Looking For A Jordanian Art Director Consultant To Help Set The Look-and-feel Of The Facebook Platform City Builder

OVERVIEW
Innovations for Youth Capacity and Engagement (IYCE), a joint development effort between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and NetHope, seeking engagement for positive social change by supporting the development of a youth gaming and new media strategy in order to strengthen youth programs by developing tools and effective models utilizing the power of innovative technology, including serious games, to empower, engage and educate youth and assist them in their transition to adulthood.

THE NEED
Nethope, under the direction of the IYCE Program Manager and Game Executive Producer E-Line Media, are looking for expressions of interest from a Jordanian Art Director Consultant to help set the look-and-feel of the Facebook platform city builder. As the game will be set in Jordan, the art and style of the game should reflect the geography and architectural style that one would expect to experience in Jordan, but still accessible for the broader MENA region.

The IYCE game will focus on strengthening community engagement and systems thinking skills of youth through enabling the creation of the participants’ own digital city. In the process of this city building, players will face concrete challenges, such as energy shortages, diminishing access to water, a growing population and a challenging economic environment, for which they will develop appropriate solutions. In addition to the game play, learning will be enhanced through micro-engagements (i.e., embedded videos and mini-games) and linkages to real world development programs (e,g., players receive rewards for participating in real world community engagement).


JOB DESCRIPTION
The Art Director Consultant will be responsible for the overall visual look of the IYCE pilot city building game, starting with a strong vision at the concept level. He/She will work with the game developer, game designer, UI designer, character and environmental artist to ensure the most visually compelling Jordanian-focused city building game. Also, the Art Director will work with other IYCE core team members on key visual milestones approvals.

The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years experienced as an Art Director or Senior Artist in the game industry or related industry. The candidate must be hands-on when it comes to doing sketches, mock-ups, paint over critiques, illustrations/cover art etc. It is essential that the art director is an experienced 2D artist and can generate inspiring mock-ups, style guides, corrections, and edits that the other artist will follow, and be the one to solve visual problems. Prior social gaming experience, especially in the Facebook ‘building’ genre is plus.

Note: Looking to start the project ASAP. This is a temporary freelancer position