Senior Artist with extensive industry experience, specializing in creating high-quality 3D models, vehicles, architectural, and sci-fi assets. Expertise in hard surface modeling, Texture creation, Art pipelines, paired with a flexibility to align with different art styles. Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and deliver engaging technically sound designs. Collaborative leader and resourceful team contributor with a demonstrated skill to both learn new skills and teach others while directing diverse cross-functional teams.

David Dawson

Senior Artist with extensive industry experience, specializing in creating high-quality 3D models, vehicles, architectural, and sci-fi assets. Expertise in hard surface modeling, Texture creation, Art pipelines, paired with a flexibility to align with different art styles. Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and deliver engaging technically sound designs. Collaborative leader and resourceful team contributor with a demonstrated skill to both learn new skills and teach others while directing diverse cross-functional teams.

Available to hire

Senior Artist with extensive industry experience, specializing in creating high-quality 3D models, vehicles, architectural, and sci-fi assets. Expertise in hard surface modeling, Texture creation, Art pipelines, paired with a flexibility to align with different art styles. Proven ability to collaborate across disciplines and deliver engaging technically sound designs. Collaborative leader and resourceful team contributor with a demonstrated skill to both learn new skills and teach others while directing diverse cross-functional teams.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Senior Artist Generalist at Microsoft Studios
July 1, 2025 - July 1, 2025
Partnered directly with customers to create projects for Unreal Engine, Unity, and hardware devices, ensuring efficient asset pipelines and clear cross-discipline communication. Enhanced 3D modeling, hard surface asset creation, texture, and material workflows using AI tools, which improved art pipelines and project delivery. Successfully delivered projects for HoloLens, VR, AR, Digital Twins, and training simulations, contributing to innovative visual solutions and high client satisfaction. Supported storyboarding, animations, and game development projects, maintaining alignment with creative visions and technical requirements.
Art Lead at Microsoft Mixed Reality Studios
January 31, 2020 - January 31, 2020
Oversaw all art aspects of projects, from developing asset pipelines to mentoring artists, with a focus on high-quality hard surface modeling and texture creation. Directed the creative team in modeling and texturing various assets, including elements suitable for sci-fi design, which enhanced project quality and client satisfaction. Utilized Unity and Unreal Engine to develop immersive experiences, ensuring art assets met both aesthetic and technical gameplay requirements.
3D Generalist – HoloLens, Microsoft at AQUENT
February 1, 2017 - February 1, 2017
Oversaw art aspects of projects, from creating pipelines to mentoring artists. Brought project visions to life, modeling and texturing various assets, and guiding the creative team. Utilized the Unity Engine to enhance project development and streamline the art pipeline, contributing to the successful completion of projects.
3D Artist, Contractor at UNITY TECHNOLOGIES
April 1, 2016 - April 1, 2016
Brought onto a new team to figure out workflow standards for creating a high-end Virtual Reality experience. Designed and implemented 3D environments, props, VFX, and character textures, enhancing the visual quality of the project. Focused on 3D modeling and texture work in Substance Painter, improving realism and detail of virtual assets. Developed tutorials for Unity to teach new users the basics of the engine, facilitating smoother onboarding and skill development.
Senior Environment Artist | Game Artist at GOBLIN WORKS
May 1, 2015 - May 1, 2015
Assisted this startup MMO game company that was funded on Kickstarter. Created diverse world assets, props, vehicles, architecture, plant life, terrain, modular buildings, harvesting nodes, and other points of interest, enhancing the game's visual appeal and player immersion. Established workflow standards with the art pipelines, improving efficiency and consistency in asset production. Assisted in the development of tools that supported the creative processes, streamlining the creation of game assets and enhancing team productivity.
Senior Artist Generalist at Microsoft Studios
February 1, 2017 - July 1, 2025
Partnered directly with customers to create projects for Unreal Engine, Unity, and hardware devices, ensuring efficient asset pipelines and clear cross-discipline communication. Enhanced 3D modeling, hard surface asset creation, texture and material workflows using AI tools, improving art pipelines and project delivery. Delivered projects for HoloLens, VR, AR, Digital Twins, and training simulations, contributing to innovative visual solutions and high client satisfaction. Supported storyboarding, animations, and game development projects while aligning with creative visions and technical requirements.
Art Lead at Microsoft Mixed Reality Studios
February 1, 2017 - January 1, 2020
Directed all art aspects of projects, developing asset pipelines and mentoring artists with a focus on high-quality hard surface modeling and texture creation. Led the creative team in modeling and texturing assets for sci-fi design. Used Unity and Unreal Engine to develop immersive experiences, ensuring assets met aesthetic and gameplay requirements.
3D Generalist at Aquent
June 1, 2016 - February 1, 2017
Oversaw art aspects of projects from pipeline creation to mentoring artists. Brought project visions to life by modeling and texturing assets, guiding the creative team. Utilized the Unity engine to enhance project development and streamline the art pipeline, contributing to successful project completion.
3D Artist, Contractor at Unity Technologies
August 1, 2015 - April 1, 2016
Created art pipelines to develop 3D environments, props, VFX, character and textures, enhancing visual quality. Focused on 3D modeling and texture work in Substance Painter, improving asset realism and detail. Developed tutorials for Unity to teach new users the basics of the engine, facilitating smoother onboarding.
Senior Environment Artist | Game Artist at Goblin Works
August 1, 2012 - May 1, 2015
Created diverse world assets, props, vehicles, architecture, plant life, terrain, modular buildings, harvesting nodes, and other points of interest to enhance visual appeal and immersion. Established workflow standards with art pipelines to improve efficiency and consistency. Assisted in tool development to support creative processes and boost team productivity.
World Artist – TechArtist at WB Games
June 1, 2008 - November 1, 2011
Designed breakable objects, dynamic props and scripted export tools; baked physics simulations for destruction effects; collaborated across departments to innovate pipelines and technical approaches; developed interactive tutorials to facilitate studio transition to a new game engine.
Environment Artist at Snowblind Studios
March 1, 2007 - June 1, 2008
Created game environments, world assets, props, vehicles, architectural structures, and plant life; advanced breakable objects and physics simulations for destruction effects; helped ensure cinematic and gameplay visual quality.
3D Generalist – HoloLens at AQUENT
June 1, 2016 - February 1, 2017
Oversaw art aspects of projects, from pipeline development to mentoring artists. Modeled and textured assets, guided the creative team, and leveraged Unity to streamline development and pipelines.
World Artist – Tech Artist at WB Games
June 1, 2008 - November 1, 2011
Designed immersive world environments, crafted breakable objects and scripted dynamic props, baked physics simulations for destruction effects, and collaborated with multiple departments to drive tech-forward environmental design. Developed interactive tutorials to transition the studio to a new game engine.

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Computer Game Art and Design at Art Institute of Pittsburgh
January 11, 2030 - October 31, 2025
Associate in Advertising Design at Brown College
January 11, 2030 - October 31, 2025
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Computer Game Art and Design at Art Institute of Pittsburgh
January 11, 2030 - December 6, 2025
Associates, Advertising Design at Brown College
January 11, 2030 - December 6, 2025
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Computer Game Art and Design at Art Institute of Pittsburgh
January 11, 2030 - January 5, 2026
Associate in Advertising Design at Brown College
January 11, 2030 - January 5, 2026
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Computer Game Art and Design at Art Institute of Pittsburgh
January 11, 2030 - March 19, 2026
Associates, Advertising Design at Brown College
January 11, 2030 - March 19, 2026

Qualifications

Microsoft Global Hackathon Executive Challenge Winner
January 1, 2023 - October 31, 2025
Microsoft Global Hackathon Executive Challenge Winner
January 1, 2024 - October 31, 2025
Microsoft Global Hackathon Executive Challenge Winner (2023)
January 1, 2023 - December 6, 2025
Microsoft Global Hackathon Executive Challenge Winner (2024)
January 1, 2024 - December 6, 2025
Microsoft Global Hackathon Executive Challenge Winner
January 1, 2024 - January 5, 2026
Microsoft Global Hackathon Executive Challenge Winner
January 1, 2023 - January 5, 2026
Microsoft Global Hackathon Executive Challenge Winner
January 1, 2023 - March 19, 2026
Microsoft Global Hackathon Executive Challenge Winner
January 1, 2024 - March 19, 2026

Industry Experience

Gaming, Software & Internet, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Computers & Electronics, Education
    uniE621 United24
    Unreal Engine project using Digital Twin and Ai technology to enhance rebuilding buildings. Winner of Microsoft's Hackathon 2024, shown at Davo's 2024