Hi, I’m Ngagne Demba DIAW — a visual storyteller with 5 years of experience across animation, gaming, and advertising. I’ve worked as a freelance storyboard artist on a variety of projects, including the animated feature film Naya and the Golden Dolphin, where I helped shape narrative flow and visual composition from script to screen. Alongside that, I served as an art director in a game studio for several years, overseeing character design, environment art, and visual development to ensure stylistic cohesion and strong storytelling in gameplay. My background in the African advertising industry also gave me the chance to co-direct and storyboard commercials under tight creative deadlines — sharpening my ability to translate ideas into clear, compelling visuals. In addition to storyboarding, I can step in for 2D animation and character design tasks when needed. I bring a flexible, collaborative approach and a strong sense of narrative rhythm, whether in pre-production or production. I’m passionate about creating visually rich stories, and I’m excited to bring that energy and experience to your team.…

Ngagne Demba DIAW

PRO

Hi, I’m Ngagne Demba DIAW — a visual storyteller with 5 years of experience across animation, gaming, and advertising. I’ve worked as a freelance storyboard artist on a variety of projects, including the animated feature film Naya and the Golden Dolphin, where I helped shape narrative flow and visual composition from script to screen. Alongside that, I served as an art director in a game studio for several years, overseeing character design, environment art, and visual development to ensure stylistic cohesion and strong storytelling in gameplay. My background in the African advertising industry also gave me the chance to co-direct and storyboard commercials under tight creative deadlines — sharpening my ability to translate ideas into clear, compelling visuals. In addition to storyboarding, I can step in for 2D animation and character design tasks when needed. I bring a flexible, collaborative approach and a strong sense of narrative rhythm, whether in pre-production or production. I’m passionate about creating visually rich stories, and I’m excited to bring that energy and experience to your team.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Ngagne Demba DIAW — a visual storyteller with 5 years of experience across animation, gaming, and advertising. I’ve worked as a freelance storyboard artist on a variety of projects, including the animated feature film Naya and the Golden Dolphin, where I helped shape narrative flow and visual composition from script to screen. Alongside that, I served as an art director in a game studio for several years, overseeing character design, environment art, and visual development to ensure stylistic cohesion and strong storytelling in gameplay.
My background in the African advertising industry also gave me the chance to co-direct and storyboard commercials under tight creative deadlines — sharpening my ability to translate ideas into clear, compelling visuals. In addition to storyboarding, I can step in for 2D animation and character design tasks when needed. I bring a flexible, collaborative approach and a strong sense of narrative rhythm, whether in pre-production or production. I’m passionate about creating visually rich stories, and I’m excited to bring that energy and experience to your team.

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Language

English
Advanced
French
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance character concept artist and Storyboard artist at MAGIC FACTORY PRODUCTION INC
December 31, 2022 - July 22, 2025
Designed dolphin characters, talking roses and sea oysters. Storyboarded a 10-minute sequence of the movie.
Freelance storyboarder, character designer and director at Wuruslab
December 7, 2021 - November 25, 2022
Developed an advertising short from the art direction, character design to the storyboard and directed a team of background designers. Co-directed a short for an advertisement.
Art director, character designer, visual development director at Kayfo game studio
December 31, 2023 - July 22, 2025
Handled all the artistic designs in two object finding game projects at Kayfo games studios in 2021 and 2023. Created characters and designed backgrounds. Helped the game designer to develop the story. Directed a small team of character and background artists.
Freelance Children’s Book Illustrator at Central and West African Virus Epidemiology
December 12, 2018 - November 23, 2020
Illustrated a children’s tale, Gloglo Et Le Cerf-Volant magique.
Freelance Illustrator at AZERTY1
December 31, 2020 - November 30, 2021
Worked as a character designer, visual storyteller, and concept illustrator.
Freelance storyboarder, character designer and director at Wuruslab
December 31, 2022 - July 23, 2025
Developed an advertising short from art direction, character design to storyboard and directed a team of background designers. Co-directed a short for an advertisement.
Freelance Children’s Book Illustrator at Profil Central and West African Virus Epidemiology
January 1, 2019 - August 18, 2025
Illustrated a children's tale titled 'Gloglo Et Le Cerf-Volant magique' during freelance work in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Freelance illustrator, Character designer, visual storytelling, concept illustration at AZERTY1
January 1, 2020 - August 18, 2025
Provided freelance illustration, character design, visual storytelling, and concept illustration services in Dakar, Sénégal.
Freelance concept artist, character designer and storyboard artist at Magic Factory Production Inc
January 1, 2023 - August 18, 2025
Worked on the upcoming movie 'Naya and the Golden Dolphin' by designing aquatic characters such as dolphins, talking roses, and sea oysters. Responsible for storyboarding a 10-minute segment of the film.
Art Director at KAYFO GAME STUDIO
January 1, 2021 - Present
In charge of the entire visual direction of the game including character creation, world-building, defining the game’s overall art style, and UI design. Led a team of junior concept artists to develop environment designs. Also contributed to game design and story development of several games.
Freelance Concept Artist, Character Designer and Storyboard Artist at MAGIC FACTORY PRODUCTION INC
December 31, 2023 - August 18, 2025
Worked on the upcoming movie Naya and the Golden Dolphin designing aquatic characters such as dolphins, talking roses, and sea oysters. Responsible for storyboarding a 10-minute segment of the film.
Art Director at KAYFO GAME STUDIO
January 1, 2021 - Present
In charge of the entire visual direction of the game — from character creation to world-building and defining the game’s overall art style, including the UI. Led a team of junior concept artists to develop environment designs and contributed to game design and story development of several games.
Freelance Children’s Book Illustrator at PROFIL CENTRAL AND WEST AFRICAN VIRUS EPIDEMIOLOGY
December 31, 2019 - August 18, 2025
Illustrated a children’s tale, Gloglo Et Le Cerf-Volant magique.
Freelance Illustrator, Character Designer, Visual Storytelling and Concept Illustrator at AZERTY1
December 31, 2020 - August 18, 2025
Provided services in character design, visual storytelling, and concept illustration.

Education

Bac +2 at Art et Techniques d’Animation
January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2020
Gobelins Animation Lab Dakar at Gobelins école de l’image
December 9, 2024 - July 11, 2025
Bac +2 in Art et Techniques d’Animation at Gobeiins Ecole de L’image Paris: Animlab Dakar
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2020
Bac +2 in Art et Techniques d’Animation at Gobeiins Ecole de L’image Paris: Animlab Dakar
January 1, 2018 - January 1, 2020

Qualifications

Gobelins Summer school certification
June 30, 2025 - July 11, 2025
attended Gobelins summer school, which was an intensive workshop where I created an 11-second hand-drawn animation sequence.
Certificate Gobelins Anim lab Dakar
December 9, 2024 - July 23, 2025
I participated in a fast-paced animation workshop organized by Gobelins, l’école de l’image (Paris), aimed at training African animators to meet international quality standards. The program was led by Gobelins instructors who flew from Paris to Dakar to mentor us directly.
Pixar Story Experiential Certificate
October 22, 2022 - January 13, 2023
I took part in a storyboard workshop led by a Pixar visual storytelling professional, aimed at helping young artists develop industry-ready story reels.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Gaming
    paper Barzakh

    Barzakh is a 2D animated short film that follows Modou, a young Senegalese artist, on a perilous journey across the Sahara Desert and through war-torn Libya in search of a future where his art can be seen. Alongside Assetou, an aspiring fashion designer, he faces smugglers, mirages, and the haunting in-between space Barzakh, the limbo between life and death. Blending a semi-realistic African-inspired visual style with poetic storytelling, the film explores themes of migration, hope, and resilience, while giving voice to the untold stories of those who risk everything for a dream.