Today we’d like to introduce you to Guillaume Deschamps-michel
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Guillaume, I’m 34 years old French Senior Lighting Artist in the video game industry. My passion for video games and 3D began pretty early. I got my first Playstation at 12 and started playing games like Final Fantasy, Spyro, Rayman and Crash Bandicoot. My parents were really open about video games and even became gamers themselves, I remember my dad introducing me to more mature games as well later like Dino Crisis or Perfect Dark. I’m lucky to have had parents who encouraged me to pursue my passions, they always told me to find a job I’d enjoy because they didn’t have that choice when they were younger, and they wanted me to have that opportunity.
After working at a few studios in France and trying Freelance for 2 years, I joined Ubisoft in Barcelona, where I contributed to games like Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This was a big step for me, as it allowed me to test my readiness to work abroad. I loved the experience, which not only helped me improve my English and Spanish but also taught me about navigating visa processes in other countries. On the artistic side, working at Ubisoft was a blast. I met so many incredible artists and passionate people over there, it was a great way to learn a lot every day with the best team out there!
At the end of AC Valhalla’s production, I had the chance to move to California to work at one of my dream studios: Ready at Dawn. I remember that when I was 16 I was playing their games on PSP and I was telling myself that one day I will work there. It became even more an objective for me when they released The Order 1886 on PS4, this game blew my mind.
As you may know, getting a U.S. visa as a foreigner can be tricky, so we decided to apply for an O-1 Visa. In 2020, my wife and I were thrilled when we got approved and were all set for the big move. However, 2020 turned out to be an unpredictable year due to COVID-19. Just one week before our movers were scheduled and two weeks before our flight, the U.S. borders closed, and relocating became impossible. Ubisoft was kind enough to extend my contract during this uncertain time, as we were all learning how to work amid the pandemic.
Since Ready at Dawn was a U.S.-based studio, initially, I couldn’t work remotely from Spain. But shortly after the border shutdown, we got some good news: Meta had acquired Ready at Dawn, and with Meta’s presence in Europe, remote work became an option. So, I worked from Spain for Ready at Dawn for a year and a half until we were finally able to move to Southern California in 2021.
During my time at Ready at Dawn, I had the privilege of working on Lone Echo 2, an award-winning and critically acclaimed VR game as well as Batman Arkham Shadow very recently in partnership with Camouflaj Studio.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey has been somewhat smooth, but with a few bumps along the way. My artistic journey has been quite a ride. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure what path I wanted to follow, and I had to face the hard truth that building skills—especially in art, 3D, or drawing—takes time, dedication, observation, passion and knowledge. After finishing school, I landed my first internship as an environment artist. When I decided to shift my focus to becoming a lighting artist, I spent countless hours learning on my own. I dove into online forums, practiced tirelessly, went through a lot of fails, and learned from them until I began to see improvement. Even today, I have to stay up-to-date with technological advancements and shifts in game development to keep up. And like many artists, I also experience impostor syndrome now and then. There’s no perfect solution for handling it; over time, I’ve learned to manage it by trusting in my skills.
Another road was securing a U.S. work visa, especially an O Visa, is quite a lengthy process. You need to submit extensive documentation and letters of support. I applied for my visa at the end of 2019, going into early 2020. By the time my wife and I received our approval, COVID was becoming a significant issue. Just about two weeks before our scheduled move, we learned that the U.S. was closing its borders to protect against the spread of the virus.
This put us in a tricky situation, as we were supposed to relocate and I had a job to start. In the end, we stayed in Spain, where we were living at the time. A few months later, in June 2020, my company, Ready at Dawn, was acquired by Meta, which allowed me to begin working remotely from Spain, since Meta has offices both in the U.S. and Europe.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Senior Lighting Artist, primarily working in the video game industry. I’ve collaborated with several studios in Europe, including Ubisoft, before relocating to California. My role as a Lighting Artist is essentially to ensure that the visual style of the game aligns with the artistic director’s vision. You can think of a lighting artist as similar to a director of photography in the film industry, but for games.
There are many factors we need to consider while working on a game. The primary one, of course, is maintaining high visual quality throughout, but we also work closely with various departments—like design, concept art, and 3D artists—to deliver the best possible visuals and player experience. For instance, collaborating with level designers helps us establish a clear path for the player, ensuring that the lighting subtly guides the player without being too obvious. We also work closely with programmers to develop new features and stay up to date with the latest rendering techniques, while ensuring stable performance throughout the entire game.
In my career, I’ve worked on titles like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Assassin’s Creed 3 Remastered, and more recently, Lone Echo 2 and Batman Arkham Shadows at Ready at Dawn. Joining Ready at Dawn was a career highlight for me. It had always been a dream studio of mine—I played their games when I was 16—and getting the chance to work with such talented people was a dream come true. I’m incredibly proud of Lone Echo 2. I believe we delivered one of the best VR experiences to date.
Having a background in Europe and traveling extensively before moving to the U.S. was invaluable. I’ve met so many different people, ideas, and cultures, which enriched my personal and professional life. I learned a lot from all those experiences, and I think it made me a better artist in the end. I always strive to keep learning and maintain an open mind, which I believe is essential for any artist.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I wouldn’t say I’ve taken what most would consider major risks in my career, but relocating to another country, especially when your ability to stay is tied to a work visa—definitely comes with its own challenges and uncertainties. It’s not just about starting a new job; it’s about building a life in a foreign place, adapting to a new culture, and sometimes being far from family and friends. The risk of it all hinges on the fact that your right to stay and work in the country is never entirely in your control, as it depends on your employment status and immigration policies. In that sense, it’s a leap of faith.
In my opinion, if you have clear goals in life, sometimes you have to embrace uncertainty and take risks to achieve them. That’s part of the journey. There are bound to be setbacks or failures along the way, but I believe that failure is an opportunity for growth. I try to see every misstep as a learning experience—something that helps me improve and better prepare for the future. It’s not always easy, but by focusing on the lessons that come with challenges, I find myself more resilient and better equipped to reach my goals.
Looking back, though, I wouldn’t change any of the choices I’ve made. Every decision, every relocation, and every challenge I’ve faced has shaped my career and brought me to where I am today. If I had to do it all over again, I’d make the same choices, because they’ve allowed me to grow not only as a professional but as a person.
In the end, while I may not be a huge risk-taker by nature, I’ve learned that some risks are worth taking when they align with your personal and professional aspirations. And sometimes, those risks turn into the most rewarding experiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artstation.com/guillaumedm
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guillaumedm_?igsh=YWsweWxhN2d5dG95
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMGuillaumeL
