Show notes
Emrah is the Founder & Creative Director at Mooncolony - a premium 2D art and illustration services provider to the video games industry. Emrah leads a team of outstandingly talented concept artists and illustrators who provide premium 2D art and illustration services to video game developers across the globe. With over seven years of experience in his role, he has successfully established and grown Mooncolony as a trusted and reliable partner for some of the biggest names in the industry, from free-to-play mobile games to AAA blockbusters.Timestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome00:00:20 - Guest's Purpose and Mission00:00:34 - Discovering Passion for Building Teams and Brands00:01:20 - Merging Visual Development and Branding00:01:46 - Guest's Background and Childhood00:02:01 - Growing Up in Turkey and Early Influences00:03:38 - Encouragement and Support for Art00:03:57 - Pursuing Art in University00:05:12 - Transition to Graphic Design00:06:05 - Entering the Concept Art Industry00:07:07 - Entrepreneurial Influences from Family00:08:33 - Learning Business Skills from Father00:08:54 - Career Path and Freelancing00:09:15 - Founding Moon Colony00:10:08 - Balancing Full-Time Work and Freelancing00:11:11 - Building a Team and Studio Vision00:12:05 - Naming and Branding Moon Colony00:13:18 - Importance of Team Collaboration00:14:07 - Establishing a Unique Studio Style00:16:45 - Importance of Brand in B2B Space00:17:57 - Selecting Projects and Clients00:20:56 - Saying No to Non-Aligned Projects00:22:40 - Early Days of Moon Colony00:23:01 - Transitioning Freelance Clients to Studio Clients00:25:39 - Role of Creative Director00:27:45 - Delegating Responsibilities00:29:50 - Learning and Networking for Business Growth00:32:26 - Work-Life Balance and Team Support00:36:06 - Side Ventures: Lunar Academy and Lunar Forge00:37:33 - Impactful Stories and Influences00:41:05 - Closing Remarks and Future Plans