Nico Van Der Merwe
Head Of Studio
Cape Town
Summary
I'm a Studio Manager with over 9+ years of experience leading more than 30+ Projects and Teams from start to finish in the gaming industry. I'm best known for leading innovative business strategies and delivering top-notch product delivery. I have extensive experience as a Scrum Master, Project, Program, and General Management. I excel in talent acquisition, general management, and successful project execution. I lead efficient operations and build strong client relationships. I am best known for my leadership, problem-solving, time management, and organizational skills.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Studio
Wonderlabz
Cape Town
01.2020 - 12.2023
- Manage and execute various projects, ensuring completion within specified timelines and budgets.
- Serve as a Scrum Master, facilitating effective collaboration and communication among team members to drive project success.
- Develop and implement innovative business strategies to drive growth and achieve organizational goals.
- Oversee budgeting processes, controlling costs, and maximizing financial resources for optimal project outcomes.
- I identified and recruited top talent, building high-performing teams to support project delivery.
- I provided effective general management, ensuring efficient operations and smooth workflow across the studio. Nurtured and maintained strong client relationships, ensuring customer satisfaction and repeat business.
- Led program management initiatives, coordinating cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives.
- Developed and implemented design strategies to align with client goals and objectives.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and provide design solutions.
- Oversaw the creation and maintenance of design processes and standards.
Head of Design
Virtuality Live
Cape Town, South Africa
03.2018 - 01.2020
- Managed and directed the design team to ensure efficient and effective creation of real-time 3D pipelines.
- Oversaw budgeting for design projects, ensuring resources were allocated effectively and costs were controlled.
- Successfully managed and delivered multiple design projects, meeting all deadlines and quality standards.
- Led program management initiatives, coordinating cross-functional teams to achieve project objectives.
- Served as a Scrum Master, facilitating agile development processes and ensuring team productivity and collaboration.
- Managed and led a team of designers to ensure successful delivery of design projects.
- Developed and implemented design strategies to align with company goals and objectives.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and provide design solutions.
- Oversaw the creation and maintenance of design processes and standards.
- Evaluated and selected design tools and software to optimize team productivity and efficiency.
Lead Software Developer
BlaBlaBla Studios
Cape Town
10.2016 - 04.2018
- Developed mobile applications using C++, JavaScript, and C#. Utilized Pixi.js and Unity frameworks to enhance mobile app functionality.
- Led small team of software developers in executing mobile development projects.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of software components.
- Implemented version control using Git to track and manage code changes.
- Identified and resolved software bugs and performance issues. Conducted code reviews to ensure adherence to coding standards and best practices.
- Researched and implemented innovative technologies to improve the mobile app development process.
- Provided technical guidance and mentorship to junior software developers.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to gather and analyze requirements for mobile app development projects.
Technical Director
IngeniousVR
Cape Town, South Africa
01.2015 - 10.2016
- Managed a team of VR/AR designers to create innovative and immersive experiences, resulting in increased user engagement and positive customer feedback.
- Oversaw the production of creative software, ensuring high-quality outputs and meeting project deadlines.
- Utilized C# development skills to create cutting-edge applications and tools for virtual and augmented reality.
- Expertly utilized the Adobe suite to design visually stunning graphics and animations.
- Utilized Autodesk Maya to create realistic 3D models and textures for immersive experiences.
- Implemented Unity to develop interactive and engaging virtual reality environments.
Lecturer
City Varsity
Cape Town
03.2015 - 10.2016
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive Game Design curriculum for First, Second, and Third Year students.
- Utilized C# scripting and Unity 3D engine to enhance students' understanding of Game Design concepts.
- Instructed students on Technical Artist skills for Maya, including rigging, animation, and VFX.
- Created custom tools using Python to facilitate rigging, animation, and VFX processes.
- Evaluated and revised lesson plans and course content to achieve student-centered learning
Senior Software Developer / Creative Team Lead
Sense Virtual
Cape Town
03.2015 - 06.2015
- Designed and led the development of a short VR experience for Universal Health events, using Unity 3D and C#.
- Implemented innovative features on a physical rocket ship, enhancing the immersion of the VR experience.
- Served as the lead Unity 3D designer, ensuring high-quality visuals and user interactions.
- Developed and maintained C# codebase, optimizing performance and functionality.
- Collaborated with a team of technical artists to create visually stunning and engaging virtual environments.
- Contributed to the success of Sense Virtual by delivering a standout VR application for Universal Health events.
Games Manager / Senior Designer
Bored.com
Cape Town
03.2014 - 02.2015
- Managed and supervised all aspects of game design documentation.
- Provided leadership and guidance for game development projects.
- Successfully obtained licensing for multiple games. Led and coordinated game development efforts.
- Served as a game producer, ensuring smooth project execution.
Education
Master of Arts - User Experience Design
Falmouth
Cornwall, England 01.2021 - 2022.08
MBA - Business Administration - Management
Unicaf University
Zambia 01.2020 - 2022.08
Post Graduate Diploma - Creative Application Development
Falmouth
Cornwall, England 01.2019 - 2020.04
Certification - AWS Fundamentals: Going Cloud-Native
Coursera
Online 03.2019 - 2019.04
Certification - Rails With Active Record And Action Pack
Coursera
Online 02.2019 - 2019.02
Certification - Ruby Web Services And Integration With MongoDB
Coursera
Online 02.2019 - 2019.02
Certification - Ruby On Rails: Introduction
Coursera
Online 02.2019 - 2019.02
Certification - Google Cloud Platform For AWS Professionals
Coursera
Online 12.2018 - 2018.12
Certificate - Game Development With Unity 3D / C#
Autodesk Learn 3D
Johannesburg, South Africa 01.2014 - 2014.10
Certificate - 3Ds Max Modeling
Autodesk Learn 3D
Johannesburg, South Africa 01.2014 - 2014.10
High School Diploma -
Outeniqua
George, South Africa 01.2001 - 2005.11
Skills
Business administration
Accomplishments
- TEDx Talk - The Evolution of Storytelling.
- Double Epic Mega Grant Winner.
- OKR (Objective and Key Results) Champion reward at Wonderlabz for driving Innovation and Quality of Products.
- Top influencer Award at Wonderlabz for driving Company Culture.
Timeline
Master of Arts - User Experience Design
Falmouth
01.2021 - 2022.08
MBA - Business Administration - Management
Unicaf University
01.2020 - 2022.08
Head of Studio
Wonderlabz
01.2020 - 12.2023
Certification - AWS Fundamentals: Going Cloud-Native
Coursera
03.2019 - 2019.04
Certification - Rails With Active Record And Action Pack
Coursera
02.2019 - 2019.02
Certification - Ruby Web Services And Integration With MongoDB
Coursera
02.2019 - 2019.02
Certification - Ruby On Rails: Introduction
Coursera
02.2019 - 2019.02
Post Graduate Diploma - Creative Application Development
Falmouth
01.2019 - 2020.04
Certification - Google Cloud Platform For AWS Professionals
Coursera
12.2018 - 2018.12
Head of Design
Virtuality Live
03.2018 - 01.2020
Lead Software Developer
BlaBlaBla Studios
10.2016 - 04.2018
Lecturer
City Varsity
03.2015 - 10.2016
Senior Software Developer / Creative Team Lead
Sense Virtual
03.2015 - 06.2015
Technical Director
IngeniousVR
01.2015 - 10.2016
Games Manager / Senior Designer
Bored.com
03.2014 - 02.2015
Certificate - Game Development With Unity 3D / C#
Autodesk Learn 3D
01.2014 - 2014.10
Certificate - 3Ds Max Modeling
Autodesk Learn 3D
01.2014 - 2014.10
High School Diploma -
Outeniqua
01.2001 - 2005.11
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