Ryan Honey and William Marques, students of Durham College’s (DC) Game-Art program, were recently announced as finalists of Ubisoft Toronto NEXT, an annual competition designed to showcase the talents and help kickstart the careers of Ontario video game development students.

On May 12, Ryan and William took first place in 3D Art and second place in Technical Art, respectively. As the winner of the 3D Art category, Ryan has secured an internship with Ubisoft’s team in Toronto, where he’ll further develop his professional skill set at one of the most recognizable names in the gaming industry.

“We are so proud of Ryan and William for the work they’ve done and all they accomplished in the Ubisoft Toronto Next competition,” says Greg Murphy, dean, School of Media, Art & Design. “When we see DC students enjoying this level of success, it only goes to show that our program and our faculty are providing students the knowledge they need to thrive and lead the way in the world of game art and design.”

During a virtual ceremony to announce the winners, Ubisoft lauded Ryan’s piece, which demonstrated his eye for composition and strong attention to detail. Judges also complimented William’s work, praising the variety of techniques he applied and referring to his work as a good show of innovation.

“It was months of hard work for Ryan and William to put these pieces together, and it shows,” says Ryan Miller, project manager, Mixed Reality Capture (MRC) Studio. “Students can adapt school projects to accommodate the competition requirements, but they still have to manage the workload in their other classes. Luckily, they have a lot of support from DC’s professors, who provide feedback and critiques before the submission goes to Ubisoft.”

Now recently graduated, Ryan and William were able to further hone their skills through the work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences offered through MRC Studio. During their time as students, they gained valuable hands-on learning from working with clients like game studios, animation companies and technology partners, as they produced 3D art, technical art, and prototypes at a professional level.

DC congratulates Ryan and William on their achievements at Ubisoft Toronto NEXT and thanks the DC faculty who offered additional guidance to help them along the way.