3Dsolve Hires Veteran Animator As Art Director

Simulation learning company 3Dsolve has announced that the company has hired former Westwood Studios (Blade Runner) animator and 7 Studios (Defender, The Sopranos) co-founder Damon Conn as the company's new art director. 3Dsolve, which creates collaborative simulation learning solutions for government, military, and corporate applications, says Conn will offer a clear artistic vision through conceptualization and cross-functional communication, as well as institute new creative techniques, manage 3Dsolve's production pipeline, and fulfill staffing needs. Conn has worked in the video game industry for eight years, beginning his career in 1996 at Westwood Studios where he worked as a character animator and cinematics artist on Blade Runner for the PC. In 1999, Conn co-founded 7 Studios, where he raised a team of over 40 artists within eight years. During this period he served as art director for numerous game projects, including Legion: The Legend of Excalibur, Defender, Fantastic Four, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow, and The Sopranos: The Road to Respect. While working on these titles, Conn also was charged with creating in-game likenesses for several celebrities, including Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Chris Evans, all from Fantastic Four, as well as James Gandolfini, Tony Sirico, and Steve Van Zandt. Conn’s model of James Gandolfini won honors for 7 Studios at the Spike TV Video Game Awards in 2006. “Damon is a veteran in his field and his extensive background and experience make him an asset to our team and to our customers,” said Richard Boyd, chief executive officer of 3Dsolve. “This industry requires that the most creative and innovative minds be at the forefront of design, and Damon’s artistic leadership and quality of work will enhance our team’s capabilities.”