Who Am I?

Hi! My name is Joel. You might recognize me as a mod for Work With Indies, but when I’m not modding, I’m a programmer with a passion for building prototypes! I’ve recently kicked off a new project that I’m incredibly excited about. There’s just one catch: I am not an artist (to put it lightly). I’m looking for a 3D Artist to join me so I can focus entirely on the programming and mechanics while we build out a polished Vertical Slice together. The project is already in motion, and I have a concept artist currently establishing the visual direction. That means you get to do what you do best: create.

The Vertical Slice

The game is a cozy adventure centered around a quirky mechanic: fishing from vending machines. Your goal is to collect unique fish and complete quests in a world inspired by the vibes of A Short Hike and Kabuto Park. Joining this early means you’re more than just a contractor; you’re a creative partner. You’ll have a significant seat at the table to help shape the gameplay, style, and world-building as we find the "fun" together.

The Team

Right now, the team is just me and a concept artist. As the 3D Artist, you will have full creative control over the 3D pipeline. If you love the idea of building a stylized world from the ground up, I’d love to work with you!

After Someone Who Can

• Help define and establish the game's core 3D art style from the ground up
• Model, texture, and rig 3D assets (I can help out with the actual animating!)
• Implement and set up assets directly within the engine
• Collaborate closely to ensure art assets fit technical constraints and gameplay needs
• Use Git.
• Iterate comfortably as the prototype evolves
• Able to help create shaders(and possibly teach me)

Requirements

• Strong experience modeling, texturing, and rigging 3D assets
• Experience working directly in Unity/Godot
• Familiarity with Git for version control
• Good communication and a collaborative, indie-friendly mindset
• Ability to work independently, manage your own tasks, and communicate roadblocks

Compensation & Timeline

Budget

I am entirely self-funding this project on a teacher's salary. Because of this my budget is very limited to up to a couple hundred dollars a month (depending on the current month). This is intended to be a flexible part-time arrangement. We can negotiate an hourly rate or milestone-based payment structure that fully respects your time and my budget constraints.

Timeline

TBD. The schedule is highly flexible and will depend on how fast we can get the core prototype finished. No crunch! Furthermore, you will also help define the game flow!