What does it take to be a UI Artist?

[KarylGilbertson]

I heard many moons ago (I think at a presentation by Marc Holmes) that there is a constant demand for UI artists in the games industry.

I've been training myself as a concept artist for a few years, but UI is something that appeals to me as well, and I was thinking it might be a good way to get my foot in the door and gain some XP in the games industry, allowing me to work up to a 2D concept art position.

My question is, what exactly are people looking for as far as a skillset and portfolio? I've been working with concept art so long, I know what a concept art portfolio looks like, but I'm not sure what bases I should cover if I go for a UI design job.

Any thoughts?

[nonie]

Good portfolio for a ui job - either a bunch of screenshots of menu systems you've designed, or a cooler thing you can do with the intarwebs: an interactive fake game UI, with lots of sample icons and such... Same as any other profession, your portfolio should be exactly what you're trying to get a job doing.

[Qitsune]

Yes! Imagine cool games you'd like to play and design an interface mock up for them. Bonus points for well integrated flashing/animated buttons that don't look tacky. Or take a retro game and redesign the interface as if it was a whole new game (give proper credits in the portfolio for the original.)