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Nguyen Khanh Duy was honored by Apple on the App Store homepage, included in the list of Southeast Asian creators. Photo: Minh Khoi . |
League of Legends is Riot Games' leading global game, attracting millions of players daily and becoming one of the most captivating esports titles.
One of the key factors in a game's success is its design – from characters and costumes to effects – which not only creates a visual impact but also helps shape the experience, emotions, and long-term engagement of the community with the game.
Behind many of League of Legends' innovative designs is Nguyen Khanh Duy, Art Director at Riot Games, currently based in Singapore.
Early life failure with the "safe choice"
Nguyen Khanh Duy is also one of the five innovators in Southeast Asia recently honored by Apple through its "Dream Bearers" campaign. Speaking to Tri Thuc - Znews, Duy shared that after a major setback at age 18, his decision to pursue his passion and the internet helped him access many new opportunities.
Nguyen Khanh Duy failed to get into university when he wanted to choose a school that matched his interests. More than 15 years ago, with his talent and passion for drawing since childhood, Duy only had the choice of attending the University of Fine Arts or Architecture. Ultimately, he chose architecture based on the advice of relatives, believing it to be a safe career choice.
However, the biggest hurdle was subjects like Math and Physics, which ultimately caused Duy to fail to get into university. This made Duy reconsider his next path. Realizing he still had strengths in creativity, he decided to pursue his passion for art and began working at a game development (outsourcing) company in Vietnam, where he had the opportunity to work on top-tier international (AAA) game projects. "I was surprised that in Vietnam at that time, I was able to do so many interesting things for international games," he recalled.
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Nguyen Duy Khanh shared a drawing he created with his daughter on his personal page. Photo: Instagram. |
After a year of working, Duy realized he wanted to delve deeper into the game development process, beyond just production. This desire motivated him to decide to study abroad in San Francisco. There, he had the opportunity to connect with the League of Legends team and began an internship at Riot Games, the developer of the popular game.
What impressed Duy most about working at Riot Games was the democratic culture and respect for the opinions of every member of the company.
"Even when I was an intern, when I raised a problem, everyone treated me with great respect. At Riot, if you have a good idea, it will be listened to," Duy shared.
The biggest difference compared to other companies Duy had worked for was the bottom-up approach instead of a top-down one. He was encouraged to contribute ideas and participate in various projects, even as an intern. Of course, the company also set high standards, expecting employees to genuinely care about and invest in each project.
Drawing is my hobby, so I don't like AI.
Reflecting on his journey, Duy believes that his work as an art designer in games allows him to utilize his strengths—creativity—rather than logical thinking. He also feels fortunate to have had relationships and opportunities come his way at the right time.
One of the projects Duy was most proud of while working at Riot Games didn't actually stem from artistic satisfaction, but from a spirit of collaboration. When designing the High Noon Senna skin, the idea of transforming guns into horses in the game created an opportunity for all the different departments—animation, effects, and even the in-game story team—to showcase their abilities.
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Design from Nguyen Duy Khanh's personal project. Photo: LinkedIn/Duy Nguyen. |
"When we have a good idea, the whole team focuses on developing it, and I feel like everyone complements each other," he explained.
Currently, in his managerial role, Duy's work involves a lot of coordination, meetings, and feedback on other people's designs, rather than direct drawing. To maintain his passion for art, he still engages in personal creative endeavors, sometimes drawing on paper, sometimes sculpting.
Because drawing is a joy for him, Duy doesn't use AI. The designer believes that AI can help create images faster, but each step in the creative process is valuable.
"There isn't a single step that bores me. I enjoy all of them and I don't want anyone to take away my enjoyment. I chose this profession from the beginning because I wanted to be an artist, and I find it fun. If AI were to do it for me, it would take away my joy," the Riot Games designer stated frankly.
He also argued that in the art world, the path is difficult, and without AI support, it can help young people progress better. However, if AI is applied too much, newcomers might overlook the meaning of art as a journey, viewing it only as the result.
"There were nights when my drawings were so bad, I felt embarrassed, so I practiced until I improved. That process is what helped me stay in the profession for 15 years. If everything came too easily, there would be nothing left to strive for," Nguyen Khanh Duy said.
Regarding the future, he acknowledged that AI will not disappear. "AI will always be there. If one day I am forced to use AI for my drawing work, I will change careers," Duy stated emphatically.
Where should young people who want to enter the gaming industry start?
For young people who want to pursue a career in the gaming industry, Duy emphasizes the importance of clearly defining their goals and strengths. The gaming industry is vast and offers many different jobs, from design and programming to management and marketing. Regardless of the chosen field, if you want to work for large companies and develop AAA games, the required skill level is always the highest.
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The artist stated that he still prefers creating and drawing by hand, and that using AI would negatively impact his artistic enjoyment. Photo: Instagram. |
"No matter how small the detail, I must do it with all my heart. Because who knows, one day, my creation might contribute to a great project," shared Nguyen Khanh Duy, a quote from Apple in an article about Asian innovators published on the App Store homepage.
Another important point Duy emphasized is that game developers, even if not passionate about the game, must at least actually play it to understand the needs of the players. When he first joined Riot Games, Duy had to spend 3-4 months playing League of Legends to fully understand the game before daring to contribute his opinions. He often played 2-3 hours a day with his boss to grasp the gameplay and player needs.
Looking to the future, Duy is nurturing the idea of creating games about Vietnamese culture. He believes that young Vietnamese people are very talented and hopes to have the opportunity to collaborate to create products that are rich in national identity. "I think there are many things to explore in mythology, fairy tales, and culture that I can make really good."
He cited China's recent game, Black Myth: Wukong, as an example to demonstrate the power of combining national culture with modern games.
Source: https://znews.vn/hoa-si-thiet-ke-lol-tha-bo-nghe-chu-khong-dung-ai-post1575275.html
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