Feedback on art tests
admin
I was recently asked to critique someone's art test for another company, and it made me wonder how everyone else feels about this sort of thing.
As I see it, the point of an art test is for a potential employer to see if the applicant can create art to their standards.
If the artist changes their art test based on outside feedback, and then they get hired, does this mean they can only produce art at that level if they get outside feedback? Sure, it's mostly on their shoulders to produce, but my point is it seems like they're using the critiques to get that extra level of polish.
Problem is, most (if not all) companies do not want their artists posting WIPs on public boards during a project. But when you're on the job you typically get feedback from other artists on the team, and from your leads.
So the applicant is at a slight disadvantage. But the point remains, the employer needs to evaluate your skill level.
Of course people still do post art test WIPs on boards, and they get artistic feedback. One thing I think they don't realize is there are many many lurkers on boards like polycount, some of which may be from the company testing them. You just never know. It would definitely bias my judgement of a test coming onto my desk.
As I see it, the point of an art test is for a potential employer to see if the applicant can create art to their standards.
If the artist changes their art test based on outside feedback, and then they get hired, does this mean they can only produce art at that level if they get outside feedback? Sure, it's mostly on their shoulders to produce, but my point is it seems like they're using the critiques to get that extra level of polish.
Problem is, most (if not all) companies do not want their artists posting WIPs on public boards during a project. But when you're on the job you typically get feedback from other artists on the team, and from your leads.
So the applicant is at a slight disadvantage. But the point remains, the employer needs to evaluate your skill level.
Of course people still do post art test WIPs on boards, and they get artistic feedback. One thing I think they don't realize is there are many many lurkers on boards like polycount, some of which may be from the company testing them. You just never know. It would definitely bias my judgement of a test coming onto my desk.
Replies
So yeah, just specify that you have to do the test on your own, and then penalize anybody who can't follow simple directions.
While I agree I don't think it's really fair to get outside help, ultimately it's on the candidate to make the art. I've seen a lot of Test WIPs get posted here, and get lots of feedback, but I haven't ever seen a test that I would turn down before feedback, and accept after it.
I guess what I'm saying, is that if the artist is good enough to get hired after getting some feedback, they're usually good enough to get hired before feedback.
The times on this board where I see feedback make a drastic difference, is on newbs, who I probably wouldn't be hiring in the first place, and on people who spend months working on/tweaking/getting critiques from Polycount on their project. Art tests tend to have a pretty quick deadline, so I don't see that as an issue.
Hmm, I guess what I'm trying to say is that feedback is ok when its just a matter of opinion or minor aesthetics (ie. you probably would've been hired anyway), but not really good when the feedback is really holding their hand and telling them how to do their art test...
I personally like to give feedback directly to artists doing test for us, because it helps me get an idea of how well they take crits and feedback, and basic communication skills etc. So i for one definately love to see WIPs from people doing tests for us, but i understand most companies probabbly dont see it the same way that i do, but i think that its pretty vital for a small studio like ours.
They should sink or swim on their own merit. Not the collective brain trust of the people they know.
Chances are you won't be able to offer the same critiques for every piece unless you share a cube with the person. Being able to critique your own work is a VERY valuable skill. You can't always relay on other people to see the flaws.
People should be open to critique, but not relay on it.
The best creative products come from collaboration. IDEO is a design firm that 'only' designs by committee.
I think having your art test vetted by a industry pro is smart and if i was the person judging it I would in fact encourage them.
-R
I'd much rather have an artist who is capable of getting and using critique than one that keeps it to himself.
So now, if I didn't already know they'd been getting others' feedback, I would ask them if they did so. How they respond to the question could be informative.
Thanks guys.
Edit... actually I think the best course would be to have the artist submit WIPs during the process, not just the final piece. Whatever, I haven't used art tests on new hires anyhow, and I probably won't.
I have had too many art tests where I just had to fucking guess what they wanted since it was all so vague and non-commiting, but at the same time they wanted something specific back from you.
It's also the most respectful way to go about it. If you're going to make someone do free work for you (which an art-test basically is), at least spare a few minute to write up some pointers every now and then.
-caseyjones