Become a Better Game Artist: How to Think Like a Game Designer
Being a successful game artist means more than being just a talented visual designer. Understanding the technical process, knowing the intent of gameplay and story, and being aware of the aesthetics of what is being created will make you part of the bigger picture and aid you in becoming an excellent decision-maker and team leader.
On August 24th, three lead artists from Insomniac Games will open a discussion at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects that will break down the stigma of artists feeling removed from game design. The panel will be moderated and audience participation is encouraged. Whether you’re a budding game artist, an industry professional, or simply curious about how your favorite games are made, there will be information for everyone. You’ll leave the event with tips to help you think more like a game designer and how to work better as a team member, as well as how to stay focused on the end goal of a project while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. The panelists will also explain what companies like Insomniac Games look for in candidates and offer portfolio advice for those looking to break into the industry.
Join the discussion! RSVP to attend for free at Gnomon School of Visual Effects at 1015 N. Cahuenga Blvd in Hollywood. If you can’t make it in person, tune in live on Livestream or YouTube.
“I would like to thank you so much for arranging and sharing online many amazing events at Gnomon. I am trying not to miss any of them. They are so valuable and help [me] to understand various aspects of the industry and artists’ workflows, which you would never read in any article or see in tutorials. Enormous thank you for sharing this knowledge!”
-- Anna Kvederis
Schedule
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm: Become a Better Game Artist: How to Think Like a Game Designer
Gnomon’s Certificate in Digital Production is a full-time, two-year program comprised of two years of instruction in digital production. The Games Track combines Gnomon’s one-of-a-kind core digital production education with a specific focus on game art, design, and tools.
Guest Speakers
Lead Character Artist at Insomniac Games
Currently the Lead Character Artist at Insomniac Games, Gavin is working on Marvel's Spider-Man and previously contributed to Sunset Overdrive. Before Insomniac, he was Lead Character Artist on BioShock Infinite and a character artist for titles including Dead Rising 2, The Bigs 2, Dragon Age, F.E.A.R. 2, and many more. Dedicated to improving the education of the games industry and promoting best practices for character art, he has spoken at GDC, SDCC, USC, JoGS (Jordan Gaming Summit), and is the host of the Character Art Podcast. He’s a published author of tutorial books and has had work featured in multiple articles for 3D World, 3D Artist, and 3dtotal Publishing.
Lead Environment Artist at Insomniac Games
Jason comes from what he calls a “sordid background” of films, table top RPGs, animation, and illustration. When he got his first job, he says he didn't know how to use Photoshop. Since then, he’s worked at some of the finest independent studios – Frontier, Crytek, Insomniac – including a brief stint at Sony in between, and is currently Lead Environment Artist at Insomniac Games working on Spider-Man. Previous roles include Lead Artist on Ryse, Lead Environment Artist/Assistant Art Director on PlayStation VR Worlds, and Senior Environment Artist on Kinect: Disneyland Adventures. He’s talked about environment art at GDC, FMX, Develop Conference, and BFX Festival.
Lead Animator at Insomniac Games
Brian has been kicking around the animation industry since the last century. He’s spent most of his time working on video games, though his career has taken him on a crazy ride through feature films, television, tech, and more. Brian currently serves his masters at Marvel and Insomniac Games bringing life to Spider-Man on the PS4, where he spends most of his days consumed with cinematic visual storytelling. Prior to that he was a lead on other fun stuff at Insomniac Games, like Sunset Overdrive. Before joining the house of Ratchet, Brian served a variety of animation roles providing content that has entertained millions for the likes of Google, Sony Pictures Imageworks, EA, and many more.
