Nikolaos Kaltsogiannis

Lead Artist / Art Manager @ Goals

Stockholm, Sweden

Summary

I'm a creative systems thinker with a deep love for building, whether it’s art, teams, workflows, or ideas. I lead by enabling others, designing structure where it’s needed, and removing friction wherever I find it.

Artist at heart, leader by nature, I work at the intersection of craft and strategy, mentoring artists, improving pipelines, and solving problems across disciplines

I care deeply about the work, the product, the quality, the intention, the why, and the how, but just as much about the people and the processes behind it.

I believe in structured iteration, strong alignment, and building environments where creativity can thrive without chaos.

Alongside my leadership and management responsibilities, I remain hands-on, contributing directly to art and game development when needed. Whether it's refining visuals, shaping tools, or building systems from the ground up, I stay connected to the craft as much as the direction.

Driven by curiosity, grounded in practice, and always pushing for better, with clarity, intent, and collaboration at the core.

Skills

Software proficiency

Maya

ZBrush

Blender

Marvelous Designer

Substance 3D Painter

Substance 3D Designer

Substance 3D Sampler

Photoshop

Marmoset Toolbag

Unreal Engine

Unity

Mixer

Quixel Suite

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Productions

- Video Game
  Victoria III
- Year
  2022
- Role
  Character Artist
- Company
  Paradox Interactive
- Video Game
  Crusader Kings III
- Year
  2020
- Role
  Character Artist
- Company
  Paradox Interactive
- Video Game
  Imperator Rome
- Year
  2019
- Role
  3D Artist / Character Artist / Environment Artist
- Company
  Paradox Interactive
- Video Game
  Stellaris
- Year
  2016
- Role
  3D Artist
- Company
  Paradox Interactive
- Video Game
  Hearts Of Iron IV
- Year
  2016
- Role
  3D Artist / Hard Surface Artist
- Company
  Paradox Interactive
- Video Game
  Dark Storm Ascension
- Year
  2018
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist
- Company
  Fenrir Studios
- Video Game
  CoDependence Day
- Year
  2018
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist / VFX Artist / Scrum Master
- Company
  Futuregames - School
- Video Game
  Mondi
- Year
  2018
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist / Character Artist / VFX Artist
- Company
  Futuregames - School
- Video Game
  Subow
- Year
  2017
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist / Character Artist / Concept Artist
- Company
  Futuregames - School
- Video Game
  Ark : Survival Evolved - The Island Mod
- Year
  2017
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist / 2D Artist
- Company
  Forsbergs - School
- Video Game
  Castle Samhain
- Year
  2017
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist
- Company
  Forsbergs - School
- Video Game
  Martyr
- Year
  2017
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist / 2D Artist
- Company
  Forsbergs - School
- Video Game
  Connect
- Year
  2016
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist / 2D Artist
- Company
  Forsbergs - School
- Video Game
  Dark Matter
- Year
  2016
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist / Character Artist
- Company
  Forsbergs - School
- Board & Card Games
  Jag Vill Hem
- Year
  2016
- Role
  3D Artist / Environment Artist / 2D Artist
- Company
  Forsbergs - School

Experience

Character Artist at Goals
Stockholm, Sweden
May 2022 - Present
Character artist working on the goals game
Character Artist at Paradox Interactive
Stockholm, Sweden
May 2019 - May 2022
Character artist. I worked on different projects both new and old.
Character - Hard Surface - Environment at Freelance 3D Artist
Stockholm, Sweden
April 2015 - Present
3D Artist Intern at Paradox Interactive
Stockholm, Sweden
November 2018 - May 2019
During my internship at Paradox I worked on different games such as Imperator Rome, Stellaris and Hearts of Iron. Not all of the assets were used in the final products since They were more like test assignments rather than production tasks.

I supported both the Environment and the character team. Awesome people and I am very happy that i did my internship at Paradox
Futuregames Student at Futuregames
Stockholm, Sweden
September 2017 - August 2019
FutureGames is a higher vocational game development education located in Stockholm, Sweden.

The teachers are people from the gaming industry with real world game development experience.

In addition we are making several game projects during our education where we are judged by a panel of industry professionals in every milestone in order to help us make our projects according to today's industry standards.
3D Artist at Fenrir Studios
December 2016 - July 2018
My responsibilities include: Creating high poly an low poly assets, texturing of game assets, re-skin existing assets, create materials in UE4, incorporate the assets in the game engine ready to be used.
3D Art Tutor at Futuregames
Stockholm, Sweden
February 2018 - May 2018
I Worked as a 3D Art Tutor / at Future Games’ preparatory course.

My responsibility was to help future applicants with 3D modeling, Texturing, Lighting,

Art Pipelines & Game Development as well as Unreal Engine 4 & Unity 5.

I also helped with Software Education like Maya, Substance Painter, Photoshop, ZBrush etc.
Game Art at Forsbergs Skola
Stockholm, Sweden
August 2016 - June 2017
Game Art in Forsbergs Skola is a higher vocational education where the teachers are people from the gaming industry with real world game development experience.

In addition we are making a wide variety of game projects including Board Games, Escape Rooms and ofc digital games in Unity 5 or Unreal Engine 4