Who am I ?
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  • eugenio messina (british designer based in the us)

  • i’m a self-taught graphic artist and computer programmer. Actually, I'm a frustrated 'composer' who entered the world of computers in the eighties in order to fund an expensive electronic music hobby.
    well, here I am 20 years later, still a frustrated composer, albeit now with a modest home studio, and a scope of expertise covering a broad range of technical capabilities relating to various aspects of digital graphics technology. I've garnered first hand experience in both creating commercial grade graphic based products, and graphical design for consumer entertainment, 3D, and commercial fields.

  • my artistic style reflects my experiences, and you'll notice a level of confidence in the use of vivid colors that keep well away from simplistic primaries. -'Safe' colors are for those too afraid to dispense with their 'color wheels'.

  • i consider myself fortunate to have realized that I was on my way to becoming a computer nerd, so the jump from programming graphics to creating graphics was a cunning evolutionary maneuver.

  • my work often expresses a hint of retro-arcade style within a modern 3D context.

  • people say you're as old as you feel, which makes me perpetually 26.

  • 'artists' like to push the envelope and I'm no different. If one doesn't deviate from the norm, one doesn't develop. The price you pay is criticism - which is a creative force, anyhow.

  • i consider my works to be toys for adults.

  • "the mind is like a parachute. In order to function, it first has to open " -Anonymous



If you're not bored yet, then here's my bio....



Technical & Artistic Experience

Gaming

Developed my first arcade game from scratch for the home computer in 1984. "Destructo" was published in 1986 by Bulldog Software and reached #2 in the British Retail Charts.

Spent the next few years developing graphic software engines for two other computer games released in the European market. This experience gave me grounding in understanding, from a technical perspective, how the manipulation and generation of digital imagery is achieved in both 2 & 3 dimensions.

Animation

"Main Video", an early 3D animation (using a 16 bit Amiga Computer), won the Annual Animation Contest for Europe in 1989, held at Edinburgh Arts Festival, earning me ‘official status’ as a 3D graphics designer.

Virtual Reality

Superscape/Dimension International/Incentive Software
Hook, UK / Palo Alto, CA

Senior Designer 1989-1996

Created graphical interface and interactive environments for ‘3D Construction Kit’, a project that allowed users to create their own 3D adventures using their home computers. Expanded my technical understanding of the inner workings of 3D real-time graphics through my involvement in the testing and development cycles of the 'Virtual Reality Toolkit' (VRT), a 3d real-time application development product, which allowed users to create sophisticated 3D intelligent and interactive environments for both entertainment and commercial use. The virtual reality worlds I created were distinct in their fluidity and interactive complexity, marked by various layers of simulated intelligence and physical dynamics.

Graphic Design

Pie In The Sky Company, division of J-KAM Inc.
Redwood City, CA

Art/Creative Director 1996-2001

Worked closely with the Art, Production, Marketing, and Sales Departments for leading manufacturer and international licensor of giant inflatable advertising displays. Created conceptual inflatable designs in 2D & 3D, presentation graphics, and modeled the designs as full color 3D objects from which I would create reference visuals for construction and generate patterns for manufacturing. Expanded my interest in marketing and continued to develop graphic talent through the marketing of such a creative product. Designed all sales literature, product brochures, print ads, direct mail material, press releases, created and maintained an award winning web site.



BrainCode.net
Emeryville, CA

Freelance Artist, Designer & Consultant 2002- present

Art & Design, Illustration, Music Composition, Conceptual Design, Design Strategy