Hello! I’m Cecile, a Producer here at Athena Productions.

Before joining the studio, I worked at Ubisoft in Service Operations, managing and planning multiple projects to ensure their successful delivery. I made the move to Athena Productions with one goal in mind: to help put systems and processes in place that can help a busy and growing creative studio!

At Athena Productions, every piece of concept art you see isn’t just done by artists, but is backed by a coordinated effort to keep projects running smoothly, deadlines on track, and the creative visions of clients always at the forefront of everyones minds. At the heart of that process? The Producer.

In this post, I’ll share what a Producer does in a concept art outsourcing studio, what a typical day looks like, and some insights into the role. Let’s get started!

What does a Producer actually do?

What does a typical day for a Producer look like? Well, my mornings usually begin with a team meeting to go over project statuses, client feedback, and any concerns from the artists. This quick check-in sets the tone for the day, giving everyone an overview of schedules, progress, and any overnight updates from clients.

With a fully remote team, made up of a mix of permanent artists and freelancers, it’s essential to always know who’s working on what and how their schedules are shaping up.

Production isn’t just about ticking off tasks, it’s also about anticipating problems before they happen. If a client adds new tasks or an artist is off sick, I need to quickly rework the plan so deadlines are still met.

Helping communication

A huge part of my role is communication, and not just passing along feedback, but making sure it’s clear and actionable.

I make sure that client feedback is understood by the entire team, as well as help clients if they have any questions about deadlines, capacity or just the work in general. It’s vital for a successful outsourcing partnership that we always maintain a high level of communication between our team and clients.

When artists deliver work, I make sure it’s properly presented to the client, along with context, current progress, and any clarification if needed.

Milanote has been incredibly useful for sharing work, and feedback on projects between artists and directors.

Keeping projects on track

Another key responsibility is setting priorities for the team and protecting, and prioritizing their time.

Tracking progress is more than just ticking boxes. I monitor efficiency by comparing logged hours to client estimates, managing freelancer schedules, and keeping budgets in check. If a project ever starts running over, I need to know why and how we can course-correct. All of this is helpful for us to learn for future work as well.

All this gets summarized in a weekly report showing what was completed, what’s still in progress, and whether we’re on track. These reports give the studio clear visibility not just for the current week, but for future planning as well.

ClickUp is a great way to track project process, and see which artists are on what at any given time.

Supporting the work (and the people)

Production is more than spreadsheets and schedules. In any creative studio, the Producer’s role is also about supporting the people behind the art.

I make sure artists aren’t overloaded, confused, or burned out, and that they can focus on creating without the distraction of logistics.

Outsourcing work can sometimes make artists feel disconnected from the big picture as they hop from one project to another. Part of my role is to connect those dots, helping the team understand how their work contributes to the overall vision.

Final Thoughts

At its core, production is about people. It’s about helping artists focus on their craft, ensuring clients feel confident their project is in good hands, and giving the studio the structure it needs to grow.

I take pride in removing blockers, creating order, and making sure the team feels supported even if most of my work happens quietly behind the scenes.

“At its best, production is invisible - not because it isn’t important, but because it clears a path for artists to do what they were hired to do: create.”

And that’s exactly what I try to make happen every day!

At Athena Productions, we ensure every project runs smoothly from first sketch to final delivery. Our dedicated producers keep communication clear, schedules on track, and artists supported so you can focus on the bigger picture. Specializing in Concept Art, Visual Development, and UI/UX design, we provide outsourcing solutions that blend seamlessly with your team whether you need quick-turnaround support or an ongoing creative partnership. Let us help bring your vision to life.