❓ When you look at a new project, what’s the first visual element you focus on to shape the identity of the game?

📝 That’s a great question. And to be honest, after so many years in this industry, the very first thing I look for is the core theme or at least a working title.
With 14 years of experience and more than 300 slot games behind me, that alone is usually enough to spark the initial visual direction and art style options.
From there, the real focus depends on several factors.
• how strictly the game design is already defined
• which market the game is aimed at
• who the target players are
• the type of mechanics we’re using
• whether the theme involves storytelling and characters or not
But regardless of the project, one thing is always consistent.
I start by identifying the symbols and elements that bring the most joy and excitement to players, the highest paying icons and the feature triggers. Once those are visually defined, everything else naturally falls into place.
They set the tone, the mood, the palette, and the identity for the entire game.
So basically, I pinpoint the key emotional drivers first, and the rest of the world builds itself around them.

❓ What’s a creative risk you’ve taken in game art that paid off, and what did it teach you about directing teams?

📝 For me, the biggest creative risk has always been pushing for a distinct art style that doesn’t fit neatly into the usual iGaming mainstream standards.
I love those moments when the team is allowed to explore, experiment, and express creativity in a way that feels fresh rather than familiar.
Every time we’ve gotten the green light to try something stylistically different, it has paid off. Players notice it. They respond to it. And it often turns into a profitable direction for the company.
It taught me that teams thrive when they’re trusted to explore beyond the expected.
Give people room to experiment and challenge norms, and they deliver results that standard guidelines could never achieve.

❓ How do you decide which trends are worth adapting and which are better left untouched?

📝 Trends in iGaming move fast, but they’re not always creatively inspiring.
Most providers repeatedly push out the same evergreen themes.
So my decision rule is simple.
If a trend only encourages cloning, we follow it just enough for the market.
But if we can twist that trend into something unexpected, modern, or emotionally surprising, then it becomes worth exploring.
If we can’t elevate the trend, it’s better to leave it behind and create something new.

❓ What is one common mistake you see artists make, and how do you help them overcome it?

✨ 📝 A major mistake is underestimating how the artwork looks on mobile.
Since most slot games are played on phones, symbols and text must remain readable at very small sizes.
Beautiful detail doesn’t matter if it disappears on a phone screen.
We overcome this by constant visual testing at real scale.
It trains artists to prioritize clarity over unnecessary detail.

❓ Can you recall a moment where a visual or stylistic problem pushed your team to find a smart or unexpected solution?

📝 Absolutely. Every studio encounters these situations.
During QA, we often find elements that look perfect on paper but fail in live gameplay.
When time is short, we focus on solutions that are visually effective, fast for VFX to animate, and easy for developers to implement.
These constraints sharpen creativity.
It proves that problem solving is not always about big artistic changes but smart, efficient adjustments.

❓ What is your view on AI assisted art tools, and how can they support artists without replacing creativity?

📝 AI is a tool, not a replacement.
AI accelerates exploration, speeds up testing, and helps with early visual ideation.
But final game art still requires human judgment, taste, and creative vision.
AI expands possibilities, but the human touch gives meaning to those possibilities.
For me, AI is an accelerator, not a threat.

❓ When art and design disagree, how do you find balance between visual ambition and functional clarity?

📝 As long as both sides respect each other, balance is always possible.
If we can’t align, we bring in a neutral opinion and decide collectively.
Game designers understand mechanics and player psychology, so their view carries weight.
Art elevates the experience, but clarity must come first for the game to succeed.

❓ What do you think about platforms like iGamity that spotlight creators behind the games?

📝 I think it’s fantastic.
This industry often forgets the people behind the art, animation, sound, and design.
iGamity brings visibility to the creators who give these games their identity.
It feels like a shift toward a more authentic and creator focused culture.
I truly appreciate what you are doing.

❓ What’s one piece of advice you wish more artists knew earlier in their careers?

📝 The advice is simple.
Be a professional first, an artist second.
Master fundamentals, stay adaptable, understand your market, and create art that serves the game, the player, and the product.
This mindset is what separates passionate beginners from true industry professionals.