We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Habib Bakas ("HB").
It’s while playing Final Fantasy VII that Habib became aware of his passion for making video games. When he were 15, with his friends, he created “Ryu Team“, a non lucrative Association to develop a role playing game called " Sword of Destiny ". Working with talented partners was essential in strenthening his interest in making video games. Ever since that time, he has been fascinated by Character Design, Art direction and Game Design. In 2008, while attending Gamagora, Lyon University, he got acquainted with professional software such as Zbrush, 3DS max and Maya. Through the usage of these programs, he has been able to bring more life and realism to his characters. In 2009, he worked almost 2 years at Eden Games (Atari's studio) as a 3D Character Artist and UI Artist. He worked on " Test Drive Unlimited 2 ". His professional training began in 2008 at Gamagora, a school specialising in video game production. He pursued this field and a decade later, in june 2018, he is graduated from University Paul Valéry (Montpellier 3) with a Degree in Game and Level Design. Today, he is looking for a job into Level Design. His reference book is called " An Architectural Approach to Level Design ” by Christopher W. TOTTEN. It is a gold mine for him. He is also creating his own game "A Light In The Dark".
Habib Bakas Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Habib Bakas.
Designer Interview of Habib Bakas:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
HB : My journey in art and design began when I was 15. With a friend, who's like a brother to me, we were planning to create a role-playing game (RPG). We drew together, until he decided to concentrate on the music and I on creating the environments and characters. A friend of mine at the time, whom I considered a mentor, helped me to perfect my portrait and character design skills. This project to create this game has always animated me, even today, and pushed me to continue creating drawings, or virtual sculptures, in 3D.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
HB : I don't have a company. I'm an independent creator, and I'm focused on creating interactive 3D work.
DI: What is "design" for you?
HB : For me, design is the artistic expression of one's thoughts, how we see the surrounding things, and how we can rethink them or adapt them to what we think. Design is linked to art. Being able to express visually what you feel, what you think and what you want to show to others. Sharing it freely, and making it accessible to all at no cost. Design is about reshaping something that already exists, according to your own ideas.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
HB : It's the creation of characters, their faces, their outfits according to the world in which they are located. And creating the worlds in which the characters find themselves, fantasy worlds, especially science fiction.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
HB : It's a character called "Ornica" from the project I'm working on. I'm looking for clothes and accessories that will be useful in the world this character evolves in. I'm really interested in thinking about the usefulness of the accessories and clothes this character wears.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
HB : The first thing I created as a professional, when I was working at Eden Games, a company that at the time was part of Atari, was character clothing and accessories for the game "Test Drive Unlimited 2". I had to sculpt them in 3D (with Zbrush), paint them virtually (for the textures) and integrate them into the game engine.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
HB : My favorite material is my graphics tablet, drawing on photoshop, sculpting virtually in 2brush, painting them with Substance Painter, and finally integrating them into a video game engine which is Unreal Engine I've always preferred to draw or create on the computer. Virtual art is exciting!
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
HB : At the end of the day and especially in the evening! haha! It's the only time when my mind is at rest, when everyone else is asleep!
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
HB : The most important aspect for me is the history of this design, what is the history of this object, has it been used before? For me, design is all thinking about the history of what we create. And the environment in which it fits.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
HB : A great joy, especially when I know which direction to take. Sometimes a little sad when I don't succeed!
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
HB : Proud! not because I did it, but because I went as far as I thought I could, overcoming all the technical difficulties, but also the time constraints and doubts about what I was doing. To see something through to the end is to tell yourself that you can do it!
DI: What makes a design successful?
HB : I honestly don't know. I'd probably say, once you've decided that the design is finished, that there's nothing left to correct or do. Or maybe we've done all we can, and we're showing it as it is.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
HB : Sorry, but I can't judge whether a design is good or not. For me, judging a design shouldn't take place. Rather, it should be whether the design touches me personally or whether I'm not sensitive to what I see.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
HB : A designer must ensure that his or her design respects the environment, does not contribute to the deterioration of nature and the ethics of the design components (that it is not morally reprehensible).
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
HB : In my opinion, the future of design is virtual. Augmented reality (not virtual reality). Being able to see designs anywhere in the real world. That several people can share the same design, no matter where they are on Earth. The future of design isn't A.I! Because everyone's afraid of AI, that it'll replace designers, but AI doesn't think, it copies what already exists. Designers will always have their role, and even using AI as a creative support, why not.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
HB : I haven't tried to do any exhibitions, as all my time is devoted to the realization of my life's work (a project I'm working on alone and which is taking several years).
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
HB : My inspiration comes from what I feel on a daily basis, it can be about things I see that affect me (discrimination, violence, things that provoke emotions). I create a story and an alternative world, and all the things in that world I try to realize them in 3D. For me, music plays a fundamental role in the creative and visual process. Music allows you to concentrate fully on what you're inventing, isolating yourself from all distractions (social networks, outside noises, people calling on the phone). I try to detach myself from that, and that's why evenings are the best time to create! Less distraction, more freedom!
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
HB : I don't know if I have a predefined style. I hadn't really thought about it. In fact, I attach a lot of importance to realism, but alternative realism, like science fiction or cyberpunk.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
HB : I live in France. I am French and I was born in France. My mother is French and my father Moroccan. I am of mixed race, french blood and moroccan blood. But my culture is French, Catholic. In my life, despite having French blood, I've been the victim of discrimination, especially today, in these troubled times! This has a profound impact on how I feel and on what I create! I've stopped using social networks (except those with a professional or artistic purpose). My current creative project is in line with this, and aims to highlight all the beautiful French values that seem universal to me, that of equality, freedom and fraternity with all the people on this Earth! I love my country more than anything, for all its values, but I also love other countries! For example, my favorite countries are Italy and England, Japon! I feel my culture in the things I create, but I think that art is universal, all human beings feel emotions.
DI: How do you work with companies?
HB : I work for myself and what I want to present to others for free.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
HB : I've always wondered. I failed for several years to work again, for a design company, even after working at Eden Games! No company was ever interested in me! And yet I have several university degrees in Design! I gave up, and now I'm working as an indie solo game developer on my own project! I don't care about working for a company! the most important thing is to create, designing something, and do what you think!
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
HB : I think it's very banal. I think about the stories behind what I'm creating (characters, objects, scenery), and I start by researching what already exists. Study their concepts, analyze what I can bring to these objects that already exist. If I'm designing something that doesn't exist, I try to get as close as possible to something that does exist, and I tweak its design to fit my own. Then I push the concept further and try to make the thing credible, if it's going to exist in this world, how does it work? Then I create the thing in 3D.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
HB : My favorite design item at home is my bed! I'm kidding! It's a lamp and a shelf (piece of furniture) that's quite artistic (original design). I don't have 5 design items at home. Because I prefer to give beautiful things to others. I don't like to keep beautiful things for myself, I don't need them, and I don't feel the need. For me, design is virtual!
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
HB : Coffee, coffee and more coffee! Fortunately, I don't smoke! haha. I start by doing my housework for the day, thinking about what I need to do and how to deal with the creative, technical difficulties I face. I do, re-do and re-do again until I think that's what I want. I listen to a lot of video game music, film music and a lot of rock'n'roll! It helps me focus on what I need to create! Then at the end of the day I walk around in town for an hour or 2 and see people having fun, walking around, doing sports. It helps me appreciate life. I'm always looking at what I'm doing, even when I'm cleaning, so I can see where I need to work on my design. Like the title of a song by one of my favorites bands, Nine Inch Nails, “Every day is exactly the same”.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
HB : With pleasure! Even if others professionals, tell you that what you're doing sucks, isn't beautiful, or isn't right, you've got to keep going! Appreciation is subjective, and the most important thing is to keep creating until you like it for yourself! You may find that what you're doing isn't great at all, but that doesn't mean you can't make another design in the meantime, and come back to the design you've made that you don't like, and rework on it. There's nothing better than taking your time, getting things done and being patient!
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
HB : The positive things about being a designer are the creative freedom and the intellectual ability to conceive things. As for the more negative points, they are the time it takes to create things (time consuming), and the way other people look at our profession, especially in France, where some people really wonder if it's a profession, and to look for a real job when you're not employed by a company!
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
HB : Always listen to yourself and do what you feel, never listen to others, because they don't know any more than you do! Having their opinions is important, but don't do things the way they see things, otherwise they'll just have to do it themselves, or even better, ask the AI to do it!
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
HB : Be curious about everything and anything! Open-mindedness is the best way to think of things you'd never have thought of yourself! Open-mindedness, and sharing knowledge with others in professional networks such as LinkedIn or Discord. There's nothing better in the life of a designer than free and open sharing!
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
HB : I use my pen tablet and Photoshop to draw and conceptualize first ideas very quickly. I use "RefPure" which is a mini program that allows you to bring to the foreground lots of images you've collected. I use Zbrush for virtual sculpture, maya (3D), substance painter and Mari to paint objects and characters in 3D, and Unreal Engine 5 to integrate them into a video game engine and design the world I'm thinking of. For books, I use PDF versions, and I have a number of them, particularly on virtual character sculpting (“Anatomy for Scultors” for example). My sources of inspiration tend to come from films and TV series!
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
HB : It's really very hard morally indeed! Just for one of my characters, it takes me over a year to create it! Designing it, sculpting it, painting it, rigging it, integrating it into Unreal Engine! And then, I have to make others characters, create environment props, buildings, and do a bit of programming. It's hard but exciting! You just have to get on with it. There's nothing like being patient and getting on with it!
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
HB : A lot of time!
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
HB : Is this your real job?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
HB : I'd say my job at Eden Games.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
HB : I no longer work for others. I work for myself, on my own project. There's nothing better!
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
HB : Science fiction, cyberpunk! I love this universe because it allows you to create an alternative reality that's also believable. Inventing objects, environments, outfits, and characters: it's all so exciting!
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
HB : To create my interactive story project! This project will take me a few years, probably another 3! And then present it to Epic Games (Unreal Engine 5, at “CNC : French word meaning “center national du cinéma et de l'image animée” for in english "National center for cinema and animated images").
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
HB : I develop my design myself, alone.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
HB : For the moment, I'd rather not say, but in the near future, I'll be delighted to present it to you at an upcoming “A' Design Award competition”.
DI: How can people contact you?
HB : People can contact me here : 1. LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/habibbakas 2. Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nini_noisette
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
HB : The question is, what does the “A' Design Award competition” mean for me? I'd say it's one of the finest rewards designers can receive! Recognition from professionals and academics all over the world is the best reward you can get! Even before having a job! Thank you!