Today we’d like to introduce you to Dima Drapikovsky
Hi Dima, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My life journey began amidst the snow-covered land of Ukraine. When I was a child, I loved to draw during lessons. For me, it didn’t matter whether it was an art class or any other subject. The teachers would kindly tell me that when I grow up, I would definitely become an artist or an animator. But my parents were strictly against that. They hired me tutors for English and Math. That’s how I became an Urban Designer. Days passed, and I found myself moving trees on my monitor and choosing colors for houses. My boss was a strict woman. She would yell at me when the lines weren’t perpendicular. I didn’t understand that at the time, and it made me suffer. It seemed to me that beauty wasn’t about perpendicularity but about proportions. One fine day, I realized I had had enough and set off on an extended tour through Southeast Asia.
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?
One winter night, similar to this one, I found myself deep in the jungles of Laos, sharing a hut on top of a tree with five other travelers just like me. They were from Australia, Canada, and Europe. We spent the night talking by the light of an oil lamp, high above the ground. We discussed my story, and we all concluded that if I could do architecture but loved to create without boundaries, then I should be making games. There’s a job in game development – creating locations. As soon as I returned to the big city, I sat down at the computer and began diligently studying, going through piles of 3D modeling material and sharing my successes with the world around me. The consequences didn’t take long, and soon I received a letter from Europe with an invitation to interview at a prestigious international game development company.
I returned to winter. My interview lasted 6 hours. The serious gentlemen loosened their ties, and we were discussing things far beyond the job objectives. As great as it was to meet these people that evening, the offer from the main office never came. I thought, perhaps it’s not meant to be for me to become a game designer. I had already packed my travel bag, grabbed my tickets, because 8,000 miles away, my loyal friend, the neighborhood cat Tont, was waiting for me, with whom I spent a lot of time. Then, I received a phone call. The message was dry, brief, and to the point. A very important person wants to meet with me. It was the General Producer of the largest esports operator in Eastern Europe. He warmly welcomed me to his studio and asked one simple question – do you think it’s correct to solve a certain computer graphics task this way? I laughed. You’re doing it all wrong. If you want something to work, do it this way. His second question was – can you start work on Monday? That’s how my journey in esports broadcast graphics began.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Project after project, stadium after stadium, country after country. That’s how my skills were forged. It’s no secret that when I started, I worked for a bag of beans. But months passed, and I worked with Blizzard, Valve, and Tencent. I traveled around the world. My graphics illuminated stadiums with thousands of cheering fans. I worked with the best directors and producers, some of whom had experience with the Olympic Games. And so, unexpectedly, I became the head of the computer graphics department at one of the coolest production companies in the U.S.
My journey wasn’t easy. There were sleepless nights, military actions, and teams of artists scattered miles apart. But as funny as it may seem now, my engineering education and the precision needed to make sure your lines are perpendicular played a role. My job requires well-tuned timing, stress resistance, and the ability to find solutions where it seems there are none. Perhaps that’s why, by some unexpected turn of events, my team and I are now official partners of the NFL and Emmy-nominated.
What can I say in closing to every young talent searching for their place in this challenging world of creativity? Let’s create iconic content!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Los Angeles is a city where reality gently melts into myths and dreams, and each new day offers a chance to start from scratch.
There’s a unique rhythm of life here – the local rule of “one thing a day”: you can be productive, but everything happens without rush and in an easygoing way.
This city is for those who value comfort, relaxation, and sunny days. However, despite its serenity, Los Angeles can be harsh and lonely. Strange distances, traffic, and the absence of people – these are part of the local reality.
This city is not for those who just want to take a look – it’s for those ready to dive in, exploring its spirit and following uncharted paths. Everything that is not nailed down in the world will somehow end up here, whether it’s dreams, ambitions, or people, and as the classic said, “everything they say about Los Angeles is true.”
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Image Credits
photo courtesy of Valery.fotik, Sky Sports, Weplay Holding, Starladder.
