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By Charlotte Harding, Head of Careers
Our first Beyond Bedales careers event of the year took place on 29 January with video game art director Joel Smith. Joel’s visit was the latest in our ‘A Cream Tea with…’ series, which gives students the chance to hear from professionals across a range of industries in a relaxed environment.
A three-time BAFTA Award winner, Joel has worked across console, mobile, PC, handheld, virtual and augmented reality, directing the art for multi-million-selling triple-A titles, including Harry Potter, Gangs of London and Total War.
Using Sackboy as a case study, Joel guided the students through the stages of game development. He explained that as art director, he is responsible for the overall visual style of the game, ensuring that a team of more than 70 artists work to a shared style guide and colour palette. Together, they produce initial mood boards, mock up early visuals in a process known as the “blockout” (where basic shapes and layouts are used to plan the game world) and refine artwork through the production stages.
The students were captivated. It was clear that some had some insight into the process Joel was speaking about, with nods in recognition at questions about game engines and other technical aspects of production. One Prep School parent later shared that their child had stayed at home that evening to practise their drawing skills after being inspired by the talk. Their new ambition is to study Fine Art followed by a second degree in Computer Science so they can fulfil their dream of working in game design.
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