On 1 August 2026, Digital Blacksmith School successfully held its annual Concept Design Conference at Xsolla Curine Academy, bringing together hundreds of artists and creatives. The conference featured talks by experienced industry professionals, networking opportunities, portfolio reviews, signing sessions, and booths where visitors could explore artbooks, creative products, and potential collaborations.
This year’s conference placed a strong focus on branding, IP, and the realities of working in the creative industry. With speakers and exhibitors sharing their experiences, artists were given valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities they may face in their careers.
Allit Khaliq – “Future Through Adaptation: A New Playbook“
Alitt Khaliq, an advisor for Digital Blacksmith School and co-founder of Albrite Studio, brought over 20 years of experience from major studios including Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, and Unity Technologies.
He shared that despite the gaming industry’s growth, talent alone does not guarantee employment. Hiring decisions are often influenced by a company’s budget, timing, and current needs. His key advice was for aspiring creatives to stay adaptable, understand what studios are looking for, and learn how to showcase their value in an ever-changing industry.
Yintion J – “What Happens After 15 Years of Self-Taught Digital Art?”
Jiang Geping, also known as Yintion J, is a self-taught concept artist who has contributed to AAA titles such as Call of Duty, Battlefield 2042, and Destiny 2. He shared his personal journey and the challenges he faced after developing a severe eye injury from spending long hours working on digital art.
Despite the setback, he continued pursuing his passion and found ways to keep creating. His story highlighted the importance of perseverance, while reminding artists that protecting their physical health is just as important as developing their artistic skills.
Johnson Ting -“Brand Beyond The Art”
Johnson Ting is a concept artist with international work experience, who also founded his own studio, Bear Down. He shared his journey from childhood, studying at The One Academy and starting freelance work, before discussing the changes in the creative industry.
A key focus of his talk was the importance of branding, highlighting how his Neo Japan 2202 project helped him build recognition and an audience. He emphasized that a strong brand should be recurring, recognizable, and consistent.
Zeen Chin – “The Art Journey”
Zeen Chin is a self-taught artist known for his art books and collaborations on blind boxes and figurines. He shared his journey from creating simple doodles to publishing his own art books, including Re-Child, 21, and his latest, Skeen.
Despite financial struggles and difficulties in finding suitable jobs, Zeen eventually chose to pursue art independently and began selling his work. He emphasized the importance of hard work, consistency, and enjoying the creative process. His journey demonstrated that artists can build successful careers from humble beginnings and reach audiences internationally.
Wee Lim – “Building & Commercializing a Creative IP”
Wee Lim is best known for his work as an illustrator on Bichi Mao. He is also the founder of Niko Studio, where his IP journey started. He shared his experience of working with brands such as Pizza Hut, Touch N’ Go and Laneige, discussed the ups and downs of starting a business, gave tips on how to form a team, and stressed on traits participants needed to keep their creative drive going.
Overall, his session covered how artists can maximize their profit by knowing the actual value of their IP and branding.
Jan Urschel – “The Anti Brand”
Jan Urschel described himself as “The Anti Anti Brand,” taking a different approach by focusing less on branding and more on mindset and personal growth as a concept designer. His talk centered on his journey from self-awareness to self-acceptance, sharing his struggles with failure, insecurity, and the challenges of working in the creative industry.
He emphasized the importance of mastering fundamentals, communicating effectively, and being punctual. Through his personal stories, Jan showed that creative professionals also experience struggles and failures, making his talk a relatable and humbling reflection on surviving in the industry.
Overall, the event ended smoothly, with artists eagerly gathering and replenishing their motivation towards their respective art journeys. We hope to see more events like the Digital Blacksmith Workshop, where artists can form meaningful experiences and even be inspired to create together.
For more information on Digital Blacksmith School, visit their official website. You can also read our interview with founder Lum Siew Hong here.
