How one Graphic Communications Management grad forged his own path to become a creative director at Ubisoft
Graphic Communications Management (GCM) is a comprehensive interdisciplinary program preparing the next generation of leaders and creative thinkers within the printing and packaging industry. But the program – similar to that of other programs offered at The Creative School – also serves as a linchpin, coupling students and their flourishing passions with sought-after, in-demand and transferable skills that have allowed many graduates the opportunity to not only excel in their field but other industries as well.
Alexander Karpazis, who graduated from GCM in 2010, is one of those graduates who implemented the valuable skills gained throughout their academic career and successfully applied them in another industry. From design and marketing to management and communications, Karpazis utilized the foundational knowledge offered at GCM and applied it to his life-long passion for video games, where he now proudly serves as creative director at the biggest video game studio in the world.
Alexander Karpazis, Creative Director at Ubisoft featured in a popular video series on WIRED. Image courtesy of WIRED.
The gamers blueprint: forging your own path
With an aptitude for the creative arts and a city brimming with opportunities, Karpazis sought to develop his self-taught skills in Photoshop and enrolled in a program on the precipice of emerging digital technologies, graphic communications management.
"I was interested in Photoshop in high school, so I taught myself the basics and found myself enjoying it quite a bit,” stated Karpazis. “This led me to move to the big city, where I applied to the GCM program and could apply my graphic design skills in a practical manner.”
Over the next three years, Karpazis learned a great deal of technological, creative and business expertise that detailed the technical know-how and evolution of the printing and packaging industry: never letting his passion for video games dissipate. Although his time in GCM left an indelible mark – one that Karpazis is grateful for to this day – his idea of a perfect career saw him pursue a non-traditional, unpaid internship between his third and fourth year at the only video game studio that would say yes.
“I took some time and thought about what I wanted my life to look like. Although the skills I gained in the GCM program played a foundational role in my career, I knew I wanted to pursue a career as a video game developer,” said Karpazis. “So I cold-called every video game production company in Ontario and said I’d work for free until a small studio by the name of Capybara Games let me intern for them.”
Rainbow Six Siege. Image courtesy of Ubisoft.
Unlocking the dream of a lifetime
Although the scope of Karpazis’ work at Capybara Games, which entailed designing their website and managing community forums, is dwarfed in comparison to his current role, he attributes this time as a foundational rung in his climb to the top. After just over a year of interning, he secured a position at Bedlam Games, where he was responsible for overseeing the entire UI for one of their most popular games, Dungeons and Dragons: Daggerdale. And as Karpazis continued to practice his craft for the next year, he gained confidence in the skills and lessons he had learned at Bedlam and successfully applied to the entry role of UI Artist at one of the most influential players in the gaming industry, Ubisoft.
For the last 11 years, Karpazis has dedicated his time and energy to various projects under the Ubisoft banner, warranting a high degree of success and acknowledgement from peers, colleagues and fans. Focusing on Watch Dogs 2 and eventually Far Cry 5, Karpazis worked relentlessly through the ranks of UI artist to assistant presentation art director, presentation art director, art director and eventually creative director, where he currently leads the creative direction of the massively popular video game Rainbow Six Siege.
As creative director, Karpazis plays an integral role in the overall creative direction of the game, but a large part of the role is also listening to his team's input and translating their ideas into creative and practical outputs.
“It’s important to listen to everybody in order to tie together the bigger picture,” stated Karpazis. “The success I’ve found throughout my career is in large part through understanding and collaborating with my colleagues and using their input to bring everyone’s vision together. Another big part is simply being curious.”
Karpazis’ ascent from GCM grad to creative director of the biggest video game franchise was marked by his commitment to following his passion. The skills he had gained through the GCM program on digital emerging technologies, along with the foundational skills in business and communication propelled him onto the path he is currently still on. And in Karpazis’ words, “the journey is only getting started.”
Interested in learning more about Karpazis and his decade-long journey through the video game industry? Follow him on LinkedIn and stay up to date with his latest projects at Ubisoft.
The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
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