/// Technical Artist  ·  Shaders, VFX, VR optimization  ·  Unity / UE5 // 3D since 2017 · gamedev since 2022
Dustin Smela

Technical Artist

Shaders · VFX · Real-time environments · VR

I build stylized real-time graphics that look good, run fast and hold their frame budget in the engine.

  • Unity URP
  • Unreal Engine 5
  • HLSL
  • Meta Quest
View work → CV (PDF) Contact Discord
STATUS
Open to full-time · also B2B contract
FORMAT
Remote (EU) or relocation
BASE
Kraków, PL
AVAILABILITY
Available now
Scroll - 01
01/// Showreel

Showreel 2026

01

Shaders, VFX and VR optimization in motion. Unity URP, Unreal Engine 5, Meta Quest.

Watch the showreel on YouTube ↗
STACK Unity URP · Unreal Engine 5 · HLSL PLATFORMS Meta Quest · PC BREAKDOWN in the case studies below →
02/// Portfolio

Selected work

04 / 04
01 / 04

Revocure

/// Technical Art · Environment · VR

A VR training and rehabilitation ecosystem for athletes. Shaders, VFX, a crowd shader built for this project and Meta Quest optimization in Unity URP - including environments that react to live HRV biofeedback. Client: Next Move Labs.

Unity URPMeta QuestHLSLVFXVR
YEAR
2025 - ongoing
PLATFORM
Meta Quest
ROLE
Technical Artist
STATUS
In production
RESULT
An environment that responds to live HRV readings while staying inside the standalone Quest frame budget - the reaction is driven by custom HLSL shaders on the GPU rather than by CPU-side logic.
View project →
Revocure - VR training scene on Meta Quest with a crowd shader and HRV-reactive lighting
02 / 04

Shovel Out

/// Environment Art · Level Design · Unreal

A noir FPS set in an afterlife hotel. Environments, characters, interactive props (exploding suitcases among them) and systems - from concept through to implementation in Unreal Engine 5.5. Publisher: Lewd Circus.

Unreal 5.5Level DesignEnv ArtVFXBlueprints
YEAR
2023 - 2026
PLATFORM
PC · Steam
ROLE
Env Art · Level Design
STATUS
In production
RESULT
Playable noir levels taken through blockout, playtest, iteration and final art pass, built from a modular kit with interactive props and VFX wired up in Blueprints.
View project →
Shovel Out - noir hotel interior in Unreal Engine 5, FPS gameplay shot
03 / 04

Crowd Cheer System

/// Technical Art · HLSL · GPU · VR optimization

A technical art system built to animate large numbers of characters in real time. Vertex animation written in HLSL, per-instance variation through MaterialPropertyBlock, a La Ola wave and a custom Inspector - designed against VR and mobile budgets, then packaged, documented and released.

Unity URPHLSLGPU animationC# toolingVR / Mobile
YEAR
2025
PLATFORM
Unity URP · VR / Mobile
ROLE
Technical Artist · Tools
STATUS
Released · v2.0.1
RESULT
Crowd characters are driven on the GPU from a shared material instead of per-character Animator components. Shipped, documented and maintained as a commercial product on Unity Asset Store and Fab.
View project →
Crowd Cheer System - stands full of supporters rendered by a single GPU shader in Unity URP
04 / 04

Cursed Cozy Village

/// Environment Art · Shaders · Tools

A stylized „cozy gothic” environment series - hand-painted, modular, with custom wall and glass shaders and a sign and banner system. Built as a reusable production kit rather than a single dressed scene.

Unity URPToon shaderModularLookdevEnvironment
YEAR
2024 - ongoing
PLATFORM
Unity URP
ROLE
Environment & Technical Art
STATUS
Released · series of 3
RESULT
Released as a three-pack series with custom wall and glass shaders and a modular sign and banner system, documented and maintained on Unity Asset Store and Fab.
View project →
Cursed Cozy Village - hand-painted cozy gothic street with banners and shop signs
Other work Shipped VR products - art lead and optimization roles.
VROTKI - colourful VR scene for preschoolers with storybook characters
VROTKI
Lead Art · VR optimization · Game Design

A VR app for preschoolers (ages 3–6) - learning through play, spatial orientation and coordination. Lead Artist and Game Designer, from 3D through to brand. Client: Moredu.

UnityVRCharacter artReleased
VirNova - educational VR classroom with STEM lesson scenes on Meta Quest
VirNova
VFX · Quest optimization · Env Art

An educational VR platform for schools - immersive STEM lessons in maths, biology and physics. 3D models, rigging, branding and Quest optimization. Client: Moredu.

Unity URPMeta QuestEnv ArtReleased
03/// Shipped products

I also build and ship my own tools

02

I create and publish my own Unity tools, shaders and environment assets - from development and technical implementation through to documentation and release.

Idea / Development / Tooling / Documentation / Demo / Store / Maintenance
Crowd Cheer System
Unity Asset StoreFabv2.0.1

A lightweight GPU crowd system for Unity URP - HLSL vertex animation, a La Ola wave, a full scripting layer and a custom Inspector. Built against VR and mobile budgets, and maintained since release.

Case study → Unity Asset Store ↗ Documentation
/// What I can do for your team - 04

I work where art, technology and performance meet - shaders, VFX and optimization - from the first node to a stable frame on Quest.

/01
Technical Art
Shaders · HLSL · Shader Graph · VFX · Materials
/02
Environment Art
Modular environments · Props · Texturing · Lookdev
/03
Performance
Meta Quest · Mobile · URP · Profiling · Draw calls · Memory
/04
Game development
Level Design · Blueprints · Gameplay systems · Tools
05/// Skills & Tools

Technical stack

// Engines

  • Unity (URP)
  • Unreal Engine 5
  • Blueprints

// Shaders & VFX

  • HLSL
  • Shader Graph
  • Amplify
  • Niagara
  • VFX Graph

// DCC / 3D

  • Blender
  • Maya
  • ZBrush
  • Substance Painter
  • Photoshop
  • Nomad Sculpt

// VR / Performance

  • Meta Quest
  • OpenXR
  • URP
  • Profiling
  • Optimization

// Pipeline

  • C#
  • Python (Maya)
  • Git
  • Custom Editor Tools
  • MaterialPropertyBlock
  • GPU Instancing
  • Compute Shaders
  • Addressables

// Tools & Plugins

  • ViewCube for Maya 2022The view navigation cube Maya does not ship with.
  • BVH RetargeterRetargeting BVH animation onto custom rigs.
  • Serwus ModelerIn-house tool supporting the modeling workflow.
06/// About

I enjoy solving visual problems where art, technology and performance meet. The best time for the shader, the frame budget and the look to agree with each other is at concept stage.

Day to day I work as a Technical Artist on VR apps for Meta Quest (Revocure / Next Move Labs) - HLSL shaders, VFX, a crowd shader for that project and hard standalone optimization. Before that, environment and level art on VR projects and indie games.

Outside client work I build and release my own tools and assets on the Unity Asset Store and Fab, under the Serwus Studio label. I’m open to a full-time Technical Artist role, a B2B contract or project work - ideally VR, real-time graphics or gamedev.

2017
In 3D graphics - real-time, VR, tech art.
2022
Commercial gamedev - since 2022.
2live
Products on Unity Asset Store & Fab.
07/// Contact

Looking for a Technical Artist?
Get in touch -
dustin.smela@gmail.com

Available for full-time, B2B and project work - remote (EU) or relocation.

Download CV (PDF) ↓ LinkedIn ↗ Watch showreel →
Email
dustin.smela
@gmail.com
Social
LinkedIn
ArtStation
Discord
Instagram
Asset Store
Unity Publisher
Fab
Looking for
Full-time · B2B contract · project work
Remote / relocation · Kraków, PL / EU