Advanced Term Project — ThinkTank (Environment Art)
Inspired by an ArtStation concept (with my own twist).
For my ThinkTank Advanced Term project, I expanded the same environment pipeline from my previous term, but pushed it further in scope, lighting complexity, and asset variety. While the original idea came from a concept piece, I reinterpreted it to match a place that feels personal: a location similar to one I remember from my childhood.
The scene is built around an arcade-focused environment, where I customized the machines and props to reflect friends’ projects and early 2000s-inspired themes, aiming for a nostalgic but grounded mood.
Tool
Maya · Substance 3D Designer · Substance 3D Painter · Unreal Engine
Concept by Helio Frazao
Final Shot
Asset Breakdown
Hero Props
Key focal assets designed for close-up readability
Higher detail with unique texture treatment
Built to support storytelling and draw the eye in composition
Hybrid Assets (Procedural + Handcrafted)
Procedural bases refined with manual modeling/sculpting and targeted texture work
Used when I needed both fast iteration and specific art direction
Focus on scalability
Lighting (Main Focus)
The biggest emphasis in this project was lighting, the primary storytelling tool.
I designed the scene around a dense lighting setup with many sources,:
High number of practical lights (signage, machines, ambient fixtures)
Strong color contrast to match the concept feeling
Emphasis on getting the “arcade” atmosphere
Care on exposure, balance, and readability
