Oct 12, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min · 11 segments
Jack Mavar explains the modeling, bevel and texturing choices behind his game-prop artwork. We discuss where topology matters, using ZBrush for bevel control, simplifying material layers and learning…
Uh, you have a, as we're just speaking, a strong opinion about the degree means almost nothing to recruiters, right?
So let me push on that a little, right? If you would go back, uh, would you still go or, you know, would you tell your 18-year-old Jack to skip university entirely?
Ultimately, I think I'm, I'm still glad I did it, and I would definitely do it again, for sure.
But like I, I, I think what I got out of it, I wouldn't have been able to get out of it from my room, um, because I'm, you know, I was still able to make good connections with some people in the industry.
I was able to meet people that I would never have met otherwise, um, and people who've encouraged me to get better and, um, improve as an artist.
And just being in the university environment, I think does, um, at least for me, I know some people work a lot better remotely, but I, I prefer to go in somewhere and get work done.
Um, so that was, that was one thing that d- I, I think really helped my, um, helped me improve.
So basically, connections to industry, being surrounded by people with the same goal.
Can you give me maybe a specific example? You know, was there a single connection or a single conversation at the university that actually moved the needle for, for your career?
Um, I, I was able to, in my final year, I was able to get in contact with, um, some 3D artists from War Dog Studios, and they do, um, they do like the outsourcing for Call of Duty, I think is their main, uh, uh, main client.
Mm-hmmAnd getting into contact with them and getting feedback from them, I think from, uh, it's- it's really obvious before, of the before and after.
Um, I- I was able to kind of like really correct a lot of the issues that was, um, that was in my work, and, um, and I think put me on a, on a good path.
So here is something that probably a lot of students who are watching this won't want to hear, right? So you said basically simply connecting, completing the course, uh, won't lead you to, you know, a, a job.
Um, so what's the actual gap between, you know, what your final year project looks like, you know, your capstone, and what the junior position would, would require?
I, I saw it, it did happen to, um, to someone, I don't know in our year, but in the year before us.
But you have to, you have to put in a lot of work outside of the university course.
Uh, you have a, as we're just speaking, a strong opinion about the degree means almost nothing to recruiters, right?
So let me push on that a little, right? If you would go back, uh, would you still go or, you know, would you tell your 18-year-old Jack to skip university entirely?
Ultimately, I think I'm, I'm still glad I did it, and I would definitely do it again, for sure.
But like I, I, I think what I got out of it, I wouldn't have been able to get out of it from my room, um, because I'm, you know, I was still able to make good connections with some people in the industry.
I was able to meet people that I would never have met otherwise, um, and people who've encouraged me to get better and, um, improve as an artist.
And just being in the university environment, I think does, um, at least for me, I know some people work a lot better remotely, but I, I prefer to go in somewhere and get work done.
Um, so that was, that was one thing that d- I, I think really helped my, um, helped me improve.
So basically, connections to industry, being surrounded by people with the same goal.
Can you give me maybe a specific example? You know, was there a single connection or a single conversation at the university that actually moved the needle for, for your career?
Um, I, I was able to, in my final year, I was able to get in contact with, um, some 3D artists from War Dog Studios, and they do, um, they do like the outsourcing for Call of Duty, I think is their main, uh, uh, main client.
Mm-hmmAnd getting into contact with them and getting feedback from them, I think from, uh, it's- it's really obvious before, of the before and after.
Um, I- I was able to kind of like really correct a lot of the issues that was, um, that was in my work, and, um, and I think put me on a, on a good path.
So here is something that probably a lot of students who are watching this won't want to hear, right? So you said basically simply connecting, completing the course, uh, won't lead you to, you know, a, a job.
Um, so what's the actual gap between, you know, what your final year project looks like, you know, your capstone, and what the junior position would, would require?
I, I saw it, it did happen to, um, to someone, I don't know in our year, but in the year before us.
But you have to, you have to put in a lot of work outside of the university course.
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