News

Where: TMCB 1170

When: February 27th, 2025

Speaker: Nathan Trewartha

Building Vast Worlds: Crafting Environmental Art in Lego Fortnite

At the intersection of creativity and gameplay, the art of environmental design plays a pivotal role in shaping immersive game experiences. This talk delves into the intricate process of crafting vast, dynamic worlds through the procedurally generated system that Lego Fortnite employs. Participants will explore the foundational principles of environmental art, from concept development to final execution, including the unique challenges and opportunities presented by this hybrid universe.

Attendees will gain insights into the artistic techniques used to create rich, engaging landscapes that reflect both the whimsical nature of Lego and the vibrant aesthetics of Fortnite. Key topics will include designing interactive spaces, utilizing color theory to evoke emotion, and balancing functionality with visual storytelling within a modular framework. The discussion will also touch on the collaborative efforts between artists, designers, and world builders and how these interactions influence the final player experience.

Join us for an inspiring session that not only showcases the beauty of environmental game art but also empowers creators to think beyond traditional boundaries, showcasing how creativity and problem solving can transform games into intriguing worlds. Whether you're an artist, a gamer, or a fan of both worlds, this talk promises to ignite your imagination and elevate your understanding of the complexities and challenges that go into creating art for games and how to solve some of those challenges.

Nathan Trewartha is an Art Lead at Epic Games, currently working on Lego Fortnite. With a lifelong passion for illustration, he spent his elementary and high school years drawing and painting—sometimes to the dismay of his teachers.

He pursued his artistic talents at Brigham Young University, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in illustration, followed by a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Utah State University. His career in game development began at Glyphics, a Utah-based studio, where he created characters and contributed to a Green Army man game, gaining experience in texture mapping, animation, and lighting.

Trewartha later co-founded Chair Entertainment with a group of BYU friends, a venture that led to the studio’s acquisition by Epic Games during the production of Shadow Complex. Since joining Epic, he has worked on Shadow Complex, the Infinity Blade trilogy, and now leads artistic efforts on Lego Fortnite.