An Interview with a 3D Artist at Flashgroup

Selina, a 3D artist specializing in environment design, shares her journey from student to intern and eventually a returning team member at Flashgroup. In this interview, she discusses her first impressions, key projects, challenges, and advice for future interns.

Introduction

“My name is Selina. I’m a 3D artist. Technically a generalist, but I mainly focus on environments. Recently, I’ve also taken on intern onboarding, so in a way I’m doing a little bit of everything,” she begins. Selina studied Game & Interaction Design at HKU, where she focused on 3D modeling. That foundation eventually led her to Flashgroup.

Getting in Touch with Flashgroup

How did you first connect with Flashgroup, and why did you choose this internship? Selina explains that before joining the company, she completed an AR project that sparked her interest in immersive technologies. “I had done a previous project for AR where I made models and environments. I wanted an internship that aligned with that, so I started looking for companies working in AR or VR.

First Impressions of the Team

Selina laughs, recalling how long ago it was. “My first impression was that it was fun. It was much smaller than it is now. There wasn’t the buddy system we use today.” Over the years, she returned multiple times for external projects, one for graduation and one for another block, so she has accumulated about a year and a half at Flashgroup outside of her original internship. “It was nice that I could just ask whatever I wanted from the people I needed help from.”

Projects That Shaped Her Development

Selina highlights one project in particular: a break-in themed escape-room-style experience. “That project had the most impact on me because I did so much. I basically made the entire thing in Unity. Previously, I had only worked on smaller parts of applications, not whole scenes.” Working on a full application came with a new level of responsibility and exposure to feedback. “In school, you have one teacher who gives feedback on one thing. Here, I got feedback from a bunch of people. Someone from marketing looks at totally different aspects than someone from art or development.” This pushed her to grow quickly.

Overcoming Challenges

Selina shares that she faced a significant personal challenge during her internship. “Something quite severe came up that I had to process. In school you can say, ‘I’m not coming,’ but here I wanted to remain professional while dealing with something hard.” Her experience taught her how to balance private struggles with professional commitments. “It really helped me develop a healthy work-life balance with a professional attitude.” Support from the team played a major role. “People here were very open. I told my management what was going on, got the space I needed, took the time, and then continued my project.”

A Moment of Realization

With a gap semester coming up, she returned for another project, then later asked if she could complete her graduation project at Flashgroup as well. “That really helped me develop management skills. After my graduation project, I already knew I wanted to work here.”

Graduation Project

Selina proudly describes her graduation project, a VR archaeology experience. “I made an archaeology game in VR where you visit an abandoned planet and, from the cultural components, form an opinion about the lost civilization.” She worked largely independently, combining sessions at school with development at Flashgroup. “I learned so much quicker. I’d work here, do my own thing, and once in a while sit down with my supervisors for feedback.”

Advice for Future Interns

“Be proactive. If there’s something you want to learn, ask. People here are very accommodating. That’s how you get the most out of your internship.”

What the 3D Intern Can Expect

Flashgroup is currently recruiting interns, and Selina explains what a 3D design intern might work on: “It depends. For environments, you’ll create an entire environment from start to finish, including research. For general 3D art, like vehicles, you’ll do a lot of research and iterations. You’ll have frequent check-ins to improve your work. And if it’s animation, that’s another whole process.” Across all areas, she emphasizes: “It’s a lot of research, a lot of iterations, a lot of learning.”

Looking Ahead

Selina hopes to expand her responsibilities. “I’d like to take on more responsibilities in the future, especially in intern management. And of course, keep making more scenes and refining things.”