What sparks a passion for game development? For Kenneth Chan, it all began with making custom Minecraft maps. Then just a 15-year-old secondary school student, Kenneth spent hours modifying — also known as modding — the game and using various tools to create immersive worlds for others to explore. “The process of combining design and art into a consistent, engaging medium was what got me hooked,” he recalls.
It was also around this time that Kenneth first heard about DigiPen (Singapore) from one of his school teachers. Kenneth read an article touting DigiPen as the best school for game development and convinced his parents to let him attend the Institute’s open house. Visiting the campus in person and seeing the student works on display left a deep impression on Kenneth, solidifying his goal to become a DigiPen Dragon and pursue his dream career one day.
Fast forward to the present, Kenneth has not only realized that dream but has also transformed his passion into a career. From bedroom Minecraft modder to AAA game developer, Kenneth now works as a junior technical artist at Ubisoft Singapore.
Kenneth took his first steps toward game development while at Nanyang Polytechnic, where he built a solid foundation in game art and design. During this time, he participated in the DigiPen Exchange Program, which allowed him to study at DigiPen’s Redmond campus for a few months. Inspired by this experience, Kenneth chose to further his studies at DigiPen (Singapore) by enrolling in the BFA in Digital Art and Animation program.
After a year into the BFA program, however, Kenneth realized his true passion lay not just in creating specialized visuals but in designing meaningful player experiences. “I wanted to take a more interdisciplinary approach — one that combined art, design, and technology to evoke deeper emotional connections through interactive mediums,” Kenneth says. He also recognized that the rise of emerging technologies and greater accessibility in game development meant it was becoming a more competitive space. Hence, he wanted to build a stronger foundation in his design and technical skills. This spurred him to switch majors to the BA in User Experience and Game Design program.
The decision turned out to be the right one for Kenneth. He thrived in his new major, ultimately graduating as the valedictorian of the program’s inaugural cohort. During his final year of studies, he secured a technical artist internship at Ubisoft Singapore, transitioning to a full-time position upon graduation.
Now a member of the Skull and Bones development team, Kenneth’s role in technical art involves creating tools, optimizing workflows, and enhancing visuals. “Technical artists bridge the gap between art and technology to deliver immersive game experiences,” he explains. On any given day, Kenneth might be developing procedural frameworks using Houdini, building custom tools with C# in Ubisoft’s proprietary engine, or troubleshooting game performance to ensure stability and visual quality.
Coming from an art and design background rather than a technical one, the learning curve was steep for Kenneth when he first joined the team. “I initially found the raw programming, procedural workflows, and advanced software knowledge quite overwhelming,” he says. What helped him persevere was his focus on empathy — a core value he developed during his time at DigiPen (Singapore). He explains that at its essence, design is about servitude and creating experiences that allow people to feel and connect deeply. He also learned to prioritize the needs of others and keep them at the heart of the creative process. With this in mind, Kenneth set out to strengthen his foundations, growing in his confidence and capability.
Kenneth credits the design principles he learned at DigiPen (Singapore) for shaping his career. “Concepts like pacing an experience, balancing visual hierarchies, and understanding what should be seen versus what needs to be felt have influenced every aspect of my work,” he reflects.
Drawing from his experiences so far, Kenneth’s advice for those interested in a technical art role is clear: “Don’t pursue this field just because you’re good at programming or feel you lack artistic skills. Do it because you care about creating meaningful experiences for others,” he says.