visual theory principles with annotations on how to make designs better

Style Guides & Art Bibles

Mastering the invisible forces that make images speak

The not-so-secret foundation behind every image that just works.

This service is for teams who want their art to feel cohesive, powerful, and full of intent—whether you're building a brand-new IP, strengthening a pitch, or giving your game or film the extra 10% it needs to feel pro.

I break down rhythm, shape language, silhouette, focal hierarchy, balance, tension—you know, the good stuff. Then I help you apply those tools in your actual project. No theory for theory’s sake. We connect design decisions directly to your goals: narrative clarity, gameplay readability, emotional impact.

Whether you're an indie developer, art director, or a solo creator pushing your first world to life, I’ll help you develop a visual framework that lets your art do more heavy lifting.

a style guide with rhythms, balance and theories of what makes a character work visually

What’s included:

  • Annotated feedback on your designs (character, environment, props, UI—whatever you need clarity on)

  • A custom visual language report: shape theory, rhythm, flow, and focal hierarchy analysis

  • Style guide breakdowns and how-to-build documentation

  • Color theory and composition reviews

  • Suggested exercises and visual studies for your team (or solo learning)

  • Case studies and breakdowns of your current or future assets

  • Optional recorded calls or team training sessions

  • Feedback rounds scheduled around your deadlines

What’s not included:

  • Endless iterations (we’ll work in clearly scoped phases)

  • Original concept creation (this is design theory and feedback, not new asset production—though we can bundle those separately)

  • Cookie-cutter advice—this process is built custom for you, not generic templates

This is collaborative, not prescriptive. We walk through design decisions together, balancing aesthetic instinct with functional clarity.

Sessions and deliverables are broken into clear milestones, with space for feedback, iteration, and syncs as needed.

Theory applied to real-world needs: game readability, pitch deck storytelling, animation flow, or marketing impact.

Style Guide and Art Bible 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.

a box drawing and a reskin applied to make it visually pleasing

Visual Language Development – Defining the look and feel of characters, environments, UI, and props.

3d cyborg arm sculpted in zbrush

Production Documentation – Clear references and standards to unify teams and streamline workflows.

character fully realized in 3d with cyborg arms

Pitch & IP Consistency – Creating comprehensive bibles that help sell, scale, and stay visually aligned.

66%

pre-production time reduction while working with Ashfall / NetEase Games

Cut production costs and timelines using real-time 3D workflows and updated concept art methods.

33%

art quality improvement while working with Frictional Games

Elevated visuals by refining the studio’s style guide and procedural material library within a 3D render engine.

90%

first-approval rate while working with Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 / Athena Productions

Achieved near-perfect first-pass concept approvals across character, environment, and prop design.

Custom long-term pricing available for bookings over 60 days

Flexible, discounted rates for studios seeking extended concept art partnerships.

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  • 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

Visual Portfolio

character design of oracle, tribal
robotic arm sculpted in zbrush for games
animated robot arm made into a game weapon
game weapon design from cyborg arm
polished illustration of mechanical arm with ui elements
scifi katana design
horror chair design for games and film
chair design in 3d for game productions
creature design sculpted in zbrush
creature design digital painted
concept art of character from a modern setting, hiker, explorer
skate character design
stylized full body skate char design
turn around cyberpunk character design medic
grunge font that reads: a case study on process

Proof Through Process

Hiring a freelance concept artist shouldn't feel like a gamble. That’s why I document and share my process—so you can see how ideas evolve from abstract briefs into fully realized design solutions. From sketch to final render, every choice has intent. Case studies are a powerful tool not just for showcasing what I can do, but for helping your team learn, align, and make better decisions, faster.


Looking to hire someone who can teach and execute? That’s what I do.

drawing of a box drawn in 2d, with before and after visual theory applied

From Blockout to Believable

Everything starts with a box. The trick is knowing why and when to break the box.

Here’s how I take basic shapes and teach teams how to evolve them into visually functional, world-aware designs that still feel grounded.

gun design with before and after comparison before miguel nogueira re-designed it professionally

Make it Better. Then Make it Yours.

Sometimes, a design just isn’t hitting—and you don’t have the time to figure out why. That’s where I come in. Through visual coaching and iterative improvement, I take your team’s concepts and push them toward narrative clarity, visual appeal, and mechanical believability. This isn’t about ego—this is about crafting the best version of the idea, together.
Design feedback, creative consulting, and art direction for game-ready weapons and props.

  • professional and beautifully shot wacom tablet for digital drawing and design

    At the end of our collaboration, you’ll receive a complete, easy-to-share visual document — think a PDF or collaborative platform (like Notion, Google Docs, or Miro) — that can onboard your team or external partners in minutes. It includes every key element: tone, color palettes, visual dos and don’ts, reference images, design rules, and flexible templates for scaling.

  • concept art workstation background, with professional software rendering

    I build each guide from scratch with you, not from templates. I listen to your project's needs, your team’s structure, your production flow — and build a living document that evolves with you. This is about clarity and coherence, so your world doesn’t fall apart halfway through production.

  • professional freelance artist taking notes on a macbook and leading a online meeting.

    It’s not just style — it’s storytelling. The style guide aligns narrative, gameplay, tone, and audience in one place, across characters, environments, marketing, and UI. Whether you’re launching a new IP, a mobile game, a series, or a Kickstarter, this guide helps you stay consistent and communicate your vision without rewriting the same email 100 times.

  • resources and physical design books on a professional artist desk

    I don’t disappear after handoff. If needed, I’ll help onboard your artists, guide freelancers, and keep the document future-proof. And if your scope grows? I’m here to support scaling, with artist referrals, consulting, and flexible updates.

  • a beautiful selection of sketchbooks being reviewed by a professional artist and designer

    I use industry-standard tools like Photoshop, Figma, InDesign, and collaborative platforms like Miro and Notion. I also help adapt the style bible to different teams — 3D artists, animators, UI designers — so no one’s guessing what "vibe" means anymore.

a visual styleguide of cowboy IP

Consistency is Key
(Even With Cowboys)

Every character in your IP should look like they belong in the same universe. This comes down to cohesion in design language, detail density, materials, and proportions. From moodboards to final polish, I help bridge the gap between early exploration and production-ready assets.
For character designers, directors, and producers who want more than just “cool”—they want clarity.

ebook on visual theory by miguel nogueira

Visual Theory That Actually Helps Artists Grow

This self-published book on Visual Theory wasn't just a hit—it made it to ArtStation’s top 20 for a reason. It distills years of experience into actionable insights on design fundamentals, visual communication, and creative problem-solving.

My approach isn’t academic—it’s for working artists, teams, and studios that want to improve how they design, not just what they design.
Great for internal training, onboarding junior artists, or just raising the creative bar.

professional artist holding microphone

Let’s Talk Creative Direction

Whether it’s a keynote, podcast, or a 1:1 video call with your team, I love helping others unlock better visual decisions. I’ve worked with studios, agencies, and IP teams at different scales—sometimes to draw, sometimes to consult, always to bring clarity to the creative process.
If you're hiring for more than art—if you need thinking partners and strategic design—we should talk.

  • What if my project is still in early development?

    That’s actually the best time to build a visual foundation. I help align your early ideas into a cohesive style guide that can guide not only visuals, but the mood, tone, and even pipeline efficiency — long before production starts.

  • I’m not a studio. Can I still commission a style guide or art bible?

    Absolutely. Whether you're an indie dev, worldbuilder, director, or startup, you don’t need to be a full-blown studio to benefit from visual consistency. I tailor every delivery to your stage and scale — from minimal visual packs to fully developed IP bibles.

  • What’s included in your style guide or art bible package?

    You’ll get an interactive, easy-to-update document (PDF, Miro board, or Notion) with color palettes, shape language, material guides, do’s/don’ts, character + environment breakdowns, UI/UX samples (if needed), and IP tone/ethos direction. Optional: cinematic keyframes, pitch deck frames, or production overlays.

  • Can this help me pitch to publishers, funders, or investors?

    Definitely. A professionally designed style guide or IP bible is one of the strongest tools for pitches — it shows vision, planning, and consistency. Many of my clients use these directly in publisher decks, grant applications, and studio meetings.

  • How do we collaborate on this?

    I’ll lead you through a guided discovery phase to extract your goals, tone, inspirations, and long-term roadmap. We use visual references, sketches, language cues, and production context. You don’t have to prepare everything beforehand — part of the work is helping you define it.

  • What tools or formats do you work in?

    Usually, I deliver both a printable and a digital format — with live assets in Miro or Notion for ongoing evolution. Design work is done in Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, or other studio-grade tools depending on your need. All assets are shareable with your team or collaborators.

  • Do you help with updating or maintaining the guide later?

    Yes. If your project scales or evolves, I offer ongoing updates or upgrades to your guide, including bringing in additional collaborators, adjusting for pivots, or integrating post-launch content.

  • What if I don’t know how to write the tone/language section?

    That’s part of the service. I work with you to find the right descriptive voice for your world or product. Whether it's minimalist, fantastical, horror, or comedic, I align the visuals with the voice — or build that voice from scratch.

This Isn’t Just “Concept Art”


If you’re a producer, art director, or creative lead searching for concept art services that actually solve design problems—you’re in the right place. I specialize in helping game studios, IP developers, and entertainment brands build compelling, visually coherent worlds from the ground up. Through research, storytelling, and design strategy, I work closely with teams to deliver concept art that isn’t just beautiful—it’s functional, aligned, and ready for production.