← Work
ProjectVALORANT
StudioRiot Games
RoleArt Director · Outsource
Year2022–Present
Art Direction · Riot Games · VALORANT

Defining Visual Language

Art direction is not about making art — it's about making decisions. The research, analysis, feedback, and standards documents below represent the directorial layer of the work: the thinking that happens before a vendor ever opens a new canvas.

Section 01
Agent Identity Research

Before directing a single piece of artwork, every Agent receives a comprehensive identity analysis — cataloguing their game model, cinematic representation, official 2D illustrations, fan interpretations, and key personality and design pillars.

Agent #02Viper Identity Map
Controller · The American Chemist
Viper Identity Map — Click to View Full Document
View Full Document ↗
Agent #24Iso Identity Map
Iso Identity Map — Click to View Full Document
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Agent #10Jett Identity Map
Jett Identity Map — Click to View Full Document
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VALORANTIZE Design Challenge
Character Design · Internal Challenge
VALORANTIZE
David Martinez · Usagi Tsukino · Agent Design
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Section 02
Vendor Art Direction

Clear, specific, actionable direction delivered across multiple development rounds. Each feedback document gives external vendors the context, reference, and precise notes needed to elevate their work to VALORANT's quality standard.

Player Card · Key Art Direction · Multi-Round
Hollow Meridian
VALORANT Player Card · Nightcrawler Bundle
Multi-round direction spanning refine through final polish. Notes covered anatomical proportion, color palette harmony, environmental depth, mask variant exploration, and character likeness. Included a DAZ3D pose reference to provide precise visual guidance on a complex figure problem.
·Anatomical proportion direction with 3D pose reference
·Color palette harmony — teal vs lime resolution
·Multi-round: Ideation → Refine → Polish
·Mask variant exploration — 8 options to final
Hollow Meridian Direction Document
Spray · Tone & Character Direction · Ideation
Erm, Actually
VALORANT Spray · Killjoy · V25A6
Tone and humor direction steering away from an overly stylized cartoon look back toward Killjoy's core character identity. Direction focused on pose energy, facial expression specificity, and the humor archetype the meme references.
·Character identity — returning to Killjoy's established persona
·Pose energy direction — specificity over generic
·Humor archetype — meme literacy applied to direction notes
Erm Actually Direction Document
Player Card · Key Art Direction · Refine Round
Time for Gym
VALORANT Player Card · Iso
Numbered refinement notes covering anatomy, color palette, likeness fidelity, and background treatment. Direction included specific color temperature guidance to align Iso's palette to his core character identity.
·Anatomical correction — hands and body proportions
·Color grading — warm vs cool skin temperature
·Likeness fidelity — expression and presence
·Background atmosphere and depth treatment
Time for Gym Direction Document
Section 03
Visual Standards & Style Guides

The highest form of art direction is systematization — establishing the rules that global teams design within. These documents define visual standards for VALORANT's toon character style across dozens of global vendor partners.

Style Guide · Toon Agent Visual Standards · Global Vendors
Toon Agent Anatomy Guide
VALORANT · Global Vendor Standards Document
·Facial proportion standards across all Agent types
·Body ratio guidelines — semi to full chibi range
·Character variation for identity reinforcement
·Foot and accessory detail standards
A comprehensive anatomy and proportion guide establishing consistent visual standards for VALORANT's chibi Agent style — covering facial proportions, body ratios, character variation principles, and detail standards across dozens of Agent designs.
Toon Agent Anatomy Guide
Spray Oversight · Before / After · Standards Applied
Killjoy Toon Spray
VALORANT · Visual Standards in Practice
Before — Vendor Submission
Before · Vendor Submission
After — Standards Applied
After · Standards Applied