2 answers
Nitin
Student
Portland, Oregon
1
Question
Asked
788 views
How can I get into the field of technical artistry for product design and media production? What training and type of portfolio do I need?
I would like to understand what training is needed and to better understand how I can get into the field of technical artistry for video games, films, industrial design. What tools are needed and how can I build a portfolio and career.
2 answers
Feranmi Orunmuyiwa
Product manager/Scrum master
3
Answers
Lagos, Nigeria
Updated
Feranmi’s Answer
Technical artistry is an awesome field that blends creativity with technical skills, making it perfect for video games, films, and industrial design. It requires a mix of art, programming, and problem-solving to bring digital creations to life.
1. What Training is Needed?
To become a Technical Artist (TA), you'll need skills in computer graphics, coding, and industry software. Here’s a roadmap:
A. Education Path
College Degree (Optional but Recommended)
Major in Computer Science, Game Design, Animation, Industrial Design, or Digital Arts.
Some schools offer specialized Technical Art programs.
Self-taught routes are possible, but structured learning helps.
Online Courses & Certifications
Udemy, Coursera, CGMA (Computer Graphics Master Academy), and Gnomon offer high-quality courses.
Autodesk (Maya), Epic Games (Unreal Engine), and Unity offer free learning resources.
How to Build a Portfolio
Your portfolio should showcase problem-solving, creativity, and efficiency.
A. What to Include
Tech Art Demos
Shader work (custom materials, VFX)
Rigging & animation tools you built
Procedural generation (Houdini, Unreal Engine’s Blueprint)
Optimized assets for real-time rendering
Breakdowns & Documentation
Explain how you optimized assets, improved workflow, or solved problems.
Show before-and-after results (e.g., polycount reduction, render improvements).
Personal & Group Projects
Work on indie games, modding, or 3D short films.
Contribute to open-source projects or game jams (Ludum Dare, Global Game Jam).
GitHub & Demo Reels
If you script, upload your Python or C++ tools to GitHub.
Create a demo reel (1-2 mins) showcasing your best work.
4. How to Start a Career
Internships & Freelance Work
Look for junior tech artist roles, indie game projects, or film studios.
Offer freelance 3D modeling, rigging, or shader creation on sites like ArtStation Jobs.
Networking & Community
Join forums & Discord groups (Polycount, Tech-Artists.org, Unreal Slackers).
Attend GDC (Game Developers Conference) or SIGGRAPH (VFX & animation).
Apply for Jobs
Common job titles:
Technical Artist (Games)
Shader Artist
Pipeline TD (Film & VFX)
Procedural Designer
Companies hiring: Epic Games, Unity, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic, Ubisoft.
1. What Training is Needed?
To become a Technical Artist (TA), you'll need skills in computer graphics, coding, and industry software. Here’s a roadmap:
A. Education Path
College Degree (Optional but Recommended)
Major in Computer Science, Game Design, Animation, Industrial Design, or Digital Arts.
Some schools offer specialized Technical Art programs.
Self-taught routes are possible, but structured learning helps.
Online Courses & Certifications
Udemy, Coursera, CGMA (Computer Graphics Master Academy), and Gnomon offer high-quality courses.
Autodesk (Maya), Epic Games (Unreal Engine), and Unity offer free learning resources.
How to Build a Portfolio
Your portfolio should showcase problem-solving, creativity, and efficiency.
A. What to Include
Tech Art Demos
Shader work (custom materials, VFX)
Rigging & animation tools you built
Procedural generation (Houdini, Unreal Engine’s Blueprint)
Optimized assets for real-time rendering
Breakdowns & Documentation
Explain how you optimized assets, improved workflow, or solved problems.
Show before-and-after results (e.g., polycount reduction, render improvements).
Personal & Group Projects
Work on indie games, modding, or 3D short films.
Contribute to open-source projects or game jams (Ludum Dare, Global Game Jam).
GitHub & Demo Reels
If you script, upload your Python or C++ tools to GitHub.
Create a demo reel (1-2 mins) showcasing your best work.
4. How to Start a Career
Internships & Freelance Work
Look for junior tech artist roles, indie game projects, or film studios.
Offer freelance 3D modeling, rigging, or shader creation on sites like ArtStation Jobs.
Networking & Community
Join forums & Discord groups (Polycount, Tech-Artists.org, Unreal Slackers).
Attend GDC (Game Developers Conference) or SIGGRAPH (VFX & animation).
Apply for Jobs
Common job titles:
Technical Artist (Games)
Shader Artist
Pipeline TD (Film & VFX)
Procedural Designer
Companies hiring: Epic Games, Unity, Pixar, Industrial Light & Magic, Ubisoft.
I'm excited to put your great advice to good use!
Beatriz Lorenzo Botella
VFX artist
16
Answers
Santa Monica, California
Updated
Beatriz’s Answer
Hi Nitin,
Technical artistry is a fun thing! Great that you want to step in it.
Video games, films and industrial design are three different industries. They overlap but they're also highly specialized. So keep that in mind.
They way they overlap right now is in the 3d space and maybe also in the need for coding, maybe not to a very high level but some python is needed to make progress, specially now with AI and robotics in the mix. As for 3d, the way the surfaces are describe in videogames/films is different from Industrial design (this one is more CAD and parametric surfaces), so the programs you'll be using differ. But once you learn one, it's easy to learn the next one. Also for Industrial design you need to be able to read and produce technical drawings, whereas in games/films you need to learn about motion and visual communication.
Some 3d programs to start exploring:
Industrial design: sketchUp, Solidworks, Autocad, Catia, Rhino.
Games: unreal or unity.
Films: Maya, Houdini, 3dsMax.
I believe Blender could be a good choice too, it's an open source software.
Good luck!
Technical artistry is a fun thing! Great that you want to step in it.
Video games, films and industrial design are three different industries. They overlap but they're also highly specialized. So keep that in mind.
They way they overlap right now is in the 3d space and maybe also in the need for coding, maybe not to a very high level but some python is needed to make progress, specially now with AI and robotics in the mix. As for 3d, the way the surfaces are describe in videogames/films is different from Industrial design (this one is more CAD and parametric surfaces), so the programs you'll be using differ. But once you learn one, it's easy to learn the next one. Also for Industrial design you need to be able to read and produce technical drawings, whereas in games/films you need to learn about motion and visual communication.
Some 3d programs to start exploring:
Industrial design: sketchUp, Solidworks, Autocad, Catia, Rhino.
Games: unreal or unity.
Films: Maya, Houdini, 3dsMax.
I believe Blender could be a good choice too, it's an open source software.
Good luck!
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