Meet our talented duo: two brothers who are Game Concept Artists at Sandsoft: Dylan Cheung and Mason Cheung! From studying side by side to joining our team together, their journey has been one of shared passion. We asked them to share the perks and challenges of working together as siblings, and here is their story.
What inspired both of you to pursue careers as concept artists in the gaming industry?
“From our university days, we were united by a burning love for games and a deep curiosity about how they came to life. This sparked a shared dream: to be part of the gaming industry’s creative force. We explored various avenues to contribute artistically and, recognizing the strengths of 2D concept art, we both decided it was the perfect launchpad for our journey.”
How do you think being brothers has influenced the choices you’ve made?
“Growing up together, we’ve naturally developed similar artistic tastes and a shared knowledge base. This foundation has been further solidified by working in the same environment, constantly absorbing new information and trends within the industry. Furthermore, the equal opportunities we’ve had in the studio have fostered a synergy in our artistic styles. We can work independently, yet effortlessly bounce concepts back and forth. This constant exchange, fueled by our unwavering honesty when critiquing each other’s work, has been instrumental in pushing our design skills to new heights.”
How do you manage disagreements in creative vision when working on the same project?
“Creative differences are inevitable, and being brothers doesn’t always mean we see eye-to-eye. When this happens, we focus on clarifying ownership of specific design elements. This helps us approach the disagreement constructively. The key to resolving these differences lies in visual communication. We firmly believe that a well-crafted example, sketch, or mockup can speak volumes. Explaining our vision through visuals is far more effective than lengthy text or verbal descriptions. As artists, we leverage this visual language to bridge creative gaps and arrive at a solution that elevates the overall project.”
Have you ever considered taking different career paths or working in different companies? What factors influenced your decision to stay together?
“While we never initially planned to lock into the same career path or company, our experiences have shaped a different path. Landing our first concept artist jobs together sparked a realization. The synergy we share as brothers, the constant flow of ideas, and the ability to refine each other’s work proved incredibly valuable.
This collaborative strength has even surprised our previous studios. They often saw us as a powerful team with similar backgrounds, skills, and work styles. We’ve even encountered situations where they extended offers to both of us, even when they initially only had one position open. In fact, at SandSoft Studio, it’s our third time in a row having the opportunity to work together – it’s been an amazing testament to the value our teamwork brings!”
How do you collaborate on game concept art projects? Do you divide tasks based on your strengths, or do you work together on all aspects?
“When collaborating on game concept art projects, we prefer to start by sitting together to identify the key areas that need to be tackled first and prioritizing the tasks accordingly. This initial planning stage ensures that we are both on the same page and allows us to strategically approach the project.
Once we have our priorities set, we examine the tasks to determine how we can ensure equal exposure to opportunities and challenges. This method helps us both learn as much as possible from each project, not just by sticking to what we are already comfortable with, but by taking initiatives to address our weaknesses head-on. We believe that stepping out of our comfort zones is essential for growth and development.
Moreover, we emphasize the importance of flexibility in the game industry. We have never aimed to be overly specialized in just one area, as this does not align with our personalities. We are inherently curious about all aspects of game development, and this curiosity drives us to explore and contribute to various facets of the process. This approach not only keeps our work dynamic and interesting but also broadens our skill sets and adaptability in the industry.
We prefer to work on tasks independently at first, as we believe this approach maximizes learning. After completing our individual tasks, we then come together to work on feedback. This process is very dynamic, yet it ensures we are accountable for our respective responsibilities. Since we cover multiple disciplines, it’s easy for our work to overlap. There will be times when more complex tasks require both of our inputs. In these cases, even if the subject matter is the same, we approach design problems differently to provide effective and diverse solutions.”
What are your goals for the future as game artists? Are there any particular projects or types of games you are excited to work on together?
“Our goals for the future as game artists are centered around continuous growth and collaboration in a creative environment. Specifically:
-Cultivate Creativity: We aim to remain in a vibrant and inspiring environment where we can continuously sharpen our design skills as concept artists.
-Bridge Ideas to Reality: We are excited to work on more game art projects, focusing on bringing our innovative ideas to life and ensuring they transition smoothly into the final product.
-Stay Updated with Technology: Keeping up-to-date with the latest technology and pipelines in concept and game art is crucial. This not only facilitates our development process but also allows us to remain flexible and adaptable in an ever-evolving industry.
Regarding the types of projects we are eager to work on together:
-RPG Elements with Rich Lore: We are particularly interested in projects that feature RPG elements with deep lore and compelling stories. Such projects allow us to immerse ourselves in world-building and character development.
-Storytelling through Art: We look forward to working on games that provide a rich player experience through storytelling, where our art can be a powerful tool to enhance the overall narrative and emotional impact.
-Otherworldly Experiences: Ideally, we would like to work on projects that are not hyper-realistic. Our goal is to create experiences that transport players out of the real world and into fantastical realms, offering a unique and imaginative escape.”
If you could give advice to other siblings or close partners considering a similar career path, what would it be?
If you’re considering a similar career path with a sibling or close partner, here are a few key pieces of advice:
-Foster Healthy Competition: Ensure there is a healthy level of competition between you. This can serve as a powerful motivator, pushing each of you to reach your full potential.
-Embrace Differences: Acknowledge, respect, and embrace each other’s unique strengths and weaknesses. These differences can be incredibly valuable, often sparking innovative and creative ideas that you might not arrive at individually.
-Provide Honest Feedback: Cultivate an environment where honest feedback is welcomed and trusted. Knowing that your sibling or partner has your best interests at heart makes it easier to accept constructive criticism and use it for personal and professional growth.”
Are you inspired by the story of the Cheung brothers? Want to work alongside them and other talented Sandsofters? Join our team—we’re hiring! Explore opportunities and take the next step in your career today!
