We speak to Associate Art Director, Stuart Walls, about life at Firesprite
In this interview series, we speak to some of the staff here to provide an insight into life at Firesprite from a variety of disciplines within the studio.
Today we chat with Associate Art Director, Stuart!
What is your name and job title?
I’m Stuart Walls - Associate Art Director
What does a typical day look like for an Associate Art Director?
Day to day I head up the Art Direction for one of our bigger projects here and touch base with our Studio Art Director every week or so to get feedback and bounce ideas around. I also work closely with the dev managers to make sure the project goals are achievable.
A typical day is basically split into two main areas:
One part is touching base with each of the art team and giving feedback and direction on their tasks, as well as making sure everyone knows what they are doing and that they are on track; this also includes feeding back to the external concept artists and setting briefs as required.
The other part is tackling the overall art direction for the game based on the client requirements. We are currently in the R&D phase for this project so it can be anything from setting potential tech implementation for assets, setting briefs for assets or concept work, creating mood boards for possible environments or assets, to higher level vision documents.
What is your favourite thing about working at Firesprite?
I am lucky enough to have worked with many of the Firesprite team before joining the company, including two of the founders, so I knew I wanted to work here before I started! My favourite thing is undoubtedly the team feel and studio atmosphere. I have worked with some of the corporate giants and it feels so much better to be part of a company who value individuals rather than being a cog in a machine. Everyone is approachable regardless of position which is a fantastic feeling. Firesprite has a great ethos and I have not looked back since joining!
Tell us something about you that might surprise us?
I have a passion for blues music and used to play guitar way back when I had spare time! :)
If you could learn to do something new, what would it be?
If money and time allowed, I would get a racing licence and do club circuit racing. I would also really like to learn a second language!
What has been your biggest challenge whilst working remotely and what positives have you taken from it?
There have been a few big challenges to be fair! Balancing working with having kids around, deciding how to feedback enough to the team while making sure I progress with my own work and how to find time to train! I miss the gym! The positives are seeing my family more and saving on commuting - both in terms of money and my carbon footprint! I think without a doubt, there is a balance to be found between office and remote work.
