Building Worlds and Breaking Barriers: Noelle Wong’s Path from Gnomon to Lightspeed LA

For Noelle Wong, the journey into games wasn’t a straight path, but it was always fueled by a love of imaginative worlds and creative storytelling. From drawing inspiration as a child from Studio Ghibli films and Godzilla monsters, to exploring character design and digital art during college, Noelle ultimately found her passion for environment art at Gnomon. Now working at Lightspeed LA on Last Sentinel, Noelle shares her story of career pivots, artistic growth, and the lessons she’s carried with her from her time at Gnomon.

Where did you grow up and what were some of your early inspirations?

I grew up in Pasadena, California. I've always loved creating art whether it was drawing, painting, crafting (sewing, playing with clay, etc). As a child, Studio Ghibli and original Godzilla movies were huge inspirations for me. Specifically, I loved the strong female protagonists and beautiful, fantastical worlds. I loved the crazy, imaginative monsters and destruction from Godzilla movies. I even played with toy Godzilla figurines while growing up. I also used to love watching my brother play horror games like Dead Space, Bioshock, Fear. Those games unlocked my love of horror and an appreciation of the darker side of art.

You originally studied computer science. How did you pivot from that into 3D Art?

During my final semester of undergrad, I took a character design elective where I utilized ZBrush for the first time and fell in love with the program. However, before I finished school, the pandemic hit. While the world was in turmoil, I did some soul searching and found that I loved digital art so much that I wanted to pursue it as a career rather than studying computer science.

After researching different digital art post graduate programs and reaching out to some contacts in the industry, I chose to apply to Gnomon's certificate program. I was impressed by the student artwork as well as the industry professionals who work as instructors. Consequently, I spent the first year of the pandemic watching art tutorials to create a range of original 3d characters, creatures, and an environment for a portfolio.

Why did you choose environment art as your main focus?

When I first enrolled in Gnomon, my goal was to be a character artist; however, after taking the Environment for Games course with Jon Arellano, I found I really enjoyed the variety of work that environment art encompasses: modeling, sculpting, texturing, set dressing, etc. With environment art, you can tell a story with props, textures, and lighting. When I first begin working on a project, I make sure to identify the main story that I am trying to communicate. It informs how I'll texture and model the environment.

For instance, when creating an abandoned shed, you don't want any of the tools in the shed, or the shed itself to be clean and new. They should show age, wear, and rust. Consider what happened to them and why do they look the way they do. It's important to ask yourself these questions to push the visual storytelling of your piece further.

When using concept art (for personal projects, not commercial work), it's important to remember that you're the artist. You are not bound to the concept art. If you find a way to model, texture, and set dress the piece in a way that's more visually compelling or helps communicate your story, then you should do it!

What are the biggest lessons you've learned during your time at Gnomon?

At Gnomon, I had to juggle many different classes, all with different projects and deadlines. It was a great experience! I met many new friends and honed my artistic skills and learned from some of the industry's best. I also learned the invaluable skill of patience when driving in LA traffic on my way to Gnomon.

During my time in the certificate program, I learned how important it is to recognize when you need to step back and recharge. Instead of trying to push through when things feel overwhelming, I found that giving myself time to rest—both mentally and physically—helped me come back more energized and ultimately led to better work. Taking care of yourself is part of doing your best work, and I’ve found that breaks can actually spark new ideas and fresh perspectives.

There were many places at the previous campus where you could take a break. My favorite was the rooftop garden. I would often eat meals with my friends there. It was a great place to take a break, relax with your friends, and take in the urban nature (dodging flying pigeons and enjoying the occasional hummingbird). I know the new campus in North Hollywood has even more spaces where you can break away from the screen. Taking advantage of those spots is necessary!

A final lesson I learned is if you're having an issue with something, you should reach out because someone else is probably struggling with that same issue. You're surrounded by supportive friends, classmates, and teachers. Be there for each other! That's how you not only build a network, but also lasting friendships.

Your Best of Term-winning Sci-fi Games Environment piece is amazing! Can you talk about what inspired that project and your creative process? What is your favorite aspect of this piece? What was the most challenging component?

My sci-fi piece is based on Alena Kuzminykh's “The last tree.” When I found this concept, I was drawn to the compelling story. I gathered lots of reference and inspirational material from movies and video games like Dead Space, Star Trek, and more. I went to peers and teachers for guidance and suggestions as well.

One of my favorite parts of this piece was setting up the lighting. I wanted to create a more dramatic and dynamic look. Reaching a good balance of lighting took many iterations of adjusting blinking lights and adjusting saturation. But the final set up created the sense of tragedy I was looking for.

One of the most challenging components of this project was simply getting out of my comfort zone. I chose a sci-fi piece to work from because at this point in my artistic journey, I had mostly done organic pieces, and this was my first sci-fi environment. While I did struggle a lot during the making of this piece, it's one that I am the proudest of!

Was it difficult starting in 3D? How do you deal with self-doubt?

Learning new technology is always intimidating, but I had faith that if I practiced and wasn't afraid of making mistakes or asking questions, I would pick it up eventually. This proved to be true. While there is an initial learning curve, picking up new programs gets easier over time. I gained confidence from that.

I have always had imposter syndrome, and I still deal with it every day. However, if you talk to the people around you, you'll discover that many of them also share those same fears. There's something comforting about that fact: you're not the only one who experiences this. But to combat imposter syndrome, it helps to look at your accomplishments and realize you do deserve to be where you are.

What are some of your favorite spots around Los Angeles? How do you take advantage of the city, and do you use it for creative inspiration?

I enjoyed visiting the popular food joints around the previous campus like the Chiquis Taco Truck or Jesse Boy, both a couple blocks from campus and frequented by many Gnomon students. In Larchmont Village, Levain Bakery sells baked goods and tasty cookies! In terms of the bustling art scene, I am conveniently located near the Pasadena Convention Center, which hosts popular conventions like Monsterpalooza and Lightbox, where artists go to show off their work. There are also many museums in Los Angeles that are close to campus such as the Academy Museum, LACMA, Petersen Automotive Museum, Griffith Observatory; all of which are very useful for reference material too!

What activities do you enjoy doing outside of 3D art?

Whether it's after a long day of working or during a moment of frustration with my work, I need a break from the computer screen. I like to go outside, rest my eyes, and find inspiration in the natural world. When I'm going on walks with my dogs, I like to bird watch. Bird watching is pretty much like real life Pokémon hunting for me. When I go outside, I can find inspiration and great references for my work, like cool bark patterns on trees or even how the light streams through tree leaves. Taking a break from my work helps re-center me, so I'm ready to get back into my work with a fresh perspective.

Crochet is my new mania right now. It's a fun tactile hobby where I get to make fun little creatures with a hook and yarn. It's something totally different from environment art!

How did you find work after graduation?

When I first graduated, I reached out to industry connections, teachers, peers, and kept an eye out for any positions that were relevant to me or my classmates. I found that it is important to have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile, with links to your demo reel and portfolio, so that recruiters can quickly look at your information. Another great resource was Gnomon placement and their networking events.

Through a combination of great timing and networking, I came in contact with a recruiter at Lightspeed LA, who connected with me over Linkedin. What really helped move my interview process along was meeting with some members of Lightspeed's environment team at Gnomon's Employer Preview Day last year. During that event, I was able to talk through my artwork and learn about Lightspeed LA and Last Sentinel. Little did I know that those interviewers would be my future desk neighbors at work! I actually returned to Gnomon as an employer for Employer Preview Day, where I was now looking at student artwork. It was a surreal and humbling experience being on the other side.

Tell us a little bit about what your experience has been like so far at Lightspeed LA.

I am currently working on Last Sentinel, an open world narrative game that takes place in futuristic Tokyo. As an Associate Environment Artist, I help to create various environments and props that our main character, Hiromi Shoda, interacts with. I use a variety of programs like Unreal Engine, Maya, ZBrush, etc, many of which I learned to use during my time at Gnomon. Gnomon really prepared me with the knowledge I needed to be successful and confident in my position.

Working at Lightspeed has been a wonderful experience so far. When I started eight months ago, I found starting my first industry job very intimidating, but my co-workers created such a friendly environment that I felt welcomed instantly. Additionally, I feel so fortunate to be at a studio with so many talented industry veterans. It's hard to believe that I am working alongside people who've created such amazing games like The Last of Us or God of War. Not only do they share their wisdom and experience from working in the industry, but they also share their techniques and processes that they've been using throughout their career. I get to reciprocate by sharing some of my own techniques or tricks that I have picked up from Gnomon. Now we have the opportunity to bring to life a new, exciting IP and tell a story with our art.

Noelle Wong’s journey reminds us that the path to a creative career doesn’t have to follow a straight line. From computer science to environment art, every pivot shaped her unique perspective as an artist. At Gnomon, Noelle found not only the technical skills to break into the industry, but also a supportive community that encouraged experimentation, self-care, and creative risk-taking. We’re proud to have been part of her path and excited to see how she continues to grow as an artist and contributes to the incredible worlds she helps bring to life at Lightspeed LA.

About Gnomon

For over 25 years, Gnomon has educated many of the world’s best digital artists on its state-of-the-art campus in Los Angeles, California. Recognized as one of the top U.S. colleges in Forbes' 2023 rankings and called “the MIT of visual effects” by Fast Company magazine, Gnomon offers a variety of educational options to help students reach their goals in the entertainment industry, with certificate and degree programs, and over 100 individual courses. Our comprehensive programs, experienced faculty, and state-of-the-art facilities ensure that every student can achieve their full potential, just like Noelle. Gnomon's strong industry partnerships give students real-world experience and a competitive edge in the job market.