Warrington & Vale Royal College student impresses ACDS partner Draw & Code during his industry placement

Jacob, former Lowton High School pupil, was introduced to Ben McWilliams, Operations Manager at Draw & Code, when he visited college to deliver a guest lecture about Draw & Code and the work they do. Following this, Jacob took the initiative to email Ben asking for work experience or shadowing opportunities as he was keen to see what it takes to work in the industry. After an interview with the Draw & Code team, Jacob was invited to start a week’s placement at their Liverpool headquarters.

During his time on placement, Jacob was given a 3D environment pop-art art brief to promote a brand of his choice and so he started to create a virtual reality concept where you can try a guitar before you buy it. Jacob expressed that his time at Draw & Code was amazing, saying: “Everyone was nice and inviting, it felt like they were my friends before I even met them. I was able to attend their daily meetings which made me feel a part of the team. I’ve learnt invaluable skills such as 3D software techniques and really expanded my knowledge, which I now bring to the classroom.”

Operations Manager Ben had only great things to say about Jacob and his time on placement. He said: “Jacob was a pleasure to have in the studio. He was the first person to arrive on the Monday morning with an eager smile on his face to learn. Jacob was polite in all his conversations with our team and made the most out of the opportunity that our 3D work experience task offered. I have no doubt that Jacob can continue to develop his skillset further during his studies and beyond. Being in this environment allowed him to understand day to day how an immersive studio operates and opened his eyes to the exciting careers available across Merseyside.”

Reflecting on his time at Warrington & Vale Royal College so far, Jacob said: “I would 100% recommend this college for those looking to study games design, the tutors treat you like adults and with respect, and the classrooms in the ACDS Centre have all the equipment and software needed to practise industry-standard projects.”

Sam Kidman, Lecturer in Games & Media, said: “Jacob is a hardworking and enthusiastic individual who uses his interest in video games to push his work further in order to meet industry expectations. He is currently working on a collaborative project with another ACDS partner, 10:10 Games, gaining valuable knowledge and feedback from industry veterans to which he is very appreciative. He is a great team player and a valued member of the Level 3 Games Design & Animation group.”

Jacob has received an offer to study Games Art at The University of Bolton starting in September and is looking forward to furthering his knowledge of the games industry and developing his understanding of the creative and technical possibilities of games art. Once graduated, Jacob hopes to work in the industry and we have no doubt that his dedication to his studies, coupled with this worthwhile industry placement experience, will see him be successful in this venture. Good luck Jacob!

To learn more about Draw & Code, check out their website by clicking here.