Conversations with Susan Lin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Lin.

Hi Susan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am currently a senior concept artist in the game industry, specializing in environment and prop design. I’ve loved animation since I was a child, and I even took drawing classes in elementary school because of that interest. As I grew older, my passion for anime and games inspired me to create my own sketches and draw my favorite characters in my spare time.

After immigrating to the United States with my family, I felt that it was a fresh start. It made me seriously consider whether I could pursue this passion as my career. The idea of being able to do what I love for a living felt incredibly fulfilling. Around that time, I happened to see the ACCD graduation show, which was both inspiring and eye-opening. It strengthened my determination, and I later applied to ACCD and was accepted into the Entertainment Design program.

My four years in college overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic, but I still gained a great deal from the experience. I was surrounded by many talented classmates who constantly motivated me to improve. During my studies, I worked on several freelance projects, including theme-park-related work. Because of these experiences, I developed a particularly strong understanding of environment design compared to other areas.

After graduating, I joined a game company, where I quickly realized how different professional work is from school. Fortunately, I genuinely enjoy my job and remain driven to create new work that I’m excited to share with others.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey hasn’t been entirely smooth, but I’ve always followed my own pace and stayed on the path I planned for myself. Since I didn’t receive systematic art training before college and had no formal drawing background, I had to put in extra practice during my studies to build a solid foundation. There were times when I felt uncertain about my direction—whether I wanted to pursue animation, games, or film. I struggled with that for quite a while, but eventually I decided that the game industry was where I truly wanted to be.

Even now, I occasionally feel a sense of uncertainty. Technology is advancing so rapidly that new software tools are constantly emerging, and AI development has brought noticeable changes to our field—especially for concept artists. These shifts can feel overwhelming at times, and I still find myself unsure about how best to respond to them.I am still in the process of exploring, and I hope to discover the answers step by step.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
For now, I mainly focus on environment and prop design. Our current unannounced project requires a large variety of props as well as many different types of environments. I’ve also worked on several other game projects in the past, such as ARK, and I’ve created environment designs for multiple theme park projects, including Discovery and the Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo.. Typically, I handle the entire process—from line sketches all the way to the final rendered piece. After becoming a senior artist, my responsibilities expanded beyond refining my own technique. I also need to provide feedback to parts of the team, which has pushed me to think more deeply about what each project truly needs. I reflect on how our target players might feel when they experience the game, and what they might want from a player’s perspective. This way of thinking influences many of my design decisions.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I’m a relatively introverted person, and I’m usually not very talkative. My friends and the people around me often describe me as calm and easygoing. But in real life, I do experience moments of anxiety—such as when I was looking for jobs after graduation, when I hit creative blocks, or when I question my own career path.

These days, I practice yoga every day lol. It helps me stay physically active while also calming my mind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.susanlinart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susanlin_art?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-lin/