Meet Rebecca Lau | Technical Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Lau and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
As I reflect on my approach to risk, I recall my own journey from Malaysia to building a career in a foreign environment while pursuing education abroad. While moving abroad meant starting over, it also offered many opportunities. Moving from Malaysia to Hong Kong to Savannah and then to Seattle for my XBOX internships (worked in 343 Industries and then in Turn 10 Studios) and in Orlando as a Disney Cast Member, and now working on something exciting and new in a game company. I’ve learned the importance of taking risks in order to develop personally and professionally. Being so far away from home, it can be pretty daunting to take a step forward because of all the “what if’s” because I don’t have a safety net from family here in the United States. I find myself constantly planning for Plan B and Cs for all the just incase situation, but still remaining hopeful on the plan I took a risk for. While I believe not all risks are the same and some should be considered carefully, they could open doors of unforeseen opportunities. Each risk that I’ve taken has been a step forward, shaping not just my career but also who I am as an artist and as a person. Studying and living abroad has opened my eyes and showed me so many different things from everywhere I’ve lived in and I’m eternally grateful that I took this chance on myself.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a technical artist in the video games industry, I started out as an intern at 343 Industries where my manager took the chance on me and let me work on something that would be in the game. That sparked my interest and love for the video games industry. What sets me apart is my ability to bridge the gap between art and tech, understanding and being able to understand both sides of the fence. I love the blend of artistic creativity all while using the skills I have as a technical artist.

Professionally, my path has been anything but easy. I transferred from Malaysia’s Taylors University, to SCAD Hong Kong, to SCAD Savannah, adapting to new environments and learning experience in different countries and cultures, adjusting and transitioning to online learning during the pandemic with a 12-13hr time difference and then going back to a full classroom setting was definitely difficult.
I also came into SCAD not knowing a single thing there is to know about technical animation. There were a lot of all-nighters and self-learning on top of the school curriculum to keep my knowledge and skills at least on the same-ish par as my peers who have already had a certificate or degree prior to being at SCAD or are able to take external classes outside of SCAD which is hard for me due to financial difficulties. Being multilingual has its difficulties where I find myself having to switch between languages which can lead to confusion and difficulty finding words. I am so grateful for my professors who were so patient with me and helped me when I have a word block. However, each obstacle has served as an opportunity for growth. I’ve learned to embrace challenges as. catalyst for improvement to refine my skills and expand my knowledge base.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the value of perseverance and resilience. It has taught me that success is not just on talent and or opportunity, but also on the ability to persist in the face of challenges and setbacks. Studying abroad has instilled these qualities on me and have enabled me to weather through storms, learn from failures and come back stronger and more determined.

I want the world to know that my journey, while has not been easy, but is characterised by relentless hard work and dedication. I believe it’s important to recognise that behind the successes and accomplishments lies a story of perseverance through challenges and setbacks. The countless hours of hard work, the sacrifices made, and the determination to overcome obstacles along the way. My story is about the passion and love I have for what I do and the commitment to pushing limits and contribute to the industry through technical art.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I loved my time in Savannah! A few of my favourite cafes were Foxy Loxy for the tacos and matcha, Blue Door for the paninis and coffee and Blends Coffee for the lavender latte. and omelette (I brought my parents there during my graduation and they are obsessed with it). Le Café Gourmet is also great and I love the crepes there.

Forsyth park and walking along River Street and around the area has so much history behind it and the architectures are all so beautiful.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes! I would like to give a shoutout to Skai, my significant other. He has been extremely supportive of my line of study since we started school at SCAD. Prior being at SCAD, he had already learned animation back in Singapore and when he found out I was new to this, he was the first person who taught me how to use Autodesk Maya when I first started school which has been pivotal to my career. He is an incredibly talented individual and I’m so proud to see how much he has grown since starting at SCAD. I always joke how he is Batman and I’m Alfred. We work well together as a team because he is a storyteller and creates life through the work I make as a technical artist. As both of us are international students, we have to deal with work visas, and job hunting specifically at companies that hires internationals, so even though our options to apply for jobs to companies are limited, I’m grateful that he has been supporting me since the very beginning, especially during this tough time of mass layoffs in our industry.

I would love to give a shoutout to my parents who supported my career choice when not many understood it. My dad always had the “never try never know” mentality always encourages me to go for it which I have definitely picked up which would tie in with me taking risk coming abroad. I appreciate that my parents saw my independence and encouraged me to go out and see the world. They may not fully understand what I do at work as a technical artist, but I love that they all try to understand.

Finally, a shoutout to a few of my professors at SCAD who really helped me to grow as an artist. Professor Tim Steele, Deborah Fowler, Ahmed Elmatarawi, Danny Shin, Hannah Kuehn. They constantly pushed me to go above and beyond, challenged me to think critically by giving constructive feedback and be a problem solver. They are def a few of the people who have inspired me to be in Tech Art and I am so grateful for them as professors who have mentored me.

Website: https://www.rebeccalau.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccalau.art/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccalauart/