Zachary Knoles

Zachary Knoles

Staff UI Artist at Cryptic Studios

Mid-level UI Artist / 14 yrs

San Francisco, CA

Hire Me
I'm a visual designer and UI artist working in the video game industry.

I specialize in creating visually rich interfaces that look beautiful while still remaining clean, intuitive, and usable. My primary focus is MMO UI and gaming websites in the MMO/social space, where I believe a good user interface can be as just important to the storytelling as any of the other elements in the game.

I write all my own code, and I enjoy hacking away in a text editor just as much as pushing pixels in Photoshop.

My Specialties:
Visually rich interface designs, responsive design for tablet/mobile, user flow and wireframing, icon/logo design, HTML and CSS.
Work History
  • Senior User Interface Artist

    Cold Iron

    January 2017 - Present

    Senior UI artist on unannounced Unreal Engine 4 title.

  • Staff User Interface Artist

    Cryptic Studios

    April 2012 - February 2016
    Los Gatos, CA

    Primary UI designer on the Xbox One version of Neverwinter. Previously designed UI for the PC versions of Star Trek Online and Neverwinter. Web developer for the companion apps Neverwinter Gateway and Star Trek Online Gateway. Designed wireframes, layouts, user flow, icons, HUD designs, and implemented these designs using both HTML/CSS and Cryptic's proprietary UI language.

  • Graphic Designer

    Course Hero

    November 2011 - April 2012
    Redwood City, CA

    Graphic designer on the development team at a small education startup, responsible for visual design and HTML/CSS of the Course Hero website, email newsletters, and related web products.

  • Graphic Designer

    Cryptic Studios

    February 2010 - November 2011
    Los Gatos, CA

    Graphic designer on the web development team at Cryptic Studios. Worked on marketing websites for major Cryptic Studios game releases, including Neverwinter, Star Trek Online, and Champions Online. Also worked on numerous websites for various Atari game releases. Responsible for both visual design and implementing the websites in HTML/CSS.

  • Co-Producer, Artist/Animator

    Bye-Bye Bin Laden

    January 2007 - July 2008

    Co-producer and artist for independent feature-length animated film Bye-Bye Bin Laden. Oversaw multiple areas of production as co-producer, and also produced significant amounts of concept art, backgrounds, and Flash animation.

  • The Walt Disney Company, Buena Vista Games

    September 2005 - May 2006
    Glendale, CA

    Nine-month internship in the BVG Creative Think Tank developing concepts, designs, and

Education
  • BFA in Animation/Illustration

    San Jose State University

    2001 - 2007