Art and Design Alumnus George Perez Dreams Big, Lands Dream Job

 Department of Art and Design alumnus George Perez ’14 will be embarking on his dream career as an Interactive Designer at Bandai Namco Entertainment, located in California’s Silicon Valley.

Perez, who graduated from the College of the Arts with a double major in Fine Arts and Visual Communication Design, set his sights on a career in design early in life. “Working in the game industry was a dream of mine, ever since I was a kid,” shared Perez, who is eager to begin his new position this September.

So what exactly does an Interactive Designer do? Perez explained his work as primarily to create game interfaces for mobile devices and for desktop users. A web design class he took at Montclair State helped him learn HTML code, which is integral to his design work.

The path to Perez’s dream job was part hard work, talent, and career development, which started at Montclair State. Internships are required within the Visual Communications course work, and Perez’s first internship at a record label gave him his start at professional design and animation. It then led to another internship at a mobile game company in New York City that inspired him to work on new concepts while honing his illustration skills.

Working with professors in the Visual Communications program also helped Perez grow as an artist and professional. “Being in the classroom helped me with what I’m now doing; it built up my confidence to present work and interact with my classmates. It’s very close, as though you’re already at work collaborating.”

Perez shared that one of his mentors, Professor John Luttropp, jumpstarted his ambition to succeed in the program. “The first time we spoke, he presented the course of study as rigorous and challenging, saying that it didn’t just take graphic design technique, but also creativity and intelligence. It made me even more determined to do well.” 

Another of Perez’s mentors, Professor and Program Coordinator Anthony Inciong, was also a significant influence. “You can tell how hard he works and as a student he makes you want to work harder. ”

Perez’s advice to a Visual Communication Design students embarking on a career is simple and insightful. “Keep being yourself, keep practicing and shoot high. It’s all about being true to yourself.” 

Check out George Perez’ impressive portfolio here.