Professional Summary
Award-winning 3D artist and technical artist with 5+ years creating high-craft imagery for AAA gaming and immersive media. Proven expertise spanning product rendering, real-time animation, and procedural asset creation from concept through final render. Deep experience with AI-integrated workflows, VR/AR production, and building visual languages that define brand identity. Skilled at rapid iteration, cross-functional collaboration, and self-managing complex creative timelines.
Professional Experience
Pipeline Technical Artist
Microsoft Blizzard | January 2023 - December 2025
- Created state-of-the-art 3D imagery and animation for category-defining AAA game releases including Diablo IV base game, 10+ seasonal updates, and Vessel of Hatred expansion
- Developed high-craft product visualization and marketing assets using variety of 3D tools at fast pace to meet aggressive release schedules
- Built procedural rigging and VFX systems enabling artists to produce game-ready assets without technical support, significantly boosting team velocity
- Architected Python-based pipeline tools with PyQt UI frameworks supporting hundreds of artists across character, environment, and VFX disciplines
- Collaborated with rendering and engine teams to optimize real-time asset performance from polygon optimization through final render
- Synthesized feedback from multiple stakeholders, quickly incorporating direction to strengthen creative outcomes
- Self-managed project timelines across distributed studio teams, communicating updates to program managers
Key Projects:
- Scene Healer — Comprehensive Maya validation suite with PyQt UI enabling artists to fix technical issues without TA support, deployed across studio handling thousands of daily submissions
- Gameready Updater — Cross-DCC automation pipeline eliminating need for rigging support during character art workflow through procedural systems
- Map Tweaker — Procedural world map generation system incorporating UI artist overlays for seasonal content expansions
- Furtuoso — Maya plugin for intuitive normal painting optimizing fur shading across Diablo IV
3D Artist & Animator
Federico Solmi (Internationally Exhibited Artist) | July 2021 - December 2022
- Developed procedural VFX systems in Unity for real-time VR experiences and pre-rendered applications exhibited at international galleries
- Created complete character pipelines from concept and storyboarding through modeling, rigging, animation, lighting, and final rendering
- Built VR experiences integrating traditional art with cutting-edge real-time 3D technology and AI tools
- Collaborated directly with artist on creative vision while solving complex technical challenges
- Conceived elegant, effective ways to showcase artwork and highlight immersive features
- Generated revenue through NFT series on Ethereum showcasing real-time VFX and 3D animation
Education
Carnegie Mellon University — B.A. Digital Creative Practice | August 2017 - May 2021
Student-defined interdisciplinary major combining Computer Science and Art curricula.
Relevant Coursework: Advanced Pipelines for Film and Game Art, Real-Time Animation, Programming User Interfaces, Computation for Creative Practices, Networked Game Design
Technical Skills
3D & Animation Tools
Maya, Blender, Unity, Unreal, ZBrush, Photoshop, After Effects
Rendering & Optimization
Real-time rendering pipelines, raytracing, polygon optimization, shader development
Creative Technology
Procedural systems, AI-integrated workflows, VR/AR experience design
Pipeline & Automation
Python, PyQt/PySide, Git, Perforce, CI/CD deployment
Specializations
Product visualization, character art, procedural VFX, tool UI/UX design
Selected Portfolio Work
3D Product & Character Animation
- NFT Series — Collection of highly recognizable stylized 3D avatars and real-time VFX showcased on Ethereum platforms
- VR Shaders — Unity URP shader set for VR experiences using multi-modal AI integration
- GATT — 40-minute 3D animated pilot produced in Unity3D with live VR premiere; currently remastering in Unreal Engine
Product Rendering & Visualization
- Ceres — Real-time 3D animated short produced in Unreal Engine
- Goat — Original rideable mount character design entered in Blizzard Student Art Contest, later adapted for physical embroidery production
References and extended portfolio available upon request
Tools
