Associate Concept Artist - Merch

Catface•Austin, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Catface is hiring an Associate Concept Artist for its Merchandise team in Austin, Texas. The role develops Aphmau merchandise concepts from initial research and ideation through polished artwork that vendors can use for production. The designer owns assigned products or categories, creating a range of directions, refining selected concepts, and preparing complete, production-usable files. The position combines character illustration skills with commercial judgment about consumer appeal and product feasibility, and operates with moderate oversight while working toward production deadlines. The designer typically manages three to four collections at different stages of development. A steady month may include approximately 24–32 initial product sketches, 10–16 refined concepts, and 8–12 final-art deliverables. The work includes research, mood boards, sketch reviews, feedback rounds, and preparation for vendor handoffs. The role reports to the Merchandise Manager and works alongside Concept and Graphic Designers, as well as Brand, Licensing, Merchandise Production, Marketing, and E-commerce. Approved artwork is handed off to Merchandise Production for vendor development, sampling, and manufacturing, so file quality and completeness are important.

Requirements

2–4 years of merchandise, consumer product, or character-based design experience.
A portfolio showing the progression from research and ideation through finished, production-usable artwork.
Strong Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop skills.
Competence in pattern, icon, and surface design development.
Working knowledge of brand and character style guides and licensed product requirements.
Ability to manage several concurrent assignments against a development calendar and consistently meet deadlines.
Strong character drawing fundamentals, including proportion, expression, and consistency with an established model.
Comfort giving and receiving direct creative critique and separating feedback on the work from feedback on oneself.
Clear communication skills, including the ability to explain why a concept works commercially.
Discipline with file organization, naming conventions, and version control.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing across plush, collectibles, apparel, accessories, stationery, or home décor.
Experience working with overseas vendors and reviewing proofs, samples, or digital renderings.
Familiarity with creator-led brands, fandom-driven products, or licensed entertainment merchandise.
Curiosity about the Aphmau universe or willingness to learn it quickly.

Responsibilities

Own assigned portions of Aphmau merchandise collections from research and mood boards through concept sketches and final artwork.
Develop multiple product-sketch directions for assigned characters, themes, categories, or collection stories.
Explore product silhouettes, character applications, poses, expressions, patterns, graphics, materials, functions, and interactive features.
Refine thumbnails into concepts that communicate product form, visual hierarchy, story connection, and consumer appeal.
Identify hero products and supporting, coordinated, or collectible items within a collection.
Suggest product category, price point, production feasibility, and sales channel as concepts develop.
Annotate sketches to clearly communicate intended materials, artwork placement, product features, and story references.
Translate approved concepts into polished merchandise artwork, including character illustrations, placement graphics, patterns, icons, decorative elements, colorways, and surface designs.
Prepare artwork to the required dimensions, scale, resolution, color mode, and file format for each product category.
Build colorway and artwork-placement variations and organize layered master files for teammates and vendors.
Incorporate feedback from Brand, Licensing, Merchandise Production, and creative leadership while preserving approved story intent.
Review vendor proofs and artwork interpretations, identify deviations from approved artwork, and correct routine issues.
Present design directions and explain the rationale behind them.
Manage concurrent assignments and participate in regular sketch reviews and feedback rounds.