Robert Benkendorf

SUMMARY

As a senior artist, I specialize in crafting characters, environments, and props across a wide range of styles and genres, from concept design to full 3D asset production and engine implementation.
With my passion for storytelling and detail, I focus on delivering high-quality, cohesive designs that elevate the creative vision.
With a proven track record of leading art teams and managing projects from concept to completion, I bring proficiency in a wide range of tools and techniques across platforms like PC, mobile, and VR.

EXPERTISE

Concept Art & Design: Characters, environments, props, FX, mood concepts, visual storytelling, storyboards

3D Asset Creation: Sculpting, modeling, retopology, UV mapping, PBR surfacing, hand-painted textures, rigging, animation (characters & mechanics), engine implementation

Game Engines: Unity3D, Unreal Engine

World Building: Environment design, Backstories/Lore, Character Profiling

Visual Development: Color Theory and Palette, Style and Aesthetics, Keyframes

UI/UX Design: UI design, UX prototyping

Software: Blender3D, Zbrush, Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Unreal Engine, Unity3D, Adobe XD

WORK EXPERIENCE

Concept & 3D Artist

Rockfish Games (Everspace 2) | Remote

06/2023 – 12/2023

• Developed high-quality concept art and key art for space vehicles and environments, effectively communicating the art director’s vision to the team and enhancing visual storytelling.
• Executed concept modeling and rapid prototyping for 3D assets, ensuring alignment with the creative vision.
• Designed UI elements that seamlessly integrated with existing assets, improving navigation flow and enhancing overall user experience, ensuring consistency and visual coherence.
• Produced marketing assets including key visuals, banners, and promotional images to support product launches and drive player engagement.
• Developed a standalone version of the in-game star map, available in both digital and print formats, as a unique collectible for Kickstarter backers.

3D Artist, Lead Artist

Viscircle (3D real-time visualization & product configuration) | Remote

04/2017 – 06/2023

• As Lead Artist, oversaw creative direction, managed planning of art resources for multiple projects, coordinated internal and external artists, handled project management, and ensured quality standards and budget management were met throughout the production process.
• Developed highly optimized 3D assets for real-time rendering in web browsers, ensuring maximum performance without sacrificing visual quality.
• Led pipeline development initiatives to streamline the production of 3D assets based on scanns and CAD data, enhancing workflow efficiency and reducing project timelines.
• Collaborated closely with clients to build strong customer relations, delivering customized 3D solutions that meet business goals and project specifications.
• Utilized advanced modeling techniques and retopology to process scanned and CAD data, optimizing it for real-time applications and product visualization.
• Created detailed PBR Materials for eCommerce projects, improving the accuracy of textures and materials in 3D product configurators.
• Contributed to the development of a sandbox 3D configurator application for eCommerce platforms, driving higher customer engagement and enhancing user interaction.

Concept & 3D Artist

Freelancer

03/2012 – 04/2017

• Created detailed character and environment concepts for games and VR projects, enhancing narrative and world-building through visual storytelling.
• Designed and illustrated key art that captured the visual essence of projects, contributing to successful marketing campaigns and player engagement.
• Developed high-quality 3D models and textures using a combination of sculpting, modeling, and PBR surfacing techniques in Blender and ZBrush.
• Led the creation of stylized environment art, ensuring cohesive world design that aligned with the overall visual direction of game projects.
• Produced mood concepts and storyboards that established the emotional tone of key scenes, providing a clear direction for the art team.
• Optimized 3D asset production pipelines, ensuring seamless integration of models, textures, and animations into both Unreal Engine and Unity Engine projects.
• Created VR prototypes for interactive experiences, showcasing realistic environments and immersive gameplay mechanics.
• Specialized in stylized game art, bringing characters and environments to life with unique visual aesthetics and design.
• Contributed to the world design of open-world and level-based game environments, focusing on terrain layout, object placement, and overall atmosphere.
• Proficient in hand-painted textures and PBR surfacing, achieving a balance between stylized and realistic visuals for different game genres.
• Sculpted high-resolution characters and assets in ZBrush, optimized for real-time engines with a focus on performance and visual fidelity.

Concept & 3D Artist, Lead Artist

Reakktor Media (Black Prophecy MMO (PC))

09/2007 – 03/2012

• Created detailed vehicle and environment concepts, contributing to a cohesive and visually compelling world.
• Led the art team in developing high-quality game assets, ensuring alignment with the creative vision and project goals.
• Developed and optimized art production pipelines, including asset creation, integration, and quality control, ensuring smooth collaboration between departments.
• Mentored and guided junior artists, providing constructive feedback and fostering a collaborative, creative environment to maximize productivity and artistic innovation.
• Developed key art and promotional visuals that shaped the artistic direction and marketing material of major game releases.
• Modeled and textured high-quality, optimized 3D assets using industry-standard tools such as 3DsMax and Zbrush, ensuring smooth integration into the game engine (Gambryo).
• Designed mood boards and concept illustrations that defined the visual tone of the project, guiding team members through creative alignment.

EDUCATION

Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design and Fine Arts

College of Graphic Design and Fine Arts Freiburg

08/2001 – 07/2006