This week, our guest speaker was Olivia Gregory, a concept artist. Since I wasn’t entirely sure what a concept artist does, I visited her personal website to gain a basic understanding of the role. This is her website: https://oliviakgregory.wixsite.com/artwork
From a preliminary look, it appears to involve the 2D design and exploration of the game’s environments and characters; I will learn more during her presentation.
There was a point made at the beginning of her presentation that I strongly agree with: even if I don’t end up becoming a concept designer myself, I might still need to work with one—which is why it’s important to understand how they work and what their workflows are like. I have come to realize that in a professional setting, it is often necessary to understand how your colleagues work; doing so helps you find better ways to collaborate, which in turn boosts the overall efficiency of the team.
Moreover, since I plan to pursue a career in game design, it is essential for me to have a clear understanding of how programming and art assets are designed and produced; this knowledge will enable me to create more practical and functional systems.
This has been incredibly enlightening for me, as I’ve realized I need to reflect on and organize my past approaches to collaboration. I also intend to gain a better understanding of other professional roles, ensuring that when I eventually seek new job opportunities, I can effectively demonstrate my capacity for understanding and collaboration.