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Ryan Dao
Environment Artist & Outsource Supervisor - Incubation at Blizzard Entertainment
Professional Background
Robin Dao is a highly skilled and passionate Senior Environment Artist with an impressive portfolio and extensive experience in crafting engaging virtual worlds. With a robust background in modeling, material creation, lighting, and comprehensive worldbuilding, Robin has demonstrated an exceptional ability to bring digital landscapes to life. Currently, Robin is making significant contributions as a worldbuilder and level designer on the highly acclaimed title, Diablo IV, at Blizzard Entertainment, where collaboration and creativity flourish.
In the realm of video games, Robin has developed a strong expertise in building art pipelines for stylized PBR (Physically Based Rendering), further showcasing a commitment to innovation in gaming art. The ability to spearhead workflows and planning while collaborating with outsource vendors and departments has positioned Robin as a leader within team settings. Equally important, Robin continuously supports professional growth by mentoring fellow team members, thereby enriching the artistic community.
Education and Achievements
Robin's educational journey began with a Diploma in General Education from South High, where foundational skills were developed. Following this, Robin completed a Bachelor of Science in Game Art & Design from the prestigious Art Institute of California Los Angeles. This academic background equipped Robin with the theoretical and practical knowledge required to excel in the competitive gaming industry.
Over the years, Robin has contributed to several well-known organizations within the gaming world. These contributions include pivotal roles at Cryptic Studios, where Robin served as a Staff II Environment Artist, and held various positions over time such as Staff Environment Artist and Environment Artist III. This extensive experience at a leading game development company has honed Robin's technical skills while fostering a deep understanding of game design processes.
In Robin's diverse career, earlier roles such as 3D Environment Artist at WayForward Technologies and Freelance 3D Environment Artist for several companies like Motion Logic Studios and Game Mechanic Studios reflect flexibility and adaptability in various artistic environments. Furthermore, Robin's commitment to sharing knowledge is exemplified by the roles as an Instructor at SoCal ROC/Palos Verdes Peninsula High and 3D Modeling Instructor at PV-Net, where budding artists were guided and inspired.
Notable Achievements
Robin Dao is not only recognized for technical prowess but also for contributions that enhance the richness of the gaming community. As an Environment Artist & Outsource Supervisor at Blizzard Entertainment, Robin played a crucial role in creating immersive experiences through intricate level designs and engaging world-building elements. Robin's leadership in R&D projects instrumental in developing art pipelines showcases a forward-thinking mindset that aligns with industry advancements.
With numerous freelance projects, including initiatives as a Graphic Designer and Freelance Photo Retoucher, Robin has diversified art skills that contribute to versatile artistic expression. This adaptability and commitment to excellence have positioned Robin as a sought-after artist in the gaming industry, from developing robust environments to creating compelling narratives through visual art.
In every role undertaken, Robin has embraced challenges eagerly, demonstrating strong work ethic and a commitment to quality. As Diablo IV continues to impress fans globally, it is evident that contributions from talented artists like Robin Dao play a pivotal role in shaping the successes of these ambitious projects.
Highlights
My team at Blizzard was affected by the layoffs. I want to make a call out for everyone I know of, as most people at Blizzard did not know of our team. We were a small scrappy team of multi talented individuals that can wear multiple hats to get the job done.
Allen Dilling - Art Director that can set a vision and tone across a broad range of looks and styles. Outside of art direction he can also animate, worldbuild, and light.
Ryan Mills - Lead Engineer that can contribute to a wide variety of game types.
Jairo Sanchez - Senior 3D Artist that can do anything from characters, props, weapons, and outsource supervision.
Jeremy M. - Senior Producer who is amazingly collaborative and communicative.
Christian Fell - Senior Concept artist that can deliver across various styles. He can do both concept and illustration.
Thomas Bonin - Senior Engineer that can contribute in many ways.
Manuel Virks - Principal Artist that can do anything, no joke. He is not really looking for work but he needs a call out because the work he does is the best I've ever seen.
Bob Fitch - Legendary game dev, longest tenured employee at the time. I do not think he is looking for work but he deserves a call out.
Please connect with them or share this with your networks.
I was laid off from Blizzard. I am open to new opportunities looking for senior environment art, material art, or outsource supervisor roles.
During my time at Blizzard I contributed to Diablo IV as a worldbuilder, a hybrid role of level design and environment art worldbuilding. I was also a part of an R&D team as an environment artist and outsource supervisor doing a little bit of everything.
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Mesh is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Mesh beneficial.
Mesh offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Mesh offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Mesh's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Mesh offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Mesh focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Mesh also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
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