📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Game Creative Director - Riftbound: The League of Legends Trading Card Game
🔹 Company: Riot Games
🔹 Location: Los Angeles, USA
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Game Development
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-04-30
🔹 Experience Level: 13+ years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site (with occasional international travel)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Defining and overseeing the overall creative strategy for Riftbound: The League of Legends Trading Card Game
- Collaborating with the Executive Producer and Game Director to ensure alignment with product strategy and long-term vision
- Guiding a multi-discipline team to create cohesive and impactful gameplay experiences that resonate with players
- Representing the game at the IP strategy level and working with fellow Creative Directors to shape the future of the IP
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a high level of creative leadership and strategic thinking, with a strong focus on collaboration and communication.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Partner with the Executive Producer to ensure Riftbound's product strategy is interwoven with our creative approach and long-term vision
✅ Partner with the Game Director to sculpt thematics that support the game experience
✅ Articulate the intended emotional experience of all aspects of the game
✅ Define an inspirational north star that empowers creatives to navigate the unknown and bring a unified vision to life
✅ Integrate characters, factions, and lore into impactful gameplay
✅ Collaborate on branding and marketing aesthetics, ensuring consistency across promotional materials and in-game assets
✅ Keep up to speed on industry trends and how competitor games evolve their mechanics, aesthetics, and business models
✅ Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including executive teams, marketing, and key partners
✅ Understand digital economies and player retention strategies
✅ Connect directly with player communities to understand their needs
✅ Occasional international travel (quarterly)
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and requires strong communication and leadership skills.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., Fine Arts, Design, or a related discipline) or equivalent experience
Experience:
- 13+ years of experience in game development, either digital or physical
- Experience shipping physical products
- Proven ability to successfully partner with contractors, creative agencies, and manufacturers
- Proven ability to successfully collaborate with individual artists and art teams
- Operated as a key creative decision-maker on multiple games
Required Skills:
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Strong leadership and team management skills
- Ability to inspire and motivate creative teams
- Strong understanding of game design principles and player experience
- Familiarity with League of Legends' lore and IP
Preferred Skills:
- Shipped 1+ title as Creative Director with art-driven acclaim (e.g., Best Visual Design, Art Direction awards)
- Fluency in League of Legends' lore
- Background in illustration, concept art, or graphic design
- Passion for TCG/CCG aesthetics and mechanics (e.g., Magic: The Gathering, Legends of Runeterra)
ASSUMPTION: Given the role's focus on creative direction and leadership, candidates should have a strong portfolio demonstrating their artistic vision and ability to guide teams.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $250,000 (based on industry standards for a Creative Director role with 13+ years of experience in game development)
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, and life insurance
- Parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children
- 401k with company match
- Open paid time off policy
- Flexible work schedules
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week), with occasional international travel (quarterly)
ASSUMPTION: The salary range is an estimate based on industry standards for a Creative Director role with the given experience level. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, qualifications, and market conditions.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Computer Games
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees
Founded: 2006
Company Description:
- Riot Games is a global leader in gaming, developing and publishing innovative games, including League of Legends and VALORANT
- The company is committed to changing the way video games are developed, published, and supported for players
- Riot Games has a strong focus on community engagement, with a player-centric approach to game development and esports
Company Specialties:
- Video game development and publishing
- Games as a service
- Esports
Company Website:
Riot Games
ASSUMPTION: Riot Games' focus on player experience and community engagement makes it an attractive employer for game development professionals.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Senior-level role with significant creative leadership responsibilities
Reporting Structure: Reports directly to the Executive Producer and collaborates closely with the Game Director and other stakeholders
Work Arrangement: On-site with occasional international travel (quarterly)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to shape the creative vision for Riftbound: The League of Legends Trading Card Game
- Opportunities to collaborate with and learn from other Creative Directors within Riot Games
- Possibility to grow into a more senior role within the company, such as a Studio Creative Director or IP Creative Director
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with the potential to make a lasting impact on Riot Games' IP and creative direction.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site, with a collaborative and creative work environment
Office Location(s): Los Angeles, USA (with occasional international travel)
Geographic Context:
- Los Angeles is a major hub for the game development industry, with a vibrant and diverse talent pool
- The city offers a range of cultural, recreational, and entertainment options, as well as a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine throughout the year
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week), with occasional international travel (quarterly)
ASSUMPTION: The on-site work arrangement and Los Angeles location provide opportunities for collaboration, networking, and engagement with the local game development community.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
1. Phone or video screen with a recruiter or HR representative
2. Portfolio review and creative challenge with the hiring manager and other stakeholders
3. On-site interview with the Executive Producer, Game Director, and other team members
4. Final interview with the Creative Director of Riot Games
Key Assessment Areas:
- Creative vision and artistic direction
- Leadership and team management skills
- Communication and presentation skills
- Understanding of game design principles and player experience
- Familiarity with League of Legends' lore and IP
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your creative leadership experience and artistic vision
- Prepare a creative challenge that demonstrates your ability to define and articulate an emotional experience for a game
- Research Riot Games' company culture and values, and be prepared to discuss how your creative vision aligns with the company's goals and objectives
ATS Keywords: Game Creative Director, Riftbound, League of Legends, Trading Card Game, Creative Direction, Game Development, Art Direction, Branding, Marketing, Player Experience, Game Design, Team Leadership
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should tailor their application materials to highlight their creative leadership experience and artistic vision, and be prepared to discuss their approach to creative direction and game development.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
- Unity or Unreal Engine
- JIRA or similar project management software
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with industry-standard creative and project management tools is essential for success in this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Player-focused
- Accountable
- Team-oriented
- Open-minded
- One Riot
Work Style:
- Collaborative and creative
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Results-driven and data-informed
- Player-centric and community-focused
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you approach defining and articulating an emotional experience for a game?
- Can you provide an example of a time when you successfully led a creative team to deliver on a goal?
- How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and competitor games?
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should assess their fit with Riot Games' company culture and values, and be prepared to discuss their approach to creative direction and team leadership.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- The role requires a high degree of creative leadership and strategic thinking, with a strong focus on collaboration and communication
- Occasional international travel may be required (quarterly)
- The role involves working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including executive teams, marketing, and key partners
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should be prepared to navigate a complex and dynamic work environment, with a high degree of cross-functional collaboration and communication.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Game Director: Focuses on the overall game design and experience, while the Creative Director is responsible for the game's artistic vision and aesthetic
- Art Director: Oversees the visual style and aesthetic of the game, while the Creative Director is responsible for the game's overall creative strategy and direction
- Studio Creative Director: Oversees the creative direction of multiple games or studios, while the Creative Director is responsible for the creative direction of a single game
ASSUMPTION: This role is distinct from other creative leadership roles within game development, with a focus on the overall creative strategy and direction for a single game.
📝 Sample Projects
- Conceptualizing and developing the visual style and aesthetic for a new trading card game based on an existing IP
- Leading a team to create a cohesive and impactful gameplay experience that resonates with players
- Collaborating with marketing and branding teams to ensure consistency across promotional materials and in-game assets
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should be prepared to discuss their approach to creative direction and team leadership, with specific examples of their work in the game development industry.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- How does Riot Games approach creative direction and game development for its trading card games?
- Can you describe the team structure and dynamics for Riftbound: The League of Legends Trading Card Game?
- How does Riot Games support the growth and development of its Creative Directors?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
- How does Riot Games approach collaboration and communication with its stakeholders, including executive teams, marketing, and key partners?
ASSUMPTION: Applicants should prepare thoughtful and insightful questions that demonstrate their understanding of the role and their fit with Riot Games' company culture and values.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through
this link
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your creative leadership experience and artistic vision
- Prepare a creative challenge that demonstrates your ability to define and articulate an emotional experience for a game
- Research Riot Games' company culture and values, and be prepared to discuss how your creative vision aligns with the company's goals and objectives
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application, if you have not heard back
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
