Alumni in the spotlight: Matthias Kapuvari’s journey

What are some of the best memories from your time at BUas? 

Matthias: ‘One of the highlights of my BUas experience was the team projects in the game labs, especially the one we tackled in year three. I loved it; we had a fantastic team, and since it was our third year, we already knew each other pretty well. Everyone was free to unleash their creative skills, and that made it particularly enjoyable. I had the privilege of leading the team and serving as the art director for that project. Our project involved remaking a pixel art game, and everything just clicked. It was a group of passionate people, including the lecturers, which made it all the more memorable.’ 

Could you tell us about your graduation? 

Matthias: ‘For my graduation, I embarked on a personal project. Before that, I had completed a placement at Guerilla Games. I decided to use my graduation as an opportunity to explore different aspects of concept art, focusing on character design and illustration. It was a valuable experience that taught me a lot.’ 

What did you do after graduating from our Games programme? 

Matthias: ‘After graduating, I relocated to England to pursue a master's degree in concept art, which was a one-year programme. This programme led me directly to a job as a concept artist in Newcastle, where I spent three and a half years. My journey there involved starting as an intern and eventually becoming a lead artist. I worked at a concept art outsourcing studio, where I had the opportunity to contribute to various projects, including concept art for Mortal Kombat 11, designing the illustration style for new LEGO product lines, and even directing photoshoots in LA at Universal Studios. While it was quite diverse, the majority of the work revolved around creating concept art for video games.’ 

‘Following my time in Newcastle, I moved to Berlin just before the COVID-19 lockdown. Initially, I worked as a freelance concept artist. I found myself getting offers for freelance work, some of which came from people I knew from my BUas days. I continued freelancing for about a year and a half, and I still occasionally take on freelance projects.’ 

‘In 2021, I shifted my focus towards directing and filmmaking. I initiated a personal project by creating an animated short film, which allowed me to test the waters and gauge my interest in this new direction. I collaborated with individuals I had known since my BUas days, including a composer, and recruited voice actors among other things. It helped me to build a network. My short film received recognition at various film festivals. While I still dabble in concept art, most of my time is now dedicated to directing.’ 

What are your future plans? 

Matthias: ‘I am currently busy establishing an animation studio. The primary focus is on creating cinematic trailers for video games. Given my extensive background in the gaming and art industry, I'm well-versed in what's required. Compared to what I used to do in concept art, trailers can be more of a standalone piece and are less integrated into the game development pipeline. This brings the opportunity to extend a games world and story, or show it from a different angle.’   

What advice do you have for current Games students? 

Matthias: ‘Based on my personal journey, I'd emphasise the value of a broad education. Although I was primarily interested in concept art, the Games programme at BUas required us to explore various disciplines within Visual Arts. I find myself applying many of the skills and knowledge I gained during those formative years. Specialising too early might not be as beneficial in the long run. In the current era with AI tools on the rise, flexibility is essential. Concentrate on building strong fundamental art skills, as well as soft skills like communication and collaboration, which are vital in any creative field.’ 

For those seeking more information about Matthias’ work, you can visit his LinkedIn profile and his portfolio website at kapuvari.com.