minor details 89 - Tim Zarki
Jul 20, 2020
Tim Zarki, a talented 3D artist at Oculus, shares his journey from industrial design to 3D visualization. He reflects on his unique childhood in Joshua Tree and formative experiences, including impactful internships at Fisher Price and a San Francisco design agency. Zarki emphasizes the importance of blending aesthetics with functionality in design and discusses how personal projects can enhance a creative career. The conversation also touches on the future of 3D artistry and the exciting yet complex landscape of virtual reality.
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Early 3D Roots In Joshua Tree
- Tim grew up in Joshua Tree and started exploring 3D modeling around age 11–12 using Blender.
- A supportive high-school art teacher let him pursue digital art instead of the standard curriculum, which launched his interest.
First Shipped Product As A Sophomore
- Tim's first major internship was six months at Fisher-Price where he owned a shipped product: a lunchbox shape-sorter toy.
- That experience gave him real product release exposure and positive Amazon reviews early in school.
Minimal’s Studio Culture Shaped Tim
- Minimal felt like a tight-knit family and became Tim's favorite internship, later hiring him full-time in San Francisco.
- Scott and colleagues created a culture focused on doing great work while enjoying the team environment.