How to Work with Technical Artist in Creative Production

How to Work with a Technical Artist in Creative Production


TL;DR / Intro (10 mins)


  • What is a Technical Artist?

    • A Technical Artist bridges art and technology in game development, XR, and 3D projects. They optimize visual and interactive elements, handle shader development, asset integration, performance optimization, scripting, and lighting.

  • Common Tasks:

    • Shader Development
    • Asset Integration
    • Performance Optimization
    • Scripting
    • Lighting and Rendering

  • Misconceptions:

    • Not primarily responsible for creating core art assets.
    • Not full-fledged game programmers but focus on art workflows and integration.

  • Industry Names:

    • Technical Artist
    • Shader Artist
    • Technical Director
    • Technical Animator
    • Tools Developer
    • Art Engineer

Required Resources and Tools (5 mins)


  • Software Packages:

    • 3D Modeling and Animation Software
    • Game Engines
    • Shader Development Tools
    • Code Editors
    • VFX Software
    • Rigging and Animation Tools

  • Enforcement of Software:

    • Depends on project goals and team expertise. Standardized tools ensure consistency.

  • Licensing or Cost Requirements:

    • Costs vary; some tools are free/low-cost like Blender or ShaderToy.

  • Hardware Requirements:

    • Modern multi-core processor, dedicated graphics card, 16GB+ RAM.

Deliverables and Time Estimation (15 mins)


  • Organizational Tools:

    • Jira, Trello, Version Control Systems for managing tasks and assets.

  • Timeframes:

    • Impossibly short: Creating complex shaders within a day.
    • Too long: Weeks-long projects with limited skill diversity.

  • Pivoting Difficulty:

    • Easier in planning/prototyping phases; harder in later stages.

Giving Instructions and Feedback (15 mins)


  • Instructions Needed:

    • Visual references, technical constraints, performance targets.

  • Feedback Level:

    • High-level in planning, technical/artistic in production, artistic quality in final review.

  • Feedback Format:

    • Written feedback for quick sharing and reflection.

Traits of High-Quality Work


  • Technical Proficiency
  • Problem-Solving Skills
  • Detail-Oriented
  • Adaptability

Traits of Sloppy, Rushed Work


  • Lack of attention to detail
  • Poor Optimization
  • Broken or Unusable Tools
  • Lack of Testing

Best Practices for Collaboration (15 mins)


  • Problem-Solving:

    • Assets integration issues, shader artifacts, performance problems, rigging deformations.

  • Who Should Fix Them:

    • Technical Artists, developers, or specialists depending on the issue.

  • Vocabulary for PMs:

    • Shaders, Rigging, Pipeline, Texture Compression, Render Pipeline, GPU.

Additional Resources (email afterwards)