Andy Manns, Designer in Widnes, United Kingdom
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Andy Manns

Verified Expert  in Design

Bio

Andy is a digital artist and designer with 30 years of experience. He has worked as a lead and art director on AAA projects, simulations, VR, and the metaverse with a diverse library of releases. He excels in 2D and 3D art, concept/ illustration, and art research. A natural creative, Andy has the professional, collaborative, and technical prowess to take ideas from briefs to reality. He also has solid expertise in all production phases and soft skill sets in presentation and documentation.

Portfolio

Work Experience

Lead Artist

2022 - 2024
Stainless Games
  • Art-directed multiple projects, serving as creative lead, lead artist, and lead outsource artist.
  • Led a concept art team, contributing to and evaluating a pitch for a large-scale project seeking funding.
  • Budgeted and managed a team for an in-house project in a senior art role.
  • Ran a remaster project up to the alpha development phase, delivering on budget and on time.
  • Served as the main point of contact for art services in a co-development team with Amazon Studios.
  • Delivered 2D and 3D projects with full development and art-only teams as required.
  • Utilized Unity for one game and Amazon's Lumberyard engine for another, adapting to various development environments.
  • Contributed, communicated, and managed in a fully remote capacity.
Technologies: Adobe CC, 3D Modeling, Photoshop CC, DAZ Studio Pro, Unity, Amazon Lumberyard, Adobe Photoshop, Image Manipulation, Graphic Design, Autodesk Maya, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, Adobe Substance 3D, Marmoset Toolbag, Documentation, Research, Hand Sketch, User Interface (UI), 3D Animation, Digital Storyboards, Prototyping, Unity3D, Slack, Project Planning, Microsoft Teams, Confluence, Games, Race Track Designs, Environmental Art, Art Direction, Concept Sketching, Custom Logos

Principal Artist

2022 - 2022
Skyhook Games
  • Provided art direction and mentorship to in-house artists.
  • Assisted with art direction through mood boards and detailed reference gathering.
  • Contributed as the sole artist on VR projects in collaboration with company partners.
  • Advised project management staff, confirming and adjusting numbers for budgets and project plans.
  • Created concept art for pitch and pilot work to help secure studio contracts.
Technologies: Autodesk Maya, Adobe CC, Substance Painter, DAZ Studio Pro, Unity3D, Slack, Adobe Photoshop, Image Manipulation, 3ds Max, Unity, Adobe Substance 3D, Mudbox, Marmoset Toolbag, Documentation, Research, Hand Sketch, 3D Modeling, 3D Lighting, Prototyping, Photoshop CC, Meta Quest, Project Planning, Microsoft Teams, Confluence, Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe After Effects, Games, Simulations, Art Direction, Concept Sketching

Art Director

2022 - 2022
Bloktopia
  • Led rebranding for all graphic design aspects, from logo design to customer communication, analyzing and redefining company brand language and persona.
  • Created and managed the art vision for Bloktopia, as envisioned by the group stakeholders, providing creative ideation and technical roadmaps.
  • Recruited and managed a small team for development projects.
  • Oversaw all art projects and services, adapting workloads and detailed plans to a dynamic development environment.
  • Contributed to planning a design pattern and development ideology to transform the platform from an advertising concept to a VR-enabled live platform.
  • Delivered weekly communications to the wider team, explaining technical art processes and their implementation logic.
  • Participated in and often led senior development meetings, guiding design and creative development.
  • Served as scrum master for the art team, providing tasks, briefs, and daily catchups with team members and relevant development and production teams.
Technologies: Autodesk Maya, Blender, Adobe CC, Unity, VR Marketing, Metaverse, Meta Quest, Adobe Photoshop, Image Manipulation, Graphic Design, Substance Painter, Adobe Substance 3D, Marmoset Toolbag, Documentation, Research, Hand Sketch, User Interface (UI), 3D Modeling, 3D Lighting, 3D Animation, Digital Storyboards, Prototyping, Photoshop CC, Unity3D, Slack, Project Planning, Microsoft Teams, Confluence, Adobe After Effects, Games, Environmental Art, Art Direction, Concept Sketching, Custom Logos

Art Director

2021 - 2022
Ballistic Moon
  • Recruited the art team personally without using agencies or recruitment services.
  • Developed the art vision for the project and documented its application and ideology across all disciplines.
  • Planned the game's preproduction development and initial prologue within a strict budget.
  • Built and managed the team remotely using Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Confluence.
  • Managed the art team through group standups, discipline group meetings, and 1-on-1 calls. Occasionally visited the studio to meet with studio heads.
  • Conducted extensive art research activities to define artistic and technical benchmarks.
  • Led the technical art team, defining the technical art roadmap during the transition from Decima to Unreal, which required a new technical plan and implementation approach.
Technologies: Unreal Engine 5, Unreal Engine 4, Adobe CC, Autodesk Maya, 3D Lighting, 3D Modeling, SpeedTree, PureRef, Prototyping, Project Planning, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Confluence, Adobe Photoshop, Image Manipulation, Graphic Design, Unreal Engine, Substance Painter, Adobe Substance 3D, Marmoset Toolbag, Documentation, Research, Hand Sketch, User Interface (UI), Digital Storyboards, Photoshop CC, Adobe After Effects, Games, Environmental Art, Art Direction, Custom Logos

Senior Artist

2016 - 2021
d3t
  • Contributed to modeling, lighting, engine pipeline, and character work as a senior artist on various projects.
  • Assisted with studio pitches by creating concept art and consultancy notes and actions.
  • Served as creative lead on the studio's largest co-development project.
  • Specialized in environment and UI/UX roles on various remaster projects.
  • Provided art direction in the preproduction phase of a large-scale project.
  • Supported realistic and stylized projects, working in various concept art styles.
  • Managed outsourcing, providing guidance on multiple projects.
Technologies: Adobe CC, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Adobe After Effects, Unity3D, Unreal Engine, Amazon Lumberyard, SpeedTree, DAZ Studio Pro, Mudbox, YEBIS, Adobe Photoshop, Image Manipulation, Graphic Design, 3ds Max, Unity, Adobe Substance 3D, Marmoset Toolbag, Documentation, Research, Hand Sketch, User Interface (UI), 3D Modeling, 3D Lighting, 3D Animation, Digital Storyboards, Prototyping, Photoshop CC, Slack, PureRef, Project Planning, Microsoft Teams, Confluence, Games, Simulations, Race Track Designs, Environmental Art, Art Direction, Custom Logos

World Lead | Lead Track Artist

2013 - 2015
Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Designed and managed the work for multiple race tracks based on real locations.
  • Briefed and managed in-house artists to create content for the tracks.
  • Developed tracks from prototype to completion and post-release, handling bug fixes and optimization, including replay and cinematic camera work.
  • Authored and optimized all lighting work and art vision on applications across environments.
  • Adjusted work based on engine changes and customer feedback.
  • Contributed to the first live service launch of PlayStation 4.
Technologies: Adobe CC, Autodesk Maya, Adobe Photoshop, Mudbox, Documentation, Research, 3D Modeling, 3D Lighting, Prototyping, Photoshop CC, Slack, Project Planning, Games, Simulations, Race Track Designs, Environmental Art, Art Direction

Lead Artist

2011 - 2013
Sumo Digital
  • Managed multiple outsourced art teams, ensuring projects were on budget and met deadlines.
  • Served as lead artist on various tracks for the kart racing video game Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
  • Provided prototype designs, art direction, and concept art for teams.
  • Led the artistic efforts for the game's mobile version for Apple.
  • Oversaw various Sega intellectual properties, achieving sign-off on all creative output.
Technologies: 3D Lighting, 3D Modeling, Prototyping, Adobe CC, Adobe Photoshop, 3ds Max, Autodesk Maya, Mudbox, Documentation, Research, Hand Sketch, User Interface (UI), 3D Animation, Photoshop CC, Slack, Project Planning, Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe After Effects, Games, Race Track Designs, Environmental Art, Art Direction, Concept Sketching

Skills

Tools

Autodesk Maya, Adobe CC, Photoshop CC, Confluence, Autodesk 3ds Max, Adobe Photoshop, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, Adobe Substance 3D, Marmoset Toolbag, Slack, Unreal Engine, Mudbox, DAZ Studio Pro, Blender, PureRef, Substance Designer, Adobe After Effects

Industry Expertise

Games

Platforms

YEBIS, PlayStation VR

Other

Documentation, Concept Sketching, Hand Sketch, Research, 3D Modeling, 3D Lighting, Prototyping, Simulations, Race Track Designs, Environmental Art, Image Manipulation, SpeedTree, User Interface (UI), 3D Animation, Digital Storyboards, Project Planning, Microsoft Teams, Branding, Art Direction, Concept Art, Graphic Design, Custom Logos, Unity, Amazon Lumberyard, VR Marketing, Metaverse, Meta Quest, Unity3D, Unreal Engine 5, Unreal Engine 4, Cryptocurrency, Dystopian, Japan, Texturing, Character Design, Design Production, Visual Storytelling, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Game AI, Customization

Experience

  • Photoshop CC - 20 years
  • Autodesk Maya - 20 years
  • Research - 20 years
  • Image Manipulation - 20 years
  • Prototyping - 15 years
  • Art Direction - 10 years
  • Unity - 5 years
  • Substance Painter - 4 years

Tools

  • Autodesk Maya
  • Photoshop CC
  • Substance Painter
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