07/21/2007
I have spent the 20 or so years in the technical fields. My employment history divides itself into various foundation producing areas. From an early age, I exhibited an inclination towards technical drawing and during high-school excelled in mechanical drafting. I, in fact, won various awards such as the Rotary Club award for technical achievement. I was also on the state champions gymnastics team which taught me to be team player and to help others to the benefit of the team.
My second interest was photography and out of high school began work as an assistant to some of Hollywood’s best known commercial photographers. For years I worked as an assistant and then as a technician specializing in custom transparency duplication.
After this period in photography, I went back to drafting and began a 9 year employment for a company called Dataproducts Corporation (a high speed computer printer manufacturer). I worked with a team of 5 engineers and was one of the first drafters in California to use a CAD system to develop products. I quickly rose in rank to lead designer and eventually head of the design department. At this time I started a design consulting firm as a transition away from Dataproducts Corp.
I was soon offered a position to join Mega-Erg Corporation, a Beverly Hills think tank to work with a team of 5 highly qualified Industrial Designers developing commercial office products. For a several years we achieved success as a powerhouse of designs and innovation.
I left Mega-Erg to continue and grow my own company. Over the next 5 years it evolved from a mechanical design and drafting firm to a full service Industrial Design company catering mainly to the commercial lighting industry. Although clients ranged from medical instrumentation to automotive products and office products manufacturers.
It was at this time I rediscovered the computer - an Amiga. (My first computer was an Apple I, with which I learned machine language programming on the 6502 chip). Using this computer along with a rudimentary Ray Tracing program, I began to offer 3D product representations for my clients.
I realized the awesome power of the computer for designers and began promoting it as a tool for the small Industrial design firm. I also began a users group for artists and computer junkies to learn and discuss the 3D graphics computer. The 3D Art Forum International achieved rapid growth and soon reached international status. Over a thousand members and hundreds more participated in regional meetings in a number of countries and in newsletter support. Being the President and Founder of the group allowed me to enter the seminar and lecture circuit at both the trade show and institutional levels.
The group was my greatest achievement as many of our top animators and designers got their start with us.
Also during the immediate period, after Mega-Erg, I joined a company called Litigation Sciences where I worked as an animator and eventually managed the graphics division. Although I primarily used Lightwave, this is where I first learned Wavefront.
Throughout these years, I maintained my own consulting firm but made the transition from Industrial Design to strictly computer animation and graphics. My client list is impressive in that it covers a wide range of companies and types of animations. From movie special effects, to industrial videos, from infomercials, to litigation and magazine covers. From the smallest companies to the largest like Disney and Mattel. My primary software became Softimage.
I have also found the time to author a book on 3D Graphics and Animation called A Beginner’s Guide to Turbo Silver. And still teach individuals and lecture to institutions the art of 3D computer Graphics.
Beyond the technical fields, I have found time to become a certified massage therapist, a practioner of Traditional Oriental Medicine, and currently as a teacher of architectural interior design at the college level.
My experiences have crossed many years and many fields. But, all of them have contributed to my total package of knowledge. I feel lucky to have been exposed to so many different disciplines.
Victor Osaka
This page was last modified on: 05/21/05
All information and graphics are property of Victor Osaka