Richard Gardner

Principal Environment Artist at Blizzard Entertainment

Bend, Oregon, United States

About

Building environments and games has been the focus of my life. As a young teenager I started building levels for Team Fortress Classic and Counter-Strike - I haven't looked back since. The passion I have for environments and games development spans multiple decades and professionally nearly two decades. Throughout my career, I’ve worked across multiple console generations and adopted a variety of production philosophies. I've contributed to linear, wide-linear, open-world, and multiplayer game designs, each presenting its own set of challenges and approaches to art and world development. Today, I lead by example when it comes to quality and process. I use my experience to fill gaps, mentor to build a team, and ensure the we stay aligned and move forward toward shared goals. I believe in collaborative leadership and supporting my colleagues to help the team succeed as a whole. Game development is constantly evolving, no two years are the same, and every project presents new challenges. I thrive in this ever-changing environment, adapting to the unique needs of each project and team. With experience leading teams, refining pipelines, and managing large volumes of content, I stay focused on delivering high-quality results, regardless of the project's scope or direction.

Experience

  • Principal Environment Artist at Blizzard Entertainment
    May 2022 - Present · 4 yrs 3 mos

  • Bend Studio (5 yrs 8 mos)
    • Lead Environment Artist
      Jan 2021 - May 2022 · 1 yr 5 mos

    • Senior Staff Environment Artist
      Jun 2020 - Jan 2021 · 8 mos

    • Senior Environment Artist
      Oct 2016 - Jun 2020 · 3 yrs 9 mos

  • Senior Enviroment Artist at Turtle Rock Studios
    Aug 2015 - Sep 2016 · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Senior Environment Artist at KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS
    Jul 2014 - Aug 2015 · 1 yr 2 mos

  • Crytek (Nottingham, United Kingdom)
    • Senior Artist
      Jan 2013 - Jul 2014 · 1 yr 7 mos

    • Artist
      Nov 2009 - Jan 2013 · 3 yrs 3 mos