Futuristic cityscape environment concept art with sci-fi elements and cyberpunk mood, professional concept design

Environment Concept Art for Entertainment

Like a World You Can Step Into

The foundation your project needs. Built from story, not guesswork.

The backdrop of your world deserves more than filler. It sets the tone. It sparks emotion. It tells the player (or viewer) exactly where they are—and why it matters. My environment concept art process is built to do just that.

Whether you're an indie dev looking to nail your first vertical slice, or an established studio deep in pre-production, I help you go beyond “cool vibes” into clear storytelling. Together, we’ll create purposeful, production-ready concepts grounded in narrative logic and real-world reference.

This isn’t a drag-and-drop moodboard moment. This is a thoughtful, research-backed, collaborative process designed to make your world feel lived-in, cinematic, and emotionally real.

Visual storytelling isn’t just what I do—it’s what your audience feels.

Medical sci-fi interior spaceship concept art with advanced technology and futuristic lighting
Post-apocalyptic ruined house with mech soldier concept art, gritty realistic digital painting
3D blocking and scene development process for environment concept design, professional pipeline demonstration

What's Included:

  • Custom-designed environment concept art

  • Research phase: references, storytelling, mood exploration

  • Brainstorm sketches & thumbnails

  • 3D base block-ins for structure and light

  • Overpaints and polish to match the tone of your IP

  • Final high-res illustrations and documentation

  • Optional: production sheets, cutaway diagrams, asset callouts

  • Collaborative feedback loops and flexible revisions

Need stylized, painterly, realistic, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, cozy-core? You got it.

What’s Not Included (unless we agree to it):

  • Final game-ready assets (though I can recommend a modeler)

  • Architecture drawings to code/spec

Urban sketch and layout planning for destroyed city scene, digital concept art process

Research-Driven, Emotion-First

Good environments don’t just look cool—they feel right. I pull from real-world references, cinematic language, and emotional toneboards to create spaces that do more than look pretty. They tell you how it feels to be there.

War-torn city with fire and destruction, cinematic environment concept illustration

What's included:

  • Custom environment concept art (tailored to your game’s genre + tone)

  • Level design blockouts or greyboxes (gameplay-first layouts)

  • Key storytelling environments or hub/world overview maps

  • Mood boards and reference sourcing

  • Exploration sketches & thumbnails

  • Color scripts or lighting passes (if needed)

  • Layered PSDs or organized working files

  • Presentation-ready art (for pitch decks or stakeholders)

  • Collaboration with your game designer or narrative team

  • Feedback rounds and iterations

  • Delivery in high-res formats for dev or marketing

  • Style consistency with your existing IP or branding

  • Optional asset callouts or breakdown sheets

  • Optional pitch support material (for publishers or funding decks)

  • Access to my personal creative network (when additional help is needed)

What is NOT included:

  • Full 3D modeling or texturing

  • Final in-engine implementation (e.g., Unreal/Unity level building)

  • Copyright transfers by default (negotiated per contract)

  • Extensive revisions outside the agreed scope

  • Unrealistic deadlines (I love a challenge, but I also love sleep)

We’ll begin by exploring the story behind your world: genre, mood, gameplay needs, architecture references, and visual inspirations. This stage ensures everything we make feels like it belongs.

Each project is structured into clear phases—ideation, blockouts, painting, polish—with room for check-ins and your feedback at each step. You’ll always know what’s coming next.

From early sketches to fully rendered final keyart, you’ll get everything you need to bring your environments to life—and wow your team, your backers, or your audience.

Environment and Level Design Portfolio

Detailed storyboard and environment breakdown for desert fortress concept art, professional visual storytelling
Top-down level design sketches and layout planning for fantasy game environment
Environment design blueprints and layout iterations for rocky outpost location
Swamp village and terrain exploration sketches for immersive game world-building
Dungeon layout concept with fantasy architecture and lighting notes for video game level design
Handcrafted improvised sci-fi asset design - modular barricades, containers, and props for game development
Dark fantasy cave concept art with eerie lighting, immersive dungeon environment painting
Sketch to final 3D render breakdown for realistic asset design in fantasy setting
Ancient temple ruins with mystical lighting and environmental storytelling for fantasy world
prop concept design of medical box for games
barricade concept design
radio concept design
caves concept design
aftermath concept environment design

Environment and Level Design Services

To book, we require a 33% deposit, a 33% by mid-milestones, and a 33% billed at the end of the project. Reach and and contact for a custom setup/day rate if you have on-going needs.

architecture concept design

Gameplay Layouts – Greyboxing or 2D layout plans designed for flow and pacing.

prop concept art of medical box

World Cohesion – Consulting on how environments connect narratively, spatially, and stylistically.

final game render with moody lighting

Mood & Worldbuilding – Paintings and sketches that establish tone and setting.

66%

Pre-production time reduction while working with Ashfall / NetEase Games by integrating advanced 3D workflows and modern concept art techniques, delivering AAA-level assets with professional, fast turnaround times that save your budget.

33%

Art quality improvement for Frictional Games through maintaining and expanding style guides and material libraries inside a 3D rendering engine, ensuring consistent, high-impact concept development.

90%

First-go approval rate while working with Electronic Arts DICE / under Milford SE, demonstrating reliability and seamless integration into production pipelines.

Special pricing available for long-term projects over 60 days—contact me for a custom arrangement tailored to your ongoing concept art needs.

++

  • 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

Concept artist interview - More Than Visuals, It’s an Experience, insight into creative

More Than Just Background Art

I don’t do filler. Environments should pull your audience into the moment—make them believe they’re inside your game, film, or IP. I design with narrative purpose and emotional clarity, so your world feels immersive before it's even playable.

Professional concept artist sharing behind-the-scenes techniques in digital painting and storytelling

Collaboration

I don’t believe in disappearing freelancers. If you work with me, we talk. We share moodboards, swap ideas, laugh at weird references, and check in regularly so nothing feels off-course.

You get the best results because we’re aligned creatively—and because I care about your project like it’s mine. Most of my clients stay in touch long after the job’s done, and some become collaborators for life. (I love that.)

Digital artist painting concept art on screen with stylus, cinematic storytelling creation

Creative Collaboration = Better Worlds

This is where the magic happens. Talking. Brainstorming. Swapping strange references and dumb jokes. I’m not just delivering a PSD—I’m collaborating with you to figure out what your world wants to be.

You don’t need to have all the answers. We’ll figure it out together.

  • Do I need to know level design or architecture to work with you?

    Not at all. Whether you’re an art director or a game designer with a loose idea, I help translate your vision into clear, functional environments. I guide layout, mood, and world logic — no need for technical knowledge upfront.

  • What's included in an environment design package?

    You get research-based visual development, layout sketches, greybox mockups or blockouts (if needed), high-res keyframes, prop passes, and delivery in organized collaborative boards like Miro or Notion. I also provide optional 3D bases and moodframes.

  • Can you design with gameplay flow or mechanics in mind?

    Yes. Every environment is rooted in its gameplay context — player pacing, line of sight, chokepoints, discovery, and more. Whether for a top-down tactical game or a cinematic third-person experience, form follows function.

  • Can you help us with a pitch deck or vertical slice?

    Absolutely. My environment work is structured so it can plug into funding presentations, pitch decks, and vertical slice builds. I provide breakdowns, annotations, and layered assets you can use directly in docs and videos.

  • Can I book you just for mood or keyframe paintings?

    Yes — while I often deliver full pipelines, I also take on standalone work like mood paintings, lighting tests, or cinematic world moments. These are great for marketing, investor materials, or narrative cutscenes.

  • What’s your typical client for environment work?

    I’ve worked with indie studios, mobile teams, AA+ productions, and even theme park designers. I love worldbuilding. If your project is rich in story or mood, we can build unforgettable spaces together — no matter the scale.

  • What if I need multiple environments or a full world map?

    We’ll scope it together. I often help establish visual cohesion for large projects: from biome language and color palettes to elevation logic and travel flow. We can scale based on what you need — one key area or an entire world.

  • What if your schedule’s full?

    If I can’t personally take your project, I’ll refer you to highly skilled collaborators from my network, some of whom I’ve mentored or art directed. You’ll still get a solid starting point.

Need players to feel something the moment they step into your world?
Let’s design an environment that delivers awe, story, and flow — together.