kronos:

Q: What kinds of skills and talents does it take to be a conceptual artist?

A: Doug Chiang

– Conceptual designers need to be good artists. Our job is communication through art. The backgrounds of each artist in the art department are often as varied as our skills. Some are wonderful creature creators, like Terryl Whitlatch, and others like Iain McCaig excel at costumes. But the common link that binds us all is the ability to draw well.

In addition, concept designers need to be world builders. We need to be architects, vehicle designers, costume and creature designers, all in one. Good designers have the ability to see the uncommon in common objects.

From Ask the Jedi Council Archives – 1999