Bio

DanielDociu@gmail.com
425 883 9007 h.
425 443 0179 c.
LinkedIn / Facebook / ArtStation
Daniel Dociu is an award winning sci-fi and fantasy artist in the entertainment industry. Raised in the capital of Transylvania, in Romania, Daniel studied art and architecture, earning a Masters degree for Industrial Design from the Academy of Fine Arts, in the city of Cluj. He moved to the US in 1990 after spending two years in Athens, Greece, and he has lived in the Seattle area for over 20 years. After working as a toy designer, Dociu jumped ship to interactive entertainment.
For the past ten years, he has been with ArenaNet, in a Chief Art Director role for NCsoft, overseeing visual development for all of the publisher's North American projects, with particular focus on the critically acclaimed Guild Wars franchise. Daniel is a prolific freelance artist, contributing to numerous publications, advertising, film and world wide educational and public speaking engagements.
425 883 9007 h.
425 443 0179 c.
LinkedIn / Facebook / ArtStation
Daniel Dociu is an award winning sci-fi and fantasy artist in the entertainment industry. Raised in the capital of Transylvania, in Romania, Daniel studied art and architecture, earning a Masters degree for Industrial Design from the Academy of Fine Arts, in the city of Cluj. He moved to the US in 1990 after spending two years in Athens, Greece, and he has lived in the Seattle area for over 20 years. After working as a toy designer, Dociu jumped ship to interactive entertainment.
For the past ten years, he has been with ArenaNet, in a Chief Art Director role for NCsoft, overseeing visual development for all of the publisher's North American projects, with particular focus on the critically acclaimed Guild Wars franchise. Daniel is a prolific freelance artist, contributing to numerous publications, advertising, film and world wide educational and public speaking engagements.
AwardsGame Developer Magazine Power 50 • Top Ten Influential Artists 2012 Spectrum, The Best In Contemporary Fantastic Art • Spectrum 20, Silver Medal, Concept Art • Spectrum 19, Silver Medal, Concept Art • Spectrum 17, Gold Medal, Concept Art • Spectrum 16, Gold Medal, Concept Art • Spectrum 15, Gold and Silver Medal, Concept Art • Spectrum 14, Gold Medal, Concept Art • Spectrum 13, Silver Medal, Concept Art • Spectrum 13-19, numerous pieces published Lurzer’s Archive • 200 Best Digital Artists Worldwide 2017-2018 • 200 Best Digital Artists Worldwide 2013-2014 • 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2011-2012 • 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2009-2010 Into The Pixel • 2016 gallery show selection • 2013 gallery show selection • 2012 gallery show selection • 2010 gallery show selection • 2009 gallery show selection • 2008 Judging Panel • 2007 gallery show selection • 2006 gallery show selection EXPOSÉ, Ballistic Annual • EXPOSÉ 9, Grand Master, Career Achievement Past honorees: Syd Mead, H R Giger, Ralph McQuarrie • EXPOSÉ 7, Master Award • EXPOSÉ 6, Master Award, Environment Art Excellence Award, Science Fiction Art • EXPOSÉ 5, Master Award, Transport Art Excellence Award, Creature Design Excellence Award, Science Fiction Art Excellence Award, Concept Art Excellence Award, Environment art • EXPOSÉ 4, Masater Award, Best Environment Master Award, Best Cityscape CGHUB, Master Artist Award |
Resume
2019-Present Original IP Visual Development Consultant
• Clients include: The Expanse, Dune, Disney, Microsoft, Wizards of the Coast, Tor Books, Honda, National Geographic, The Wachowskis, Sara Brightman, THQ, 2K
2017-2019 Amazon Game Studios, Director of Art
• Overseeing art-related aspects of development across all Amazon game studios
2007-2017 NCsoft West, Chief Art Director
• Overseeing several titles across all NCsoft's North American studios, primary focus on the Guild Wars franchise
2003-2017 ArenaNet, Art Director / Concept Artist
• Guild Wars 2
• Guild Wars 2 Heart of Thorns
• Guild Wars: Eye Of the North
• Guild Wars Nightfall
• Guild Wars Factions
• Guild Wars
2000-03 EA Canada, Creative Art Director / Concept Artist
• SSX 3
• Triple Play 2003
• Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
• James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
• James Bond 007: NightFire
• FIFA Soccer 2002
• SSX Tricky
1996-00 Zipper Interactive, Art Director / Concept Artist
• SOCOM: US Navy Seals
• Crimson Skies
• MechWarrior III
• MechWarrior: Pirates’ Moon
• Recoil
1994-96 Electronic Arts Seattle, Art Director / Concept Artist
• Reboot
• FIFA
1992-94 SquareSoft, Art Director / Concept Artist
• Secret of Evermore
• Shadow Madness (development completed by Big Rain / Crave)
Freelance Concept Art / ongoing
• Clients include: Microsoft, Wizards of the Coast,Tor Books, Honda, National Geographic,
The Wachowskis, Disney, Sara Brightman, FuturePoly, THQ
1990-92 Ace Novelty: Entertainment Product Designer
1989-90 Gourlis Signs (Athens, Greece), Graphic Designer
1986-89 Fine Arts Academy (Cluj, Romania), Assistant Professor
1982-86 Industrial Designer (Romania)
Masters Degree in Industrial Design
• Fine Arts Academy of Cluj, Romania, class of 1982
• Clients include: The Expanse, Dune, Disney, Microsoft, Wizards of the Coast, Tor Books, Honda, National Geographic, The Wachowskis, Sara Brightman, THQ, 2K
2017-2019 Amazon Game Studios, Director of Art
• Overseeing art-related aspects of development across all Amazon game studios
2007-2017 NCsoft West, Chief Art Director
• Overseeing several titles across all NCsoft's North American studios, primary focus on the Guild Wars franchise
2003-2017 ArenaNet, Art Director / Concept Artist
• Guild Wars 2
• Guild Wars 2 Heart of Thorns
• Guild Wars: Eye Of the North
• Guild Wars Nightfall
• Guild Wars Factions
• Guild Wars
2000-03 EA Canada, Creative Art Director / Concept Artist
• SSX 3
• Triple Play 2003
• Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2
• James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing
• James Bond 007: NightFire
• FIFA Soccer 2002
• SSX Tricky
1996-00 Zipper Interactive, Art Director / Concept Artist
• SOCOM: US Navy Seals
• Crimson Skies
• MechWarrior III
• MechWarrior: Pirates’ Moon
• Recoil
1994-96 Electronic Arts Seattle, Art Director / Concept Artist
• Reboot
• FIFA
1992-94 SquareSoft, Art Director / Concept Artist
• Secret of Evermore
• Shadow Madness (development completed by Big Rain / Crave)
Freelance Concept Art / ongoing
• Clients include: Microsoft, Wizards of the Coast,Tor Books, Honda, National Geographic,
The Wachowskis, Disney, Sara Brightman, FuturePoly, THQ
1990-92 Ace Novelty: Entertainment Product Designer
1989-90 Gourlis Signs (Athens, Greece), Graphic Designer
1986-89 Fine Arts Academy (Cluj, Romania), Assistant Professor
1982-86 Industrial Designer (Romania)
Masters Degree in Industrial Design
• Fine Arts Academy of Cluj, Romania, class of 1982
All content is copyright 2017 Daniel Dociu.
Do not reproduce without permission.
Do not reproduce without permission.