We were lucky to catch up with Yangtian Li recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Yangtian, thanks for joining us today. Any advice for creating a more inclusive workplace?
I work in the gaming space, and I wish for a more inclusive workplace. There are a lot of feminine players and they need developers that have the same interests and mindset that can make games that’s more catered to them. When making costumes for example, I think it’s important for people who understand the current fashion trends and understand what the feminine audiences are looking for to make the content for them.
Yangtian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I grew up loving anime, manga, and video games, and I’ve always loved drawing. So naturally, working in the video game industry became my ambition. I think it’s a beautiful way to tell a story and create an interactive experience that no other medium can quite achieve to the same extent.
Over the years, I’ve had some really amazing opportunities to contribute to projects such as Magic: The Gathering, Call of Duty Black Ops 3 and Black Ops 4, as well as being a lead concept artist on Palia. I love creating compelling character, costume, and skin designs for those video games! As a female designer who grew up in China, traveled and lived around the globe, and now settled in the States, I believe I have a great understanding of different cultures and history, which I tend to include a lot of in my designs. Being able to experience different environments allows me to see things from different perspectives and has made me versatile; I can easily adapt to different aesthetics.
One subject I’ve always loved focusing on is strong female characters. I want to find ways to depict powerful women from different cultures – and one of my projects, “Iron Ladies,” was born from that. It started when I was in the Army museum in Paris and while appreciating how beautifully crafted the armors are, they were all made for men. create a series of female heroes wearing armor from different cultures. It’s all about showcasing the strength and diversity of women in gaming.
Any advice for managing a team?
As a lead concept artist in a game company for several years, I oversee three internal artists and coordinate with up to ten outsourcing artists. To maintain engagement, I prioritize assigning tasks aligned with each artist’s interests. I also ensure a balanced workload by alternating between comfortable and slightly challenging tasks. Before embarking on new assignments, I engage in discussions with the artists to gauge their preferences, whether they’re seeking a challenge or prefer staying within their comfort zone.
Recognizing and acknowledging individual strengths is essential. I regularly highlight areas where artists excel and emphasize their progress. This positive reinforcement serves as a significant motivator for the team.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As a video game concept artist, I love it when players get excited about the outfits we designed for them. Seeing the players taking screenshots and posting about their outfits on social media is always super fun and rewarding for me, especially since I also play the game, I feel like I delivered something to share with like-minded people, and getting recognized by them makes me very happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: Yangtianli.com
- Instagram: @Yangtian_li
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/yangtianli.art
- Twitter: @Yangtianli
- Other: Thread https://www.threads.net/@yangtian_li