Getting to Know-made: Dom Clubb, Art Lead
Glowmade Towers (which during lockdown has become more of a feeling than a place) is home to a team of talented and passionate creators, and support staff. Their creativity and care bubbles over into our games and studio culture daily, and - frankly - we all benefit from it!
It’s always fascinating to understand what makes people tick, and today’s Getting To Knowmade (do you get it?) is with Art Lead Dom - the man whose baby pic is so cute, I used it thrice. (Mini Jack Black vibes, anyone?!)
And don’t forget - WE ARE HIRING and we want to hear from you, even if you don’t see a role listed on our website that fits your skills - get in contact! And tell us who your fave mini Jack Black impersonator is whilst you’re at it! (it’s Dom, isn’t it?)
Dom Clubb
Art Lead
Heeeey Dom - thanks finding some time for my v important questions! Let’s get this show on the road…
We start at the start, as per, so what's your role at Glowmade?
Art Director
How would your parents describe your job?
“computers guy”
10/10 for base level understanding!
So Dom, what’s your story? How did you end up at Glow Towers?
deep breath Lionhead, Kuju, Freelancer, Relentless, Headstrong, Colossal, Hot Sauce, Another Place, Hutch, Socialpoint... here!
”Relentless Headstrong Colossal” sounds like a mean Hot Sauce, now I come to think of it…
“Advice? Get gud! There’s a real shortage of quality artists out there!”
Tell us a little about how you ended up making games for a living?
After uni I applied to Lionhead. It was my first application and I got the job. I guess I took it for granted as I was... young and not short of confidence lets say. In retrospect I was incredibly lucky so I feel more stoked today about my first job that I did back then.
And when you’re not leading the art (yeah, I have a pretty good grasp of game dev discliplines shrug), what may we find you doing?
I love the idea of doing nothing. Laying down in the garden and staring at the sky or aimlessly walking. With 4 kids I get approximately 0 minutes of free time so it is but a dream.
Dom, I like you but… I think you’re crazy. I have 3 pets and I feel like I barely get a moment’s peace! You must be superhuman.
What, or who, inspires you to be the best “computers guy” you can be?
Great artists and solo devs. People that make art and games on their own never cease to amaze me.
I hear ya! Let’s put a pin in both of those topics for later blogs!
What strengths do you have that help with your role?
I have a high tolerance for pressure. I rarely get stressed out.
What's the best thing about working at Glowmade?
The vibe. Everyone seems generally happy and focused.
You’ve worked at some amazing studios on some exciting projects and now you’re continuing that as an Art Lead, what do you want from your career at this point?
Continued job satisfaction and a hit game will do.
Your hit game is coming, I can feel it!
In your opinion, who is the keeper of the cutest Glowmade pet?
I’ve not seen any pets yet. Someone has stick insects though so… I pick the stick insects.
I really do need you to do me artistic (geddit?!) recreation of those insects. Drawing sticks sounds like very valuable use of an lead artist’s time, I’m sure you’d agree…
There's one biscuit left in the tin and you're all eyeing it up... what is it?
Pane stelle. Italian biscuits are the best.
If you had to pick one game to play for the rest of your life (let's hope it never comes to that), what would it be? *
Minecraft
Good call! But… which mode?! Yes, you’ll need to pick that too.
What's your personal motto?
Its time to get out of bed
Now THAT’S the kind of motto I’m here for!
What's one thing most people don't know about you?
I can't stand studio Ghibli movies.
That may be the most contraversial thing I’ve read all year!
It’s just the final and most important question left to pose and we can wrap this up…
What are your top tips for someone looking to get into games?
Get gud. There's a real shortage of quality artists!
Fine advice. Could you elaborate and maybe offer some handy bullet points?
Make sure your work is professional quality. You might think it's a competitive industry but actually, there’s a real lack of professional quality artists. You need to work hard to get there and be able to judge the quality of your work. If you aren't getting any interviews, it’s probably because your work isn’t quite there yet.
Don’t fill your portfolio with just Zbrush sculpts. Have at least a few finished game assets either displayed in a game engine or presented in Marmoset Toolbag or Sketchfab. Oh.. and make sure you have an Artstation portfolio where I can see them! Artstation is the industry standard and is a great way for an artist to get noticed.
Don’t stick to just one style. Photorealism might be the dominant style but more and more games are stylized. It only takes a few pieces of art in a particular style to pique my interest and other styles won’t put me off.
Dom, that was perfect! Thanks so much for your time, I’ll let you get back to doodling those stick insects for me now…