KAZ (Yoshida) SATO
Senior Lighting & Visual Development Artist
Lighting is a joyful and essential element in visual art, bringing a sense of magic and beauty that defines the quality of the final image.
With over a decade of experience in high-profile 3DCG productions, my greatest strength lies in my keen eye for beauty, enabling me to craft visually stunning, detail-rich works that consistently captivate both clients and audiences.
With over a decade of experience in high-profile 3DCG productions, my greatest strength lies in my keen eye for beauty, enabling me to craft visually stunning, detail-rich works that consistently captivate both clients and audiences.
Able to create efficient render setups tailored to the pipeline and compositors' needs. Skilled in adapting light rigs from still images to animation without compromising quality.
-EXPERIENCE-
Digital Artist at Apple (via Magnit), Sunnyvale, CA
Contract, Jul 2025 - Feb 2026 Remote
• Sequence Lighting: Created high-end lighting and look development for major product launch events and system-level OS sequences, ensuring "Apple-standard" polish and visual consistency.
• Technical Execution: Managed complex lighting setups and established render element workflows for compositors under strict technical specifications, consistently delivering high-quality assets within rigorous, event-driven deadlines.
Senior Lighting & Visual Development Artist at LOGAN, LA, CA
Full-Time On-Site 2015-2018, Freelance Remote 2022-2025
As part of a project team, I collaborated with art directors and team members to produce high-quality moving billboards with enhanced image resolution and larger screens to showcase products beautifully. We successfully accomplished this within the set time frame while maintaining excellent quality.
3D Generalist at Entity FX, Santa Monica, CA
Full-Time On-Site, 2005-2015
From modeling to animation, lighting and rendering, sometimes tracking and rotoscoping. Involved in the production of visual effects that maximize the appeal of the story, under a tight schedule from start to finish of the shot. I became familiar with and acquired a thorough understanding of the framework of visual effects production.
-SKILLS-
Lighting, Visual development and Painting textures
Excellent in details of products.
Excellent in details of products.
-SOFTWARE-
Autodesk Maya V-Ray, Arnold, Redshift
Nuke, After Effects, Photoshop, Mari, (Adobe Substance)
-ACHIEVEMENTS-
Outstanding Graphic Design
Issued by Sports Emmy Awards - 2008 and 2009
Associated with Entity FX
Outstanding Created Environment in a live Action Broadcast Program, Commercial or Music Video
7th VES Awards nominated
Associated with Entity FX
Outstanding Compositing in a live Action Broadcast Program, Commercial or Music Video
7th VES Awards nominated
Associated with Entity FX
-EDUCATION-
Tama Art University — Bachelor of Fine Art, Craft Design 1997
dhima(Digital Hollywood USA) — Autodesk Maya course, 2003