Wild West Wanderlust mood board featuring vintage posters, cinematic references, and thematic exploration for character design in narrative-driven concept art

Art Direction & Creative Consulting for Games and Media

Big ideas, clear direction, and visuals that actually serve the story.

This is the service clients come back for—because it’s where ideas get shape, meaning, and momentum. My art direction isn’t just about making things look good (though we’ll definitely do that). It’s about aligning visuals with the soul of your project—your IP, your audience, your why.

Whether you're creating a game, a cinematic trailer, a pitch for investors, or a world that needs worldbuilding, I help you find the visual logic that makes everything else easier. We’ll take your vision, research deeply, think critically, sketch wildly, and then sculpt something real together—visually compelling, strategically sound, and creatively aligned.

You don’t have to “figure it all out” before we talk. That’s part of the process.
You bring the seed, I’ll help it grow.

client testimonial screenshot, describing how this concept designer was succesful in the project he was hired for

What’s Included

  • Visual strategy sessions (collaborative calls & annotated recaps)

  • Worldbuilding and IP visual development

  • Key art direction for characters, creatures, props, and environments

  • Moodboards, visual comps, and stylistic reference libraries

  • Art feedback for your team or external collaborators

  • Style guide creation & documentation

  • Pitch deck visuals or narrative support (optional)

  • Ongoing creative consulting (available monthly or per milestone)

What’s Not Included:

  • Animation or rigging

  • Deep production management (I’m not your PM, but I do stay organized)

Deep discovery, visual storytelling strategy, and worldbuilding. Every visual we create serves a purpose in the story or the user experience.

Your deliverables are broken into clear creative phases. We’ll build a shared project calendar and check in at each phase—so you always know what’s next.

What I Deliver:

Mood & research boards
Sketch ideation
Color + composition explorations
Final renders
Style guides
Decks & visual documentation

  • It’s very hard to find a professional like Miguel. Very organized, prolific and effective with his workflow. Not to mention the impressive quality of ideas he brings to the table. It’s an honor to have worked with him!

    João Lira, Lead Concept Artist on Star Atlas, ATMTA Group

  • The director loved the works we just delivered from our collaboration! Thank you for helping us.

    Alice Zhang, Translator and Producer, NetEase Games

  • I want to say that your proposal was the most professional I’ve seen in a long time, even better than most freelancers and other AAA studios we’re working with.

    James Ohlen, VP Studio Head, Archetype Entertainment / Wizards of the Coast’ Company.

  • It was fantastic working with you on these, you're an exceptional talent with a wonderful work ethic. You had a tasteful process for creative exploration, and your balance of structure and freedom always invigorated our sessions. Looking forward to the future, Miguel.

    River Gandour, CEO of Third Book

Art and Creative Direction Portfolio

Character design lineup featuring horned post-apocalyptic warriors with tribal and horror aesthetics, ideal for dark fantasy and survival game IP
medieval fantasy warrior class character design
Heroic digital portrait of a female cowboy character in a painterly style, designed for narrative lead in a Western action-adventure game
Concept art sketches of Western characters in gritty outfits, focusing on silhouette, gear design, and historical authenticity
Stylized character concepts of “The Doctor” and “The Barker,” developed for narrative archetypes in a dark fantasy or dystopian game world
Trio of cowboy characters illustrated with cinematic color grading and narrative tone, aimed at world-building for historical action RPG.
High-fashion cyberpunk male characters in sleek black outfits, designed for urban dystopia or futuristic noir concept art.
Female characters in post-apocalyptic streetwear blending fashion and function, used in sci-fi character development for speculative fiction IP
Hyper-detailed portrait of a cyborg antagonist with biomechanical implants and dystopian tone, used in villain design exploration
Stylized digital portrait of a girl in military-inspired hat with layered clothing, blending painterly and cyberpunk aesthetics
Lineup of three modern female warriors in tactical and goth-inspired outfits, combining fashion and utility in near-future world-building
Hairstyle and lighting tests for female characters, exploring modern and alternative aesthetics in 3D reference and character mood
Front view of stylized punk girl in painterly rendering, focusing on attitude, silhouette, and visual personality for indie game design
Stylized concept of a punk girl with bright yellow hair and baggy clothes, used for animation pitch or stylized game environment
Fashion-forward character design lineup of three female figures in modern urban outfits, exploring style diversity for contemporary IPs.
adventurer concept character art lineup
Visual breakdown of concept art workflow including ideation, iteration, reference gathering, and visual storytelling for games and film.

The Process

Research-first, idea-focused, iterative. We’ll brainstorm, build moodboards, and sketch fast and loose before polishing anything. Feedback isn’t a checkpoint—it’s part of the journey.

My art direction style is practical, kind, and honest. I’ll push where needed, but always listen. I’m not here to dictate—I’m here to help you say what you’re trying to say, but louder and clearer through design.

Workstation with concept art mood board and visual reference sheets on display, showcasing professional pre-production setup for IP development

Deep Reference = Better Worlds

Good design doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it’s built on layers of inspiration, context, and intention.
This is a glimpse into how I work: collecting character traits, cultural textures, costume design cues, art history bits, and niche details that make a design feel real. Whether it’s a post-human hacker in a cyberpunk alley or a 12th-century warrior priestess, every visual starts with reference immersion.

This isn’t Pinterest-boarding. This is building believable fiction.

  • wacom stylus, professional art tool for digital age

    You get more than just direction — you get a full-scope collaboration process documented in a Miro (or similar) board, including reference sheets, breakdowns, rationale behind decisions, video recaps, and moodboards your team can actually use. I also provide follow-up notes and referrals if you need to grow your crew.

  • professional concept artist studio background

    When I take on an art direction gig, I clear the calendar. You’re not just getting approval stamps — you’re getting me in the trenches, guiding vision, polishing execution, and keeping the style, tone, and quality consistent across everything.

  • laptop on a desk with a art director taking notes

    I lead by doing: from high-level lookdev and mood exploration to hands-on painting, overpaints, visual storytelling, and problem-solving with your team. My focus is on building a strong aesthetic core that survives production — whether it’s a cinematic world, a character-led IP, or a tactile, real-world experience.

  • array of art books laying on a desk

    I don’t believe in style for style’s sake. We define the right visual language for your goals — whether it’s meant to sell, immerse, provoke, or inspire. I balance creative freedom with production needs, and empower your team with clear guidelines and collaborative energy.

  • sketchbooks of concept design being reviewed by art director

    I work with top-tier software, Miro, Photoshop, 3D tools, and industry workflows, keeping pace with how the best teams operate. You don’t have to manage me — I come in ready to drive the ship visually, and support the crew that’s on board.

line art to final concept art render, process showcased

From Idea to Final Render

This is the arc of a good design: loose sketch > focused comp > tight render.
I share process like this with clients often so you can stay plugged in at every stage—whether you want to give notes at the shape level or polish the lighting in the final.

The goal? Not just a pretty picture. But a functional, on-brand, production-ready asset that solves a storytelling or gameplay problem.
I design for clarity, impact, and emotional punch—and I bring you along for the whole ride.

final review and feedback of characters, full with notes

Collaborative Reviews That Actually Help

This is where we pause, review, and refine—together.
I lead annotated walk-throughs at key points in the process to make sure we’re aligned on creative direction and that you (or your team) can give meaningful input.

My job here isn’t to just “take notes.” It’s to ask the right questions, explain the design logic behind decisions, and help you feel confident in the work we’re building.

I’ve found this review method saves time, improves output, and just makes the whole process more enjoyable.

freelance concept artist collaborating in his studio remotely

Collaboration

I’m based in Portugal (with reliable Wi-Fi and strong coffee), but I work with clients across the globe. Most projects happen over calls, Slack, and shared boards. We can use your tools or mine—whatever keeps the creative flow open and decisions moving.

The process is collaborative, warm, and often filled with shared "aha!" moments. You’ll get honesty, transparency, and a lot of good questions.

I’m here to help you make the right visual decisions—not just pretty ones.

Laptop showcasing final concept delivery presentation with PDF pitch deck and high-resolution images for client handoff and professional portfolio

Style Guides

The best creative work falls apart without a north star. That’s where style guides come in.
I build guides that balance structure with flexibility—designed for real teams, not theoretical perfection. We’ll capture visual tone, color logic, form language, and even edge case rules so that anyone who works on your project can carry the vision forward with confidence.

These are visual bibles that your team will actually use.
And they look damn good on investor decks, too.

  • Do I need to have a full team already in place?

    No — I’ve worked with solo creators, startups, and full studios alike. Whether you’re building your team or already deep into production, I step in at any phase to lead visual strategy and unify creative decisions across the board.

  • What’s included in your creative direction services?

    From initial worldbuilding frameworks to full visual development bibles, I guide the tone, mood, and execution. I help establish and maintain visual cohesion between characters, environments, UI/UX, and marketing. You also get production-ready style guides, keyframe boards, and if needed, team onboarding documents and art reviews.

  • Can you work with my in-house team or external collaborators?

    Absolutely. I’ve led both internal teams and external freelancers across time zones. I work with production pipelines like Miro, Figma, Shotgrid, and Google Suite to keep everyone aligned and focused. I also handle art feedback rounds and align with producers, game designers, and other department leads.

  • What kind of productions do you direct?

    I direct art for indie games, short films, series, board games, and AAA titles. From narrative-driven experiences to live service games or pitch decks for animation studios — if it needs a unified creative vision, I can help build it.

  • Can this help me secure funding, publishers, or studio partnerships?

    Yes. A strong visual direction significantly improves your chances with publishers, investors, and studios. I’ve helped teams refine their pitches, develop prototypes, and create visual bibles that communicate both ambition and execution quality.

  • How hands-on are you?

    Very. I only take on one project at a time, and when I do, I fully clear my calendar. You get direct access to me throughout the production — I lead with clarity, collaboration, and full immersion in your IP.

  • Do you only handle visual style or also narrative tone and theme?

    Though I specialize in visuals, story and world tone are often tightly intertwined with art direction. I contribute heavily to worldbuilding, thematic direction, symbolism, and pacing — always making sure visual design tells the right story.

  • Can you help fix a project that lost its visual cohesion?

    Yes. Whether it’s mid-production or post-prototype, I do creative audits, identify inconsistencies, and rebuild visual alignment to bring clarity back into the IP.

wacom cintiq first person view of artist studio

Need a sharp, cohesive vision to lead your game or film to success?
Let’s shape your world together — from foundations to final frame.