Jake Merkel

As a seasoned 3D designer with over 5 years of experience, I specialize in creating photorealistic textures and 3D assets for advertising and marketing. My expertise lies in Substance Designer and Painter, where I process textures from photoscans and create procedural materials. I'm adept at Blender 3D workflows, including modeling, UV unwrapping, and texture creation using nodes and shaders.

In my current role at ECCO Leather B.V., I manage the 3D materials workflow, implementing assets into Unity for product renders. Previously, at George Mason Recreation, I modeled and textured 3D environmental assets and props, integrating them into Unreal Engine. My photography background enhances my understanding of lighting and composition, crucial for product-focused lighting in advertising.

I hold a BFA in Computer Game Design from George Mason University, where I honed my skills in 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering. My technical proficiency extends to 3ds Max, Unity, and Unreal Engine, with a strong focus on organizing asset catalogs and documentation.