Erick Pangilinan

Co-head of Art @Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA, US

The Co-Head of Art oversees the development and implementation of the artistic strategy in alignment with the company\'s goals. My primary responsibility is to manage and mentor directors and leads, fostering a collaborative environment while guiding their career development and ensuring they have access to necessary resources and technology.I collaborate closely with my co-head, splitting our management responsibilities across departments. I focus on Environment Art, Lighting, Concept Art, and 3D Character, while my co-head manages Animation, Character Tech Art, Dynamics, Special FX, and Audio. Together, we provide unified support, ensuring our teams have a consistent voice and direction.Another key responsibility is creating global external development and co-development strategies to manage costs and gain the flexibility to scale resources. This involves maintaining strategic relationships with external partners and centralizing resources to meet Naughty Dog\'s interests. Staying informed about industry trends and innovations is essential, as we research and implement new technologies like AI and machine learning tools. Last year, I developed a Continuous Feedback process to improve transparency and communication between management and staff, fostering accountability.I am currently spearheading the adoption of a Digital Asset Management system to organize and facilitate asset retrieval from our extensive library, streamlining approvals and enhancing team alignment.These responsibilities require the Co-Head to manage project budgets and create sustainable business strategies, including resource projections and expense justification, while collaborating with the financial director to validate invoices and track performance.Finally, the Co-Head of Art plays a vital role in quality control, reviewing artwork and designs to ensure coherence with the established vision and uphold high-quality standards.

California State University, Northridge

BA, Graphic design/Computer Science