Resume

Zak Nelson

3D Environment and Prop Artist

Minneapolis, United States

Summary

Education
University of Iowa, Class of 2019
Double Major: BA with Honors in Art and Informatics
GPA: 3.41 Dean’s list last 4 consecutive semesters (Fall 2018 to Spring 2019)

Programming Languages: Python, PHP, SQL, HTML, CSS, Javascript, C#.

Software development programs: Unreal, Unity, Godot, Xcode, Xamarin for web, nodejs, Mobile VR, game applications, and Pycharm

Platforms: Building for HTC Vive, Magic Leap, and Cave VR, PC, Android, IOs.

Skills

Software proficiency

Blender

3ds Max

Maya

Mudbox

Substance 3D Painter

Substance 3D Designer

Unreal Engine

Unity

Godot

AutoCAD

SketchUp

Marmoset Toolbag

Photoshop

Illustrator

After Effects

InDesign

Krita

Inkscape

GIMP

Pencil2D

Handplane

Experience

Contract Environment Artist (Remote) at Enduvo
Chicago, United States of America
September 2019 - Present
Modeling and Texturing quality mid poly Medical and Military Equipment,made for virtual reality(VR).

Using trim sheets, texture painting, and lighting to generate Environments for and Environments for texturing, and lighting for environments for virtual reality educational training made with Unity

Imported into Unity

Communicating with Medical Professionals, software engineers, and UX designers.
Freelance 3D Artist (remote) at Iowa Storm Water Prevention
Ames, IA, United States of America
March 2021 - September 2021
Created an animated short promoting the organization’s event, Rain Campaign. Responsible for character concepts, modeling, texturing and animation to dialogue.
Freelance 3D Artist (remote,) at Pulse Studios LLC
Chicago, United States of America
September 2020 - May 2020
Pulse Studios LLC-(September-May 2020 intermittently) Modeled Venues, event activation displays, and furniture for virtual events, building environments in Unreal Engine, rendering stills.
Special Education Teaching Assistant at Minneapolis Public Schools
Mineapolis, United States of America
August 2020 - Present
-Teaching kids ages 9 to 16 with profound cognitive and emotional disabilities social and emotional development, basic reading, music, and math.

-Making 20+ 1 minute educational videos for students during remote learning.

-Helping students adjust to in person learning by keeping a calm learning space and adjusting course plans based on the student's attention.

-Maintained strict hygiene standards for in person learning, cleaning every space after use.
3D Modeling Teaching Assistant at Marwen Foundation
Chicago, United States of America
September 2019 - May 2020
-Taught over 30 students in under resourced communities in learning 3D modeling(Blender) and animation with Blender and 2D animation(After Effects)

-Supporting teachers in preparing course materials.

Lead class on VFX and physics simulations using Blender.
Mid Level Scenic Designer at Pulse Studio LLC
Chicago, United States of America
September 2019 - March 2020
-Worked on 50+ projects, Modeled show rooms, stages, events, and booths for events using 3ds Max, Blender, and rendered using Unreal Engine and 250+ furniture pieces.

-Modeled and textured 25-+ furniture sets and brought into Unreal.

-Designed Event layouts in AutoCAD

-Communicated with clients in email and phone meetings daily.

-Lead training and integration of Blender for studio members.
Virtual Reality Environment Artist/Programmer at University of Iowa
Iowa City, United States of America
May 2018 - May 2019
-Designed and built interactive Virtual Reality environments for research relating to bike and pedestrian safety

-Used: C#, Unity, Blender, HTC Vive, Cave VR, and Magic Leap

-Developed data extraction script for user studies with Python