One of the biggest difficulties NDSU Visual Arts alumnus, Matthew Neururer faces is teaching people how to correctly pronounce his last name. “Not older, but newer,” he says with a smile.

Matthew’s thesis project consisted of a 152-page concept book inspired by his love for video games and Disney movies. (He’s particularly impressed with the art of Milan and How to Trian Your Dragon.) His project even included a 3D model of an entire snowmobile, one of the vehicles featured in the book.

He started working on the storyline the summer before his senior year, so he’d have enough to make sure he had enough time to design and print it (remember, the book was 152 pages long). The main plot revolved around, “how humans use technology to improve the environment and their lifestyles,” says Matthew.

After finishing his book, Matthew realized his passion lay more in character design and creating interesting people, then in evolving his project into a tv series or movie. This was transformational for him. It helped him hone his focus and inspired him to start researching the animation and movie industries to learn more about essential skills for character designers. What he learned encouraged him to focus on continuing to develop his skill set. He explains, “Knowing how to 3D model because everything nowadays in kind of CG.”

Currently, he’s working part time for the NDSU Visual Arts Department to help with their graphic design needs. He’s also on the staff at Northland Design and Engineering, his father’s company, where he’s learning Fusion 360, a product innovation platform, that references heavily his 3D modeling skills.

His advice for current arts and design students is straightforward. “Drawing is probably the most essential foundation for arts and design. Everybody should be drawing and sketching as much as they can,” he says. He also recommends learning sculpture and taking some 2D & 3D design software classes outside of school if at all possible. Though he’s quick to add that he learned a ton from his professors at NDSU. “No one program can teach you everything,” he says “so the important thing is to continue to widen your skill set whenever and wherever you can.”

See more of Matthew’s work here