Modagrafics, Rolling Meadows, IL.
Nov. 2005 – Sep. 2006
Creative Director
- Report to Director of Marketing, V.P. of Sales and or Owner of Company.
- Responsible for maintaining and scheduling projects.
- Created detailed schedules/timelines for production pipeline/time management
- Oversee incoming artwork fo… Read More
Modagrafics, Rolling Meadows, IL.
Nov. 2005 – Sep. 2006
Creative Director
- Report to Director of Marketing, V.P. of Sales and or Owner of Company.
- Responsible for maintaining and scheduling projects.
- Created detailed schedules/timelines for production pipeline/time management
- Oversee incoming artwork for reproduction or modification and approve
resolution, format and colors.
- Critique and Mentor artists for general art direction and or changes.
- Direct contact with clients for art needs on a per project basis.
- Brought 3D Design to company work flow via Lightwave 3D for print purposes
and designs.
- Created and implemented a process to design, render, color correct and output
3D files for Hi-res., large format printing.
- Re-designed 2 company vehicles for fleet graphic concepts via 3D design.
- Created and implemented designs for Clients such as Miller Brewing,
McDonald's, BP Amoco, Allied Waste, Serta, Interstate Batteries, Primo Water,
Knudsen Dairy, Smuckers Jams and Jellies, Chiquita, Roadway/Yellow Freight,
American Appliances, MacLane Food Distributors, VERA WANG, Abbott Labs,
Builder's First Source, etc.
- Initiated "NEW" Logo Re-Design for MacLane Food Distributors via 3D concept
and rendering for 53' tractor trailers.
- Worked with the head of procurement of NEW TECHNOLOGIES for Miller
Brewing Sandi Gallo for NEW Miller 3D designs of entire fleet.
- Setup basic directory structure/naming convention to better organize art files,
both new and legacy files.
- Worked with and created/modified Style/Application Guides for BP/Amoco,
Miller Brewing, McDonald’s, Serta, etc.
WMS. Gaming Inc., Chicago, IL. -
Traditional/Video Slot Machine Design/Manufacturing Company
Senior Level Artist - Product Development -
February 2000 – February 2005
- Direct report to Art Director of Art Department for final approval of art assets.
- Created and implemented artwork, and animations for over a dozen games
over four years.
- Responsible for creating storyboard concepts, character, designs, and feature
mockups.
- Managed schedules for production pipeline, while overseeing multiple projects
from initial design, to the casino floor.
- Proactive responses to thinking ahead so as to ward off any problems that
might arise in production schedules. Such as software issues, space issues,
asset management, general time constraints, team/artist assignments and
general man hour management.
- Creation of game design documentation for description and overall game play,
feature sets, and design specifications.
- Would create a necessary flow chart/checks and balances sheet for art assets
to be completed in order of importance.
- Mentored several new employees on After Effects, Lightwave 3D, Photoshop,
Illustrator and Debabilizer Pro.
- Created several tutorials for processes to speed up the production of final art
assets, and to help new hires better understand the limitations and inner
workings of the new and old operating systems.
- Comfortable and familiar with traditional animation techniques related to 2D
animation and 3D.
Games Worked on: (These games were usually developed concurrently. So it was not uncommon create several games at the same time. At times up to 3 simultaneously)
Monopoly Money Grab – First Game Created Art For
- Assisted on reel symbol animations
- Creation of new symbols both 2D/3D Scrabble
- Lead Artist
- Worked with one other artist
- Creation of all 3D characters, Animations, Color Optimization of Characters/Art – After rendered in 3D we then had to optimize the color palette from millions of
colors to about 200.
- Backgrounds
- Animated Dance moves
- Reel symbols
- Attract modes
- Help and pay tables, etc.
Big Tipper – Was brought in on project to trouble shoot and modify game art
- Re-worked Reel Symbols (to update artist look/style)
- Re-worked Bonus Round Graphics (to optimize color space) X-Marks the Spot
at the time this game tested the highest in Focus groups and field game play
- Lead Artist for overall look, feel and concept.
- Managed two other artists on game who were assisting in animations
- Creation of all storyboard/concept art
- All 2D animations, 3D Reel Symbols, etc.
- Reel symbols/animations
- Interface Design/Control Panel/Button
- Bonus round/feature graphics
- Attract Modes
- Help/pay table screens, etc.
X-Marks the Spot (Conversion) - Oversee and Re-Rendered original game art in a Higher Res. Version for a NEW PLATFORM for the Game
- Lead Artist, tracking of all old to new assets
- Version 1.5 old platform
- Converted for Australia
- And Sigma Gaming (Vegas)
Big Bang Piggy Bank (Conversion) - Oversee and Re-Rendered original game art in a Higher Res. Version for a NEW PLATFORM for the Game
- From Australia
- Conversion to SDG for show (1 Week turnaround,
for all assets to be scaled, cleaned up, and new offsets created for
programmer)
Goanna Gold (Conversion) - Oversee and Re-Rendered original game art in a Higher Res. Version for a NEW PLATFORM for the Game
- Australia - To SDG
- All art assets modified, new offsets, new help and pay tables
Super Jackpot Party
- Creation of Reel Symbols
- Reel Screen Interface
- Creation of Bonus Screens, Backgrounds, Animations, etc.
- General Art Assets, Character Animations, etc.
Pac Man
- Second Screen Bonus Round and all backgrounds
- General artwork/animations/Reel Symbols
Supermarket Sweep
- 3D Models
- Product Labels
- Trained an artist on After Effects for final composition creation.
Full port of
PICK YOUR FORTUNE (Re-work and creation of all new artwork) Concepts/Art
Asset Package/Style guide for
Men In Black III
Clint Eastwood’s FISTFUL OF DOLLARS
- Interface Design
- Reel Symbols
- Help and Pay table
- Layout and design
- Denomination Screen- Assisted on bonus features
American Reels
- 2D/3D reel symbols
- Animations
- Info text, - Help and pay table
- Denomination screen
Great Scot
- 2D/3D animations of Reel Symbols
- 2D/3D animations of Characters- Color and Clean up of 2D character
animations
- Attract modes/screens
- Help and pay table layouts/design
- Info text.
Concept Sketches for Traditional Reel Spinning Slots
- Money Belt (1 Week production)
- Cow Tipping (1 Week production)
Finished all artwork for Reel Symbols Sets for:
- Cow Tipping (1 Week production)
- Money Belt (1 Week production)
Storyboards/Art Direction/Style for:
- Egyptian Rose (1 Week production)
- Count Money (1 Week production)
- Chicks Gone Wild (1 Week production)
- Catch that Tiger (1 Week production)
Cat's Meow
- Complete building and design of bonus round feature "BIG CITY BONUS" featured a 3D cityscape with a virtual camera flying thru 5 stages of game play. This was the first WMS Game to take a bonus round to that level of game play/art. Sample can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/user/shawnhhvp
Worked with Style guides supplied to us from Hasbro, Sony Pictures (MIB), and Lord of the Rings.
The 4 games listed below, were all done originally WMS Gaming original platform. The concept was to take a group of existing titles in our lineup (classics) and port them to our new platform. This meant a new version of every art asset had to be created from scratch. I went thru the archive, and listed each original art asset, and created a cross reference chart to list the comparison for new vs. old art assets.
Instant Winner
- SDG Port
- Tracking of all old to new assets
- Transitions, etc.
- Attract Modes, etc.
- 3D Coin Character
Winning Bid
- SDG Port
- Tracking of all old to new assets
- Transitions, etc.
- Attract Mode etc.
- Reel Symbols
Money to Burn
- SDG Port
- Tracking of all old to new assets
- Transitions, Attract Modes, etc.
Jackpot Party
- SDG Port
- Tracking of all old to new assets
- Transitions, Attract Modes, etc.
Production Artist for Glass Packaging and or branding packages.
1998 - February 2005
- Direct report to Graphics Co-ordinator/Vice President of Game Development
and Graphics Department for final
approval of art assets.
- Would cross check new art assets/updates with pre-existing files to ensure
level of production quality was at, or above established standards.
- Responsible for production of any and all logo designs, character art, color and
type design and top box marquee/bar top inserts.
This was involving but not limited too:
- Taking new or existing art and placing it into 9 different configurations, all
requiring print proofs, and spec. sheets for final print production approval of
outside vendors.
- Familiar with the print production process in general.
- Worked with printers/service bureaus on a day to day basis, providing them
with print/production ready artwork that required little to no modification on their
part.
- Worked with the art staff to create glass packages utilizing sketches, concept or
final art of their existing characters/game art. This would ensure that the overall
package was consistent.
- Created an efficient work flow and directory structure to allow any and all artists
and marketing staff to easily access art production assets involving glass
production, comps. and inserts.
- Implemented a backup directory/file structure to allow vendors and employees
access artwork currently in production and legacy products that could be edited
easily if needed.
- Created 3D renderings via Lightwave 3D for marketing dept. to pre-viz future
gaming products and or licensed products.
- Responsible for inspecting all incoming glass and top box/bar top inserts for
color matching, quality of overall print and consistency with back stock and or
legacy products.
Northland Customs - Round Lake Beach, IL. -
(1997-1998)
Exhibit Design and Manufacturing Graphics Production Manager -
Graphics Department
- Directly reported to owner(s) of the company.
- Responsible for Production and Co-ordination of graphics for any and all
displays, signage, exhibits, conceptual artist renderings, and general print work.
- Produce and oversee any and all production of photo based graphics, print
work, 3D Renderings and 3D walk through and installation of graphics.
- Responsible for dealing with Vendors on a day to day basis to build a strong
working rapport for outside services.
- Created production schedules for accurate delivery dates of final
artwork/production pieces. For both general install on site, or in house
construction.
- Streamlined backup and work flow of files in order to cut down on data
loss/missing/out dated files and overall production time..
- Consult with clients on design concepts, layouts, installations and specification
requirements.
- Responsible for creating concept layouts of exhibit designs in both rough and
final comps.
- Trained employees in Lightwave 3D, Photoshop and Sign Shop Pro.
- Designed and Created an exhibit estimated to be worth over a half a million
dollars. The booth design could transform from a 50'x100' booth to a 10'x20'
booth.
- Responsible for client approvals and complete renderings via 3D, while
creating a virtual 3D video walk through.
- Some of the clients we worked with were Trolli Candies, Sather Candies,
Abbott Labs, Rockwell, Daniel Woodhead, Boehler Uddeholm, Enshu and
Corel.
Other Interests, Events & Skills:
- Read French
- Play Video Games when I have time
- Performed in two music events for charity
- Play several musical instruments, write, sing, and snowboard
- Do character voices, voice-overs, and sing
- Former Lead Singer for a Chicago band, Released a CD in
Chicago Area BEST BUY's and other retailers.
- Love movies "WHO DOESN'T!"
A Portfolio/Art Samples available upon request.
Letters of recommendation are available upon request.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts - Columbia College Chicago, IL June, 1997 - Graduated on Deans List, Cumulative GPA of 3.50. - Studied 2D / 3D animation and graphic design. Read Less
