Ian Dean

Editor, Digital Arts & 3D

Ian Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & 3D at Creativebloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and leading video game title Official PlayStation Magazine. In his early career he wrote for music and film magazines including Uncut and SFX. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on AI, digital art and video game art and tech, and more to Creative Bloq, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5. He's also a keen Cricut user and laser cutter fan, and is currently crafting on Glowforge and xTools M1.

Latest articles by Ian Dean

Double Dragon Revive; anime art

Double Dragon Revive is spirited retro game remake - and it's giving me flashbacks

By Ian Dean published

A splashy anime refresh.

Gaming
Crafting the characters of video game Hyper Light Breaker; a group of stylised game characters

Making Hyper Light Breaker's fizzy 80s anime character designs

By Ian Dean published

The importance of "retro vibes".

Video Game Design
Best laminator machines; three machines for laminating

The best laminators

By Ian Dean last updated

We pick the best laminators and table top laminators for creatives, teachers, officers, businesses and the home.

Gadgets
Crescent County made in Unreal Engine 5; characters stand in front of a green hill

Crescent County is "whimsical, warm and silly", and a unique use of Unreal Engine 5

By Ian Dean published

Creative director Anna Hollinrake takes us in a motorbroom ride.

Gaming
CMF Phone 1; coloured smart phones

The CMF Phone 1 feels like it was designed in the 80s for the future

By Ian Dean published

Strong James Cameron vibes.

Phones & Tablets
Three selections of the best coloured pencils on a pink and purple background

The best coloured pencils

By Ian Dean last updated

These are the best coloured pencils you can buy today.

Art Supplies
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead story trailer; a person holds a finger to their mouth

Whisper it, but A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead could be the year's creepiest game

By Ian Dean published

The new story trailer has me on edge.

Gaming
ZBrush for iPad; a winged creature

This art was made in ZBrush on an iPad

By Ian Dean published

Impressive.

3D
Resident Evil 9 announced; a man in a cap

No biggie, just Capcom quietly announcing Resident Evil 9

By Ian Dean published

There's a port of Resident Evil 7 coming to Apple mobiles, too.

Gaming
Super Pocket Atari and Technos retro game handhelds announced; a game handheld with a wooden design

I love the 1970s design of Evercade's new Atari Super Pocket retro console

By Ian Dean published

There's a Technos retro game handheld too.

Gaming
Making Fallout with Unreal Engine 5; a woman walks out of a vault

Making Fallout in Unreal Engine 5 - merging old and new film techniques

By Ian Dean published

AJ Sciutto shares what Magnopus learned from making Amazon's hit series.

VFX
Wacom Yuify in open beta; a lighthouse

Wacom Yuify - the new 'anti-AI' platform - is now in open beta

By Ian Dean published

Sign up and protect your art from today.

Digital Art
Procreate custom brush tips from Kyle T Webster; a man draws on a iPad

Procreate's Kyle T. Webster reveals his three steps to better custom brushes

By Ian Dean published

Draw inspiration from this pro advice.

Digital Art
What skills to artists need for real time VFX; a person holds up a phone displaying AR content

Using Unreal Engine: what skills do artists need to make it in real time filmmaking?

By Ian Dean published

An Unreal Engine VFX team is a blended family.

Professional Development
VR stylus explained; people draw using VR and stylus

VR stylus for digital art and design: everything you need to know

By Beth Nicholls, Ian Dean published

Now you can work in 2D and 3D virtual reality in Meta Quest or Apple Vision Pro - but how do VR stylus work and who are they for?

3D
Procreate hire Kyle T Webster; a man sits at a desk drawing on an iPad

Acclaimed digital brush creator Kyle T. Webster joins Procreate

By Ian Dean published

Disney, Pixar and Sony Animation love his brushes.

Digital Art
Little Big Adventure retro game; a character holds a glowing orb

Little Big Adventure: Twinsen’s Quest rekindles my love of 90s design

By Ian Dean published

Watch the cult retro adventure game's first trailer.

Gaming
Best xTool machines; three laser engravers and cutters on a green background

The best xTool Machines

By Ian Dean last updated

Our expert guide to the best xTool machines.

Gadgets
The best tablets for students; a mix of tablet computers on a blue background

The best tablets for students

By Ian Dean last updated

Save cash with our pick of the best tablets for students.

Phones & Tablets
How Still Wakes The Deep was made more terrifyingly beautiful with Unreal Engine 5.3; a door with a spooky light behind it

How Still Wakes The Deep was made more terrifyingly beautiful with Unreal Engine 5

By Ian Dean published

Creating the "2001 trippy design".

Video Game Design
Still Wakes The Deep review; an oil rig in the fog

Still Wakes The Deep review: a pitch perfect Lovecraftian Poseidon Adventure

By Ian Dean published

An atmospheric horror that showcases Unreal Engine 5.

Gaming
Creating the Anime concept art for video game Slave Zero X; a red demon waves a sword

Honing the manga influence on indie hit video game Slave Zero X

By Ian Dean published

Yasushi Nirasawa and 1990s visual influences.

Video Game Design
AI and VFX; a woman in a mocap suit

How will generative AI be used in VFX?

By Ian Dean published

We ask those working in the industry today to predict the future of filmmaking.

AI
AI will change VFX; a rocket launch is broadcast on an LED wakk

"AI has the potential to revolutionise VFX" says Chaos' Kam Star

By Ian Dean published

Why and how AI could give 3D artists greater power.

3D
AI and game development; people in a hotel

The future of game development and AI

By Ian Dean published

From 3D modelling to animation and scripting, how AI is being used.

AI
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives