Meet Yuzhi Zhu | Lighting artist & 3D environment artist

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

Hi Yuzhi, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I think the most important factor behind anyone’s success is to believe in yourself, learn from mistakes, practice methods to improve and adapt to different situations. As an artist myself, I was never fear to share my artistic ideas with people, and I always wanted to learn from other artists. I took opportunities to talk to them, learn from them and get inspiration from them. It is also very important to expand your network.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

I have been immersed in the world of art for as long as I can remember, starting my journey as a traditional artist before transitioning into the realm of 3D art. Among my artistic accomplishments, I take great pride in my ability to see through my eyes. They have granted me the gift of visualizing aesthetics and making informed decisions regarding color, lighting, and shapes. However, reaching my current position was no easy feat. Following the completion of my bachelor’s degree in 2017, I embarked on a path of further education at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2018, driven by a desire to refine and elevate my craft.

During my time at SCAD, I pursued various opportunities to enhance my skills and gain practical experience. I had the privilege of interning at both Microsoft and Epic Games, as well as serving as a teaching assistant at SCAD. These invaluable experiences paved the way for my professional growth. Upon graduating from SCAD, I was thrilled to receive a job offer and am now employed as a lighting artist at my dream job.

The video game industry is renowned for its competitiveness, and many have voiced their frustrations about the challenges of securing employment. However, I have always been someone who seizes the initiative, refusing to wait for opportunities to come to me. If a task is assigned to me, I tackle it promptly and diligently. This determined work ethic guided me throughout my academic journey, ensuring that I never missed deadlines. I utilized any extra time available before submission dates to refine and enhance my artwork, constantly seeking improvement.

My ultimate aspiration is to inspire others with my story and encourage them to pursue their dreams relentlessly. I firmly believe that anyone, regardless of their background or cultural origins, possesses the potential to achieve their aspirations. If I, as an individual hailing from a vastly different culture, could realize my own dreams, then it serves as a testament to the boundless potential within us all.

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 am a theme park nerd, I would take my best friend to visit Universal Studio, and Disney Park, downtown, visit my work building, Local restaurant for breakfast, Dim sum for lunch, and hot pot for dinner. I enjoy outdoor activities a lot, sometimes i like to have a long walk in a park or around the lake.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to all my school instructors, mentors, colleagues, friends, and family back home. Their unwavering support has played a pivotal role in shaping the person I am today. Moving to a new country for school with its unique culture presented numerous challenges along the way.

Website: https://stevenzyz.artstation.com/

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