their likeness and personality, while also working in a 3D conversational interface with a model with simple rigging.

The real-time interface is going to have limitations to how well we can do lip-syncing, so we're also trying to avoid overly complex models that will venture into the uncanny valley. Bonus points if you also have experience doing the 3D modeling and rigging (or can use a tool like Character Creator to quickly help us get a prototype) but this particular job is first focused on the concept directions.

Deliverables

• 3–4 concept pieces, each showing a different visual style or treatment of the same real person
• Focus on face/head-and-shoulders, with enough detail to guide 3D modeling
• Optional: expressions, color studies, or brief notes on each direction

Timeline: 

• Looking to get started immediately and have time for at least one round of revision before 4/15.

Skills & Requirements

Requirements

• Strong portfolio of character design or concept art (must include human characters)
• Ability to translate real-world features into stylized or simplified forms
• Experience in game, animation, or digital avatar work is a plus
• Understanding of how designs translate into 3D models
• Ability to work from provided photos and brief personality notes

Bonus but not required

• Experience with 3D modeling, rigging, and/or game engines
• Modeling tools (Blender, Maya, ZBrush, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D)
• Familiarity with quick head asset creation tools like Character Creator
• Experience with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine
• Lip and facial rigging, motion capture 
• Knowledge of real-time rendering constraints and how to optimize designs for performance
• Polygon management, physical based rendering, shader, and/or performance optimization in web native platforms

How to Apply

Email  maxs@tribe.ai , include "3D Artist" in the subject line.

Please share a few relevant portfolio pieces (ideally showing stylized or likeness-based work), along with your quote and any questions you have about the project. Once you're selected, we'll send over a contract covering IP ownership and an NDA, and then share the assets we have for the real person whose likeness we're using.

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