In collaboration with the Department of Education and West Sussex County Council, The Into Games Technical Art Bootcamp supported aspiring technical artists develop practical industry skills, gain experience with real production workflows, and learn directly from professionals working in games today. Through hands-on Unreal Engine projects, mentorship, and collaborative learning, participants explore the many different disciplines that make up technical art.

This story spotlights Leviathan Amare’s bootcamp experience from figuring out their path in games to later landing their first contracts as a technical artist.

Seeking a clear path

Fresh from the University of Chichester, Leviathan Amare was navigating the typical post‑graduation landscape: balancing job hunting, personal projects, and searching for a definitive career path. Despite their background in both 3D art and programming, technical art remained a niche option that hadn’t yet been presented as a viable trajectory.

"I'd heard about tech art through various talks, but I was unsure how to begin learning the discipline properly," Leviathan recalls.

Their outlook shifted when they discovered the Into Games Technical Art Bootcamp.

Gaining industry-led insights

Technical art proved to be the perfect intersection for Leviathan's interests, blending creative flair with technical problem‑solving. The chance to learn from active industry professionals made the bootcamp an obvious choice.

Throughout the course, Leviathan and their peers tackled diverse Unreal Engine projects—from procedural weather systems and dynamic grass shaders to optimisation tools and Niagara VFX. Working through real production challenges gave participants a clear view of how technical artists facilitate collaboration between engineering, design, and art teams. For Leviathan, this hands‑on experience helped identify specific interests such as tooling, shaders, and procedural systems.

More importantly, the bootcamp helped Leviathan connect the dots between skills they already had but had previously viewed as separate disciplines.

Check out what Leviathan and peers created on the course:

Connecting the dots

One of the biggest confidence boosts came through conversations with mentors.

“I remember having a back‑and‑forth with some mentors and realising I was talking about concepts and ideas I had no clue about a few months prior. That’s when it clicked that I actually knew what I was doing and could confidently discuss ideas and implementations with industry professionals.”

As the programme progressed, Leviathan became more comfortable communicating ideas, discussing workflows, and approaching technical problems collaboratively, an essential part of technical art.

Network and opportunities

After completing the bootcamp, Leviathan stayed connected with mentors. Through those connections, an opportunity came up with a technical artist at Dink who was looking for a replacement on a project. After a few conversations about technical art, workflows, and personal projects, Leviathan secured their first contracts as a technical artist.

“It was thanks to what I learned during the bootcamp and the connections I made that helped me get my tech art career started. I walked away with confidence that I could find solutions to whatever task I’d face later or at least know where to start.”

Considering a career in technical art?

For anyone considering a career in technical art, Leviathan strongly recommends taking the leap:

“If you have a passion for solving challenges, helping team members in creative ways, or even just the more technical side of art, then absolutely do this bootcamp. For me it was invaluable and taught me so much. If you engage with it, you will gain far more than you put in.”

The Into Games Technical Art Bootcamp is tailored for individuals from art, design, or programming backgrounds. It provides a platform to master industry‑standard workflows, build essential skills, and connect with established professionals in the field.

To learn more or check eligibility for the next available cohort, visit the website at https://www.intogames.courses/techartbootcamp.