Hello!
I’m Koki Takamatsu, a senior at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago pursuing a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in Studio with a focus on design and Illustration.
As a Japanese who’s spent half of my life in Japan and the other half in the United States, I draw inspiration from the diverse cultural experiences of both countries.
This website showcases my works from 2020 - 2025.
I am open to freelance and internship opportunities—particularly interested in environmental concept art and design for the video game industry, though I welcome projects beyond that field as well.
My Calligraphy works have also been recognized for winning the award at:
2021 Under-23 Mainichi National Calligraphy Competition and the
2022 National High School Calligraphy Championship
operated by The Mainichi Newspapers Co.
Thank you for visiting!
Background
From an early age, I cultivated discipline and focus through the practice of Karate and Kendo in Japan, continuing my training after relocating to Redmond, WA. In high school, I achieved black belts in both disciplines before choosing to dedicate my full attention to advancing my artistic and design skills.
Alongside martial arts, I studied Shodo (Japanese calligraphy) under Yoshiyasu Fujii, whose mentorship provided me with a strong foundation in visual composition. Through the study of line, form, and the balance of black and white space, I developed a deep appreciation for aesthetics that continues to inform my work as an artist.
As a Gamer
At 14, I was fortunate that my father encouraged me to build my own desktop PC rather than simply purchasing one from a store. That opportunity gave me the tools to immerse myself in gaming at a deeper level, beginning with classics from Nintendo titles on console and eventually moving into competitive PC titles. Over the years, I dedicated extensive time to games such as PUBG, Rainbow Six Siege, and most notably Apex Legends, where 5 years of continuous play sharpened my instincts for strategy, teamwork, and interactive design.
This competitive experience shaped the way I think about player engagement and game mechanics, inspiring me to explore how those elements are created behind the scenes. That curiosity led me into the technical side of development, where I gained skills in Unity, coding, VFX design, and 3D modeling. Combined with my artistic foundation, these experiences allow me to approach game development with both the perspective of a player and the vision of a designer—equipping me to contribute to immersive, high-quality experiences.