The University of Oklahoma's K20 Center is an educational research and outreach center and is known for innovation. This position will serve its latest K20 Center’s GEAR UP for LIFE (LIFE) program awarded in the fall of 2023 which seeks to empower students from underserved communities, providing them with resources, mentorship, and academic support to enhance their readiness for post-secondary education. Join K20’s LIFE team and help to foster student success, elevate aspirations, and promote college and career readiness to create a brighter future for the cohort youth.
Job Summary: The 3D Senior sought to design, create, and animate 3D assets, illustrated characters, and environment assets, crafting, editing, and rendering content. Proficient in industry-standard software, the incumbent will collaborate with a creative team to produce engaging 3D artifacts that can be integrated into interactive learning resources. This artist will be asked to transform concepts into captivating visuals, ensuring brand consistency and a high level of aesthetic quality. The incumbent will be expected to stay abreast of industry trends and techniques to elevate GEAR UP for LIFE’s visual content.
Essential Job Duties & Functions:
The K20 Center is committed to providing the professional learning required for the incumbent to successfully fulfill his/her job duties.
Functional Requirements: Translates functional requirements into application layout and interface (including interaction models, workflows, information architectures, flowcharts, and screen mockups, while assuring the compatibility of the 3D assets with target hardware.
Interpretation: Excel in translating complex functional requirements into visually striking application layouts and interfaces, demonstrating a keen understanding of design principles and user experience.
Storyboarding: Leverage proficiency in crafting detailed storyboards, interaction models, and flowcharts to map out the dynamic journey of user interactions within the motion graphics, ensuring seamless and engaging experiences.
Visual Synthesis: Merge creativity with technical acumen to transform abstract functional specifications into concrete screen mockups, seamlessly integrating animated elements. Bring functional requirements to life through visually compelling and aesthetically pleasing motion graphic interfaces.
3D Modeling: Creates and implements 3D models into selected platforms (e.g. Unity).
3D Modeling: Facilitate the creation of an extensive range of 3D models, showcasing versatility in hard surface/organic modeling skills with efficient topology.
UV Mapping: Engage in the creation of UV coordinates for various 3D models, maintaining an efficient UV workflow for each project. Skillfully map textures to enhance the visual appeal of models, contributing to the overall aesthetic coherence of motion graphic projects.
Export and Implementation: Lead the charge in exporting professionally crafted 3D models, while maintaining a streamlined implementation workflow for each project. Ensure seamless integration of models into motion graphics, optimizing the visual impact and cohesiveness of the final product.
Animation: Creates and exports a wide variety of animation.
Animation: Oversee the animation efforts by generating a broad spectrum of animations, ensuring versatility and creativity in meeting project requirements. Maintain a comprehensive understanding of animation needs for each project.
Workflow: Take charge of exporting animations seamlessly, developing and sustaining an effective implementation workflow for each project. Ensure smooth integration of animations into the final product, adhering to project timelines and specifications.
Documentation and Cloud Management: Document essential animation data and uphold a cloud-based tracking and backup system. Safeguard the integrity of animation files while fostering accessibility and collaboration within the interactive learning team.
2D Animation and Sprite Sheet Expertise: Demonstrate proficiency in crafting 2D animations and sprite sheets, serving as a vital resource for diverse animation assets. Contribute to the creation of visually compelling motion graphics, enhancing the overall quality and impact of the interactive learning team's work.
Illustrations: Creates and exports a wide variety of illustrations.
Illustration: Contribute significantly to the interactive learning team by creating a diverse range of illustrations, adhering to a specified visual style for each project. Demonstrate versatility in crafting visuals that align with the unique needs and themes of various motion graphic projects.
Export and Material Creation: Execute the final stages of the illustration process by expertly exporting visuals, ensuring compliance with project-specific illustration requirements. Additionally, play a crucial role in creating accompanying materials for each asset, meticulously following specified material requirements to enhance the overall quality and cohesiveness of the motion graphic projects.
Technical Art: Creates technical art including animation rigs, scripts, and shaders. Maintains requirements and research processes and improvements to the development pipeline.
Animation Rigging: Oversee the creation of animation rigs, ensuring each project benefits from a well-crafted and efficient workflow. Contribute significantly to the technical prowess of the art department by delivering high-quality animation tools.
Script Automation: Drive efficiency in project development by creating and implementing automation scripts. Constantly innovate the development process, utilizing scripting expertise to streamline workflows and enhance the overall productivity of the motion graphics projects.
Shader: Elevate visual aesthetics by creating and fine-tuning shaders for various assets, maintaining a standard of excellence across projects. Demonstrate a keen eye for detail in managing shader requirements, ensuring optimal rendering, and enhancing the overall visual appeal of motion graphic elements.
Pipeline: Actively engage in research to identify and implement process improvements within the development pipeline. Stay abreast of industry trends, tools, and techniques, contributing to a dynamic and evolving technical landscape within the art department.
Video Production: Designs, edits, and creates video projects for online learning lessons. Renders and optimizes video projects for web implementation.
Editing: Demonstrate advanced skills in video post-production, excelling in the seamless editing of video projects tailored for online learning lessons. Implement creative and effective edits to enhance the educational content.
Optimization: Specialize in rendering and optimizing video projects specifically for web implementation. Ensure that the final content is not only visually appealing but also optimized for various online platforms, delivering a high-quality viewing experience.
Visual Storytelling: Bring a unique blend of creativity and technical expertise to the table, contributing to the design and creation of engaging video projects. Through thoughtful editing and visual storytelling, enhance the overall impact and effectiveness of online learning lessons.
Audio Production: Integrate and enhance audio elements in motion graphics, synchronizing effects and optimizing quality for a cohesive and impactful viewer experience, contributing to overall storytelling effectiveness.
Integration: Integrate audio elements into motion graphics, ensuring a seamless fusion of sound effects, music, and voiceovers with visual content for a cohesive viewer experience.
Synchronization:Synchronize audio components to enhance storytelling, creating a harmonious blend that adds depth and emotion to the motion graphic projects.
Optimization: Utilize advanced audio editing tools to refine and optimize sound quality, maintaining consistency and clarity throughout the production process for an immersive viewer experience.
Narrative Impact:Contribute a comprehensive understanding of audio aesthetics to elevate the overall storytelling impact, enriching motion graphics with compelling and resonant auditory elements.
Project Management: Creates a wide variety of design projects, addressing and implementing feedback. Maintains project requirements and asset libraries to aid in future projects.
Project Management: Oversee a broad spectrum of design projects, demonstrating versatility in addressing varied creative challenges. From concept to completion, ensure each project aligns with goals while adeptly implementing feedback to refine and enhance the final deliverables.
Documentation and Asset Management: Maintain meticulous project documentation, keeping track of project requirements and asset libraries. Establish and uphold organized systems that not only streamline current projects but also contribute to a comprehensive resource for future endeavors, facilitating efficiency and consistency.
Feedback Integration and Continuous Improvement: Embrace a feedback-driven approach, actively seeking and incorporating input to refine designs. Foster a culture of continuous improvement by learning from each project, adapting strategies, and evolving processes for more effective project management in subsequent endeavors.
As Needed:
Performs various duties as needed to successfully fulfill the function of the position.
Other:
Will be required to travel to school sites and national conferences to meet with leaders, community partners, and GEAR UP stakeholders and facilitate research and evaluation activities; this may require overnight trips.
Actively participate in K20 Center-sponsored professional learning experiences and, when available, seek certification for learning opportunities.
Required Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree, AND:
18 months experience as a 3D Artist.
Equivalency/Substitution: Will accept 48 months of related experience in lieu of the Bachelor's degree for a total of 66 months of experience.
Knowledge & Skills:
Ability to communicate verbally and in writing.
Ability to multitask and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
Able to work well with interdepartmental teams and initiatives
Active Listening Skills.
Knowledge of animation principles
Knowledge of audio design
Knowledge of character and graphic design
Knowledge of game development and game asset creation
Knowledge of Technical Art
Knowledge of UI/UX Design
Project Management Practices.
Working Conditions:
Sit for prolonged periods.
Ability to engage in repetitive motion.
Communicate effectively and listen.
Use of a computer.
Manual dexterity.
Standard office environment.
Frequent exposure to pressure caused by deadlines and busy periods.
Preferred Qualifications:
36 months of professional animation experience
24 months of professional illustration experience
24 months of professional 3D modeling experience
12 months of video production experience
12 months of audio production experience
Special Instructions: If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy. To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing.
Why You Belong at the University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma fosters an inclusive culture of respect and civility, belonging, and access, which are essential to our collective pursuit of excellence and our determination to change lives. The unique talents, perspectives, and experiences of our community enrich the learning, and working environment at OU, inspiring us to harness our innovation, creativity, and collaboration for the advancement of people everywhere.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, and health care services that the University operates or provides.
