It’s International Women’s Day today, and we’re celebrating the talented women that work here at Codemasters. Next up, we’re chatting to Senior Environment Artist Katharina.
Hi Katharina! Could you tell us what you do here at Codemasters?
Currently I am a senior Environment Artist, but I am a bit a jack of all trades. I started off as a Character artist, then moved to Environments, then Special Effects (for most of my career, I was lead for a while) and now I am back in Environments.
How long have you been at Codemasters?
10 years!
How long have you been in the industry for?
12 years
How did you get into your career?
I studied (computer) animation at Glamorgan University, but didn’t really like it, so towards the end of the course I decided to do 3D modelling instead
What’s your favourite bit of your job?
Well, what I like about Codemasters is that they allowed me to hop around a bit, which has kept it interesting for me. They have also been extremely accommodating with the whole maternity leave and parenting thing.
What I like about my job in general is that it keeps changing the more the technology develops (although it’s also a bit scary). When I started out we only had 3ds Max/Maya and Photoshop (Zbrush only just started to become a thing) and now we hardly use those. Texture creation has come a very long way. Back in the day we would make everything by hand (including normal maps and specular maps), now you just apply “readymade” materials that look a million times better than what we produced back then, and you don’t really have to worry about seams or anything like that.
What advice do you have for women trying to get into the industry?
You should be a good artist, obviously, but also believe in yourself a little. Many people (including me) underestimate themselves and their abilities. Like when I see the sort of stuff students do nowadays in uni I wonder “how am I even still employed?” yet, somehow I am (and I just keep my showreel very, very hidden).
Want to read more about the women who work at Codemasters? Find more interviews here!
