09 June 2026
Gathrey Reeding, Game 2017
Gathrey Reeding studied Game and Interactive Media Development at the Academy of Digital Arts in 2017 after having finished his studies in Psychology. His job took him from working for companies in Cape Town to Sweden and he is now working as a Technical Lead Artist on game productions for one of the biggest mobile game companies on the international market.
When and why did you study at the academy?
I first heard about ADA while I was studying Psychology. By that point, I was already deep in the Unity trenches, watching their live online courses every Friday morning at 1 am.
I was excited about making games, and although I had done a lot of self-study, I wanted to learn from a place that could expose me to the industry in a way that no tutorial video could. I knew ADA would help me sharpen my understanding and give me that extra edge.
Where are you now? Work, projects, etc.
I currently work at CrazyLabs, one of the top mobile game studios in the world. I'm a Lead Technical Artist, where I bridge the gap between programmers and artists. That includes shader work, engine tools, optimization, pipeline support, and solving technical art problems across multiple live game projects.
I also own my own studio, AntiRage, where I am developing an arcade sandbox pirate adventure. The project is still in alpha, and you can follow its development at https://www.antiragestudios.com
What is the most important thing you took away from studying at the academy?
For me, one of the biggest lessons was understanding the importance of scope and the resources available to you. The group projects and final showcase are excellent at showing how quickly scope creep can harm a project, even when the original idea is exciting.
Learning how to control scope, make smart decisions, and finish something properly is one of the most valuable skills you can take into the industry.
What would you recommend to young students?
Self-study is key. This industry moves fast, and new tools, workflows, and technologies are constantly changing. You cannot wait for someone to hold your hand or give you all the answers.
Do side projects, join game jams, experiment, and keep building things. Anything that helps move the needle forward, matters. The more experience and knowledge you bring, the more valuable and reliable you become when things get difficult.