Brainstorm School x Digital Blacksmith School | Design & Business

DIGITAL BLACKSMITH WORKSHOP x BRAINSTORM SCHOOL | Design & Business
2-Day Creative Industry Event in Xsolla Curine Academy

Feeling stuck in your creative career?

Ever wonder why your applications for concept art roles couldn’t go through?

Struggling to figure out the skill gaps in your portfolio?

Curious (or worried) about what the future holds for concept artists in today’s industry climate (Massive retrenchment, Studio shut downs, rise of AI)?

You’re not alone and that’s exactly why we’re bringing you DBW x Brainstorm School | Design and Business, a game-changing 2-day experience built to help you level up your craft and navigate the realities of the creative industry. Hosted by Digital Blacksmith School in collaboration with the legendary Brainstorm School (USA), this event is designed for students, professionals, and creative entrepreneurs who are serious about growing in the games and entertainment industry.

Why this event matters:

In a time when the creative job market is shifting rapidly and competition is fiercer than ever, having strong design skills isn’t enough. You need clarity, direction, strategies, and connections that actually move the needle; whether you’re breaking in, leveling up, or building your own thing.

This event brings together 4 world-class concept artists from Brainstorm School: James Paick, Keshan Lam, Charles Lin, and Robbie Trevino; whose work spans iconic franchises with Riot Games, Blizzard, Netflix, Activision, EA Games, Warner Brothers, and more!

Joining them are Malaysia’s own creative trailblazers: Jarold Sng, Hoi Mun, Alitt Khaliq, Kenn Yap (Chroma Moma), and Zufar; who’ve carved their paths and built influence in the global industry while thriving as artists and creative business owners.

What you’ll get:

• Actionable insights on the skillsets studios actually look for

• Portfolio Review and guidance to help you close the gap

• Talks(1hr) and workshops(2hrs) on real-world design challenges

• First-hand strategies on freelancing, branding, and building a sustainable creative business

• Opportunities to network and connect with industry veterans and like-minded peers

Whether you’re just starting out or seeking your next big move, this is your moment to get the answers, tools, and support you’ve been looking for.

1) James Paick
Blueprints for Tomorrow: Designing the Future of Entertainment (Intermediate and above)
The world of concept design is evolving faster than ever; are you ready to shape what’s next? In this 2-hour engaging talk, we’ll explore the art and strategy behind successful concept design in today’s entertainment industry. From foundational techniques to advanced workflows, you’ll gain insights into navigating your creative path, from landing your first gig to launching your studio. Join us as we break down the four pillars of success: design, process, industry trends, and career development.

2) Keshan Lam
Designing for Impact: Turning Visuals into Client Solutions (Students to Junior Artist)
This 2-hour workshop goes beyond creating beautiful environments; it’s about designing with intent and strategy. Keshan will take you through the process of building an interior concept from scratch, using references, breaking down design logic, and applying choices that serve both the art and the brief.
You’ll learn how to elevate your work by thinking like a problem solver; understanding what the client truly needs, how to bring more value to their vision, and how to stand out as a professional who delivers more than just images.

3) Jarold Sng
All the Hats I Wear: Lessons from an Art Director (All level)
Ever wonder what your future holds as you grow in your creative career?
In this fireside chat, we sit down with Jarold, a seasoned creative who wears many hats: artist, mentor, director, problem-solver, and team leader. He’ll share his journey from hands-on concept artist to leadership, revealing the real challenges, mindset shifts, and responsibilities that come with stepping into bigger roles.
We’ll also explore how the industry is evolving, what studios expect from creatives today, and how both the current and next generation of artists can stay adaptable, relevant, and impactful.

Attendees will walk away with actionable insights on navigating career growth, embracing multiple roles, and preparing themselves not just for better jobs but for greater creative leadership.

4) Kenn Yap (Chroma Moma)
I Don’t Know What to Draw: Creating Personal Work without a Big Idea (All Level)
Struggling to create personal work after a long day at your job? You’re not alone.
This talk explores how to rediscover joy in making art without the pressure of having a “big idea.” Learn how to build momentum through small, playful starts, embrace exploration over perfection, and reconnect with why you started creating in the first place.
Whether you’re burnt out, blocked, or just stuck staring at a blank canvas, this session will offer fresh perspectives and simple strategies to help you reignite the fun in your creative process.

5) Zufar
Solo Leveling Up: How AI is shaping the way Creatives learn (All Level)
In today’s fast-paced creative industry, continuous growth isn’t just an advantage; it’s a necessity.
In this talk, you’ll hear how the Zufar leveraged AI tools to build a personalised design methodology and learning framework, not only to accelerate their growth, but also to mentor and prepare the next generation of creatives.
Discover how AI can help break down complex industry standards, analyse creative trends, and structure self-guided learning in a way that’s clear, effective, and future-ready.
This session will explore how creatives can use AI not as a shortcut, but as a strategic learning partner, empowering artists to level up with purpose, direction, and adaptability.
Trust me this is a talk you don’t want to miss, this is not some bullshit AI Generated Art stuff, Zufar discovered a mindblowing method on how to utilize technology to enhance your learning or research ability.

6) Robbie Trevino
Finding Your Place as an Artist: Advice for today and tomorrow (Intermediate and above)
The world of entertainment design has seen decades of incredibly impactful stories, mediums and aesthetic trends.
In an industry where the talent pool continues to expand, how can we stand out in a meaningful way with our work? How can we find our own creative voice and handprint with memorable and effective designs while also remaining marketable?
How do we save something special for ourselves creatively and leave behind an artistic legacy we own, outside of company work? How can we effectively seek employment in today’s industry?
We’ll dive into Robbie’s creative path, experiences that helped him form a unique creative voice and personal IP in an industry full of specific trends, his foundational design philosophies for unique and memorable design, and his marketing strategies for networking, marketing and career development.

7) Charles Lin
Designing for Clarity – How to leverage art fundamentals for a clearer, more precise design outcome (Student to Junior Artist)
Between 3D Tools and Ai, it’s easy for us to forget how to leverage our core viscom skills and lose focus on what our role is as Concept Artists, especially when we’re starting out.
While the sexy gets attention, it’s our fundamentals that keep us working. In this workshop, we’ll be diving into what it means to be a Concept Artist, by looking at how to stay on target with our designs, and how to clearly communicate our design solutions to others, from modellers, to game designers, to producers, to the end consumer.
We’ll be exploring how to leverage volume, surfaces, and form language, rooted in reality, to clearly and concisely communicate our design solutions to meet the specific day-to-day needs of production. Join us as we explore how to strengthen ourselves as designers, to create a more robust approach to Concept Art, in an ever increasingly automated digital landscape.

8) Alitt Khaliq + Hoi Mun + Lee TingEn + Jarold Sng
Fireside Chat: Beautiful Portfolio, Unusable Art (All level)
Why are so many aspiring artists creating stunning portfolios that still don’t make the cut in production? In this candid fireside chat, industry veterans dive into the not-so-obvious disconnect between academic training and real-world demands in concept art, design, and world building. We’ll discuss why production-readiness is more than just visual polish, and what studios, educators, and young artists could potentially take away from this session to close the gaps.

Registration opens at 8:30 AM