Brian Yam

Work History

• 

  Lead Artist / Manager- Valorant Maps Team

  Riot Games

  April 2021 - Present

• Instructor

  Game School Online

  October 2018 - Present

  Los Angeles County, California, United States

  Mentoring online

• Sr. Concept Artist

  Amazon- A2Z Development Center

  July 2013 - Present
• 

  Instructor

  Concept Design Academy

  August 2011 - Present

  Preparing the next generation of concepts designers. Class instructor on concept design for Vehicle, Props and Environment concept design
• 

  Senior Concept Artist -Valorant

  Riot Games

  April 2019 - April 2021

  -Executed visual development for world building and props.
  -Collaborated and supervised outsource managing and feedback between vendors for conceptual art
  -Created high level concept themes and direction for maps in the game
• 

  Director of Visual Development

  Section Studios

  September 2017 - April 2019

  Los Angeles, California

  -Responsible for managing a team of 12 artists on the concept art department.
  -Art direction, visual development, concept art, and team supervision for the concept department
  -Artist development and managerial duties in a high paced pipeline
  -Acted as an force multiplier for project tasks/ art feedback for multiple internal and external artists
  -Managing feedback and relations for outsource and clients for art services
  -Collaborating with studio directors and leads on various projects in the studio
  -Coordinate internal art/concept resources with clients to ensure smooth execution of projects
  -Delegate project tasks based on artists' individual strengths, skill sets, and experience levels
  -Ensure that projects hold a high quality, delivered on time, within scope and budget
  -Develop a detailed project plan to track progress and schedule
  -Measure team performance through goal setting and measured evaluations; one on one assessments
  -Plan and develop team concept team infrastructure through training and leveling up artists on the team to be leaders
  -Manage changes to project scope, project schedule, and costs
  -Establish strong and trustful relations with clients and external artists
  -Use and continually develop leadership skills
  -Coordinate meetings and communications with clients and vendors
  -Ensure constant communications with executives and report and escalate to management as needed

• Freelance Concept Artist

  Void Alpha

  April 2013 - August 2013

  Concept design on Star Citizen
• 

  Lead Concept Artist

  Spark Unlimited

  August 2010 - May 2013

  My responsibilities in this role is to contribute with the overall artistic direction of the project by providing pre-visualization pieces, high concept images, and model packets, production concept, and concept illustrations.
  
  Concept designs range widely from environments, props, vehicles, creatures, and character design.
  
  Other responsibilities also include art direction with outsource artists in both 2D and 3D to provide initial guides and feedback with orthographic drawings, red pen paintovers, and mentoring junior concept artists to provide init

• Concept Designer

  ImageMovers Digital (Walt Disney Feature)

  January 2010 - August 2010

  IMD Art Department
  
  At IMD, I was responsible for creating concept illustrations for Doug Chiang's design team. My responsibilities involves providing designs and conceptual illustrations for the film projects.
  
  Responsibilities include working on conceptual illustrations and designs for the film projects, designing all aspects of the projects and contributing to art direction of a film.

• Concept Artist

  Naughty Dog (SCEA)

  April 2009 - December 2009

  Contributed to concept illustrations and production designs to the award winning game, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. I worked on all aspects of the game from concept design, cinematic plates, and working closely with production.

• Freelance Concept Artist

  New Fuel Studio

  March 2009 - April 2009

  -created environment concept art for video game advertising for Playstation Home
• 

  Visual Development Artist

  Imagi Animation Studios

  September 2008 - February 2009

  Developed designs for environment and props for the feature film, 'Gatchaman'.
  I worked on all aspects of concept designs for the animated feature.

• Instructor- Environment Design

  Concept Design Academy, Pasadena

  March 2008 - December 2008

  I taught a class in environment concepts for entertainment. The class aimed at college level to professional students interested in refining or learning the skills required for concept art in games and film.
• 

  Lead Concept Artist

  Insomniac Games

  May 2008 - September 2008

  Responsibilities included scheduling and coordination of concept tasks with the team as well as providing key art for the project. Other responsibilites included staffing for the concept team.
• 

  Senior Concept Artist

  Insomniac Games

  February 2006 - April 2008

  I helped initiate the production design for environment concepts on Resistance 2 from start to finish on the project. I provided key illustrations and designs which helped drive the direction for the visuals of the game from the very beginning of the project which help determined the art direction. One key example were the iconic Chimeran ships throughout the game. Also, I was responsible for being the point person for most concepts involving environment concepts and played a lead role throughout the project.

  

• Instructor

  Art Institute of California- Inland Empire

  October 2007 - February 2008

  I taught a digital background class which was required for students to learn the basics of composition, perspective, and lighting for their Game Development curriculum.
• 

  Environment Artist

  Insomniac Games

  February 2003 - December 2005

  -3D modeling level building environments, assets on Ratchet and Clank 2&3
  -execution of concepts for levels
  -level texturing

• Research Associate

  Incyte Pharmaceuticals

  February 1996 - July 1998

  I was involved with the human genome project in the private sector.
  
  
  Responsibilities: DNA purification and preparation for sequencing and product allocation