Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you :
I’m Nacho Yagüe. I’m a Spaniard concept artist and working in the videogame industry for over 12 years. I’ve worked on game series such as Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell and Assassin’s Creed.
Your current job :
I’m a Concept Artist at Ubisoft Toronto. Right now I’m working on an unannounced project.
In which city are you located?
Toronto, Canada. Since 2012.
A word to define what kind of worker you are :
Determined.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Photoshop and my Wacom tablet are essential to my daily routine, but Sketchup, pen and paper are no less important.
What does your office space look like?
The studio is pretty amazing. Ubisoft Toronto is located in an old “General Electric” brick and beam warehouse. It’s a massive open space with natural light, wood beams and beautiful red brick walls. We have our own gym and a cafeteria with foosball and arcade machines. We also have ‘The Fortress of Solitude’- a room designed to chill and relax where you can’t be disrupted by your devices.
What kind of music do you listen to when you are working ?
It depends on what I want to create and what my mood is. Generally I love to listen Electro pop, Alternative, Indie. … etc. For example: Apparat, Radiohead, Caribou, Alt-J, The knife, Zero 7, Phantogram… Here’s a link to my Google Play Music ”WORK” list if someone wants to check it out: play.google.com
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work ?
I try to most productive early in the morning. Right after I sit down at my desk, I start working. I try to keep other tasks, like checking emails, for later in the day.
What tips would you give to improve productivity ?
I set time slots for work. For example, I try to focus on a specific task for an hour and half, then I allow myself some time for a coffee or a break.
You’re better than your colleagues at :
Cooking!
What is the best advice anyone has given you ?
Be humble and treat others the way you’d love to be treated.. You never know when you will cross paths in the future.
What is your best tip for saving time ?
I dedicate some time for researching and looking for references, then organize the information in folders.
What is your routine start and end of the day ?
I wake up around 7:00 a.m., slack in bed for a while then bike to the studio to arrive for 9:00 a.m. or so. In the morning, I usually have a meeting with the art director and my team, then do some research If I need to. I work until 6:00 or 6:30 with some coffee breaks in between. Some days I go for a run or do yoga at noon with the studio.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
Recently I bought a Kindle and it quickly became an essential. I also always carry a box with pens and markers and a small sketchbook with me.