USV Faculty

Rick has over 20 years of creative leadership in AAA mobile games, animation, and interactive media, having directed high-performing art teams and delivered innovative visual storytelling for some of the world’s most recognized studios, including EA, DreamWorks, JamCity, Zynga, Gameloft, and NBCUniversal. His expertise spans building scalable 2D/3D pipelines, aligning artistic vision with business strategy, and mentoring top creative talent.

In his most recent role as Art Director at Zynga on Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells, Rick led the art team to consistently deliver visually compelling, brand-true content for a global audience. His career also includes key art direction roles on major IPs such as FarmVille 2, Oregon Trail: American Settler, and narrative-driven games in partnership with NBCUniversal and the Avatar franchise.

Rick’s contributions extend beyond production—he has shared his expertise as an instructor and guest lecturer at institutions including New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and the School of Visual Arts. His personal creative philosophy, rooted in curiosity, storytelling, and collaborative craft, reflects his dedication to nurturing the next generation of game creators .