TEACHER
BEN THOMPSON
Concept artist & Art Director: Wizards of the Coast, Upper Deck Entertainment, Alderac Entertainment Group, Blizzard Entertainment
Ben Thompson is an industry veteran, whose roles and experiences have varied widely over the last 20 years.
He graduated from the Laguna College of Art and Design in 1996 and began teaching as a professor in the illustration departments of Cal State Long Beach and Mt San Antonio Community College. During this time many a weekend and sleepless night were devoted to creating freelance work for such companies as Wizards of the Coast, Upper Deck Entertainment, Alderac Entertainment Group and many others.
Ben would later be invited by Keith Parkinson to become a concept artist for Sigil Games Online, where he would eventually take on the role of assistant art director. Upon completion of the project, he accepted a position at Upper Deck Entertainment where he art directed the World of Warcraft trading card game for two years, providing him with the opportunity to work with many of his fellow illustrators in a new capacity.
Currently Ben is employed at Blizzard Entertainment where his role as art director on “Hearthstone – Heroes of Warcraft” combines his illustration, graphic design and art direction skills, making for a perfect storm of creativity that he shares with some of the most talented individuals in the video game industry.
