Austin Baker
About Austin Baker
Austin Baker serves as the Technical Art Director at Undead Labs, where he has worked since 2019. With extensive experience in technical art and animation across various companies, he focuses on developing tools and processes that enhance the creative workflow in game development.
Work at Undead Labs
Austin Baker has served as the Technical Art Director at Undead Labs since 2019. In this role, he collaborates with Art Directors to set visual targets and define the necessary technology for project success. He guides the transition of Technical Art to a first-party studio and evaluates existing infrastructure to address any shortcomings. Baker develops tools and processes that anticipate the future needs of artists and designers, focusing on emergent technology. He manages a team of technical artists and addresses the day-to-day needs of projects, ensuring smooth execution.
Previous Experience in Game Development
Before his current position, Austin Baker worked at ArenaNet LLC as Technical Art Director from 2017 to 2019. He also held roles at Pandemic Studios (Electronic Arts), where he served as Lead Animator and Animation Producer from 2005 to 2009. His experience includes being a Lead Technical Animator at ArenaNet from 2015 to 2017 and a Senior Technical Artist and Animator at Raven Software from 2014 to 2015. Baker co-founded Panic Volcanic, where he worked as Executive Producer and Director of Technical Art and Animation from 2009 to 2012.
Education and Expertise
Austin Baker studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in 3D Animation from 1995 to 1999. His educational background provides a strong foundation in technical art and animation, which he has applied throughout his extensive career in the gaming industry. Baker's expertise includes procedural content generation using tools like Houdini and addressing the challenges of large, open worlds in Unreal Engine.
Leadership and Mentorship
In his role as Technical Art Director, Austin Baker manages a team of technical artists and focuses on mentoring team members. He empowers them to grow and learn continuously, fostering a collaborative environment. Baker proactively identifies technical issues and needs before they arise, ensuring that projects run smoothly. He also tracks emerging trends and technology in game development, making strategic recommendations that benefit the studio.