Concept Artists: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of concept artists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for concept artists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of concept artists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for concept artists.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Concept Artists?

Do concept artists need a degree? What kind of experience do concept artists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for concept artists to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Concept Artists

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of concept artists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 35% of job listings no education level was listed and in 14% of postings a master's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Concept Artists

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for concept artists. In 41% of job postings for Concept Artists, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for concept artists.

What Kind of Degree Do Concept Artists Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for concept artists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 22 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective concept artists, and in 2023 a total of 192,677 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective concept artists.

Top Degree Programs for Concept Artists

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Concept Artists

What Skills Do Concept Artists Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by concept artists to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for concept artists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Concept Artists
Based on 60,184 job postings

Based on 60,184 job postings related to concept artists, user experience (ux) was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 54% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for user interface (ui), user experience (ux) design, prototyping, wireframing and cascading style sheets (css) were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for concept artists, followed by research, problem solving, innovation, leadership and detail oriented.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about concept artists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for concept artists.

What do concept artists do?
How much do concept artists make?

All Occupations

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.

View Other Occupations