Hi, I’m Hyoung Taek Nam, a concept artist and illustrator with over two decades of experience creating character concepts, creatures, and visual storytelling for AAA games and high-profile TV productions. I thrive at the intersection of design, storytelling, and collaboration, shaping characters, environments, and props for titles across PlayStation platforms and beyond. I enjoy collaborating with directors, VFX teams, and fellow artists to push ideas from rough sketches to polished visuals, mentor younger designers, and continually explore new tools and techniques in 2D and 3D.…

Hyoung Taek Nam

Hi, I’m Hyoung Taek Nam, a concept artist and illustrator with over two decades of experience creating character concepts, creatures, and visual storytelling for AAA games and high-profile TV productions. I thrive at the intersection of design, storytelling, and collaboration, shaping characters, environments, and props for titles across PlayStation platforms and beyond. I enjoy collaborating with directors, VFX teams, and fellow artists to push ideas from rough sketches to polished visuals, mentor younger designers, and continually explore new tools and techniques in 2D and 3D.…

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Hyoung Taek Nam, a concept artist and illustrator with over two decades of experience creating character concepts, creatures, and visual storytelling for AAA games and high-profile TV productions. I thrive at the intersection of design, storytelling, and collaboration, shaping characters, environments, and props for titles across PlayStation platforms and beyond.

I enjoy collaborating with directors, VFX teams, and fellow artists to push ideas from rough sketches to polished visuals, mentor younger designers, and continually explore new tools and techniques in 2D and 3D.

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Language

Korean
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Principal Character Concept Artist at Naughty Dog
June 1, 2009 - November 1, 2025
Developed character, environment, and prop concepts for multiple AAA titles across PlayStation 3, 4, and 5 consoles.
Senior Character Concept Artist/ Consulting Creature Designer at HBO
August 1, 2022 - September 1, 2024
Collaborated with VFX to design the 'Child Clicker' for HBO's The Last of Us (Ep. 5), providing original character concepts and visual guidance for live-action adaptation. Contributions also across The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2 for HBO Max.
Concept Artist at Nihilistic Software
April 1, 2008 - May 1, 2009
Designed comprehensive visual assets—including characters, vehicles, and environments—for Xbox 360 and PS3 titles, alongside conceptualizing art for confidential internal pitches.
Concept Artist at Perpetual Entertainment
May 1, 2004 - March 1, 2008
Conceptualized and developed diverse assets—including characters, vehicles, and environments—for Star Trek Online, ensuring brand-accurate visual storytelling within the iconic franchise.
Textile Designer at Foria International
June 1, 2003 - April 1, 2004
Created seasonal textiles, logos, and visual assets for men’s and women’s casual apparel.
Senior Illustrator at Hasbro Inc
September 1, 2025 - Present
Designed narrative-driven character and environment illustrations for card-based gameplay, focusing on composition and storytelling.
Cover Artist (Contract) at Stranger Comics
June 1, 2006 - Present
Conceptualized and designed cover illustrations for The Untamed, Niobe, Dusu, Tales of Asunda, Escape Velocity and Win City.
Concept Artist at The Mission Entertainment
March 1, 2020 - May 1, 2020
Conceptualized and designed production illustrations for the characters and environments for an announced TV series.
Cover Artist (Contract) at Applibot
August 1, 2017 - May 1, 2018
Conceptualized and executed high-end cover illustrations for characters and environments, adapting to traditional Japanese manga aesthetics and visual storytelling conventions.
Senior Character Concept Artist / Consulting Creature Designer at HBO
August 1, 2022 - September 1, 2024
Collaborated with VFX to design the 'Child Clicker' for HBO’s The Last of Us (Episode 5), providing original character concepts and visual guidance for live-action adaptation. Also contributed to The Last of Us Part 1 (HBO Max) and The Last of Us Part 2 (HBO Max) projects.
Textile Designer at Foria International, Inc.
June 1, 2003 - April 1, 2004
Created seasonal textiles, logos, and visual assets for men’s and women’s casual apparel.
Concept Artist (Contract) at The Mission Entertainment
March 1, 2020 - May 1, 2020
Conceptualized and designed production illustrations for the characters and environments for an announced TV series.
Instructor at Coloso
January 1, 2020 - Present
Lectured on designing realistic character design for film and game; conducted live demonstrations and critiques across USA, Korea, and China.
Instructor at Computer Graphics Master Academy
January 1, 2016 - December 1, 2017
Delivered a character design lecture with anatomy guidance and demonstration.
Guest Speaker at Art Center College of Design
January 1, 2013 - December 1, 2014
Lectured on designing creatures and characters for 'Gaming Art' and conducted a live demo session.
Guest Speaker at Otis College of Art and Design
January 1, 2012 - December 1, 2013
Lectured on character design for Entertainment Art and conducted a live demo session.
Exhibition Participant at Nucleus Gallery
October 1, 2022 - November 1, 2022
Group show for the 10th Anniversary of The Last of Us.
Exhibition Participant at Lee & Lee Gallery
June 1, 2021 - July 1, 2021
Group show.
Instructor at Coloso
January 1, 2020 - Present
Ongoing teaching role (see Coloso entry above for details).

Education

Bachelor of Illustration at Art Center College of Design
January 11, 2030 - February 7, 2026
Bachelor Illustration at Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
January 11, 2030 - March 9, 2026

Qualifications

Honors
January 11, 2030 - March 9, 2026

Industry Experience

Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Education, Professional Services, Software & Internet