Our Integration Program
Are you ready to take a peek behind the scenes of being a Bricker in the first month on the job? In this interview from The Brick Picture series, we spotlight our Integration Program. To date, 53 artists successfully completed the one-month-long program and became fully-knowledgeable members of our artist community.
Péter Horváth, Lead Artist and Integration Manager will share valuable insights about the journey our new artists embark upon. From structured onboarding and mentorship to hands-on tasks and skill development, newcomers can anticipate guidance that gives them the necessary expertise to thrive at Brick.
Join us as we explore the goals, experiences, and challenges of this unique program!
Péter Horváth will help you navigate your first month at Brick
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got involved in the program?
I’m one of Brick’s Shareholders, Lead Artists, and with regard to the program that started in January 2020, I’m the Integration Manager. I’ve been working at Brick for more than 10 years, so I have a broad overview of what qualities 3D artists at Brick need to have to succeed. I build on this to check how our newcomers complete the tasks we give them, following up on their progress.
What is the goal of the program?
Before the program, we often found ourselves scratching our heads in the morning about what tasks to give newcomers. So we wanted to bring structure to the onboarding – to cover the entire workflow with them and track their development. Each newcomer gets a mentor from the workgroup they become part of. Apart from the mentor, the Creative Director of the workgroup and I follow our new colleagues’ progress and help where we can.
“The goal of the Integration Program is to help our new colleagues settle in, master our workflow without stress, and be prepared to work on real-life projects.”
Mentorship support is the backbone of our Integration Program
What can newcomers expect from the program?
Within the first days, they get to know the office and the people who work here through an office tour. Then, the assigned mentor shows our folder structures and the software used. András, Brick’s CEO gives our new colleagues a presentation on Brick’s values and philosophy. Márton, Chief Creative Director, shows them a ‘Brick workflow evolution’ presentation to help them understand why and how we create visuals the way we do. And of course, they receive plenty of tasks to fill in knowledge gaps they might have, both theoretical and technical aspects. By successfully completing the program, they obtain the same comprehensive knowledge as the other artists at Brick.
Do they get the chance to work on real-life projects during this period?
Brick newbies work on so-called simulated tasks that are specifically designed for the Integration Program. So they don’t work on real-life projects that we deliver to clients. We might ask them to create drafts for real-life projects if they are ready. But as long as they are in the program, the stakes are much lower.
Green box training
What feedback do you receive from 3D artists who completed the program?
We get a lot of praise for how well-organized it is. Many 3D artists are relieved that we don’t throw them in at the deep end. But let me show you what feedback we’re received from one of our artists who recently completed the program:
“The program is a great opportunity to adopt the workflow and culture of the company without feeling pressured. You also get to know your team and can ask any of your colleagues for help, besides your mentor. Overall, it’s a real confidence booster to start working like this!” – Barbara Frits, Junior 3D Artist
What are the greatest challenges newcomers face at Brick?
Creating Brick-standard drafts and post-production would be the most problematic areas to master as a newcomer. This is where you rely most on your artistic abilities. Márton’s presentation on the artistic approach and the mentors’ support does help them in this respect.
How can you assist them with practical matters such as finding nearby restaurants and understanding parking arrangements, to mention a few?
We designed our very own Orientation Cards that have two primary functions. On the one hand, they are informative and fun. On the other hand, they invite our new colleagues to playfully explore various segments of the company, get to know others and test themselves in action through serious, absurd, or fictional tasks related to the particular topic. The cards cover a wide array of topics: from the details of the company’s private health insurance to our capacity planning rules. Years ago, the visually engaging card deck had been shortlisted for the ArtHungry Award during Hungarian Design Week.
Our Orientation Cards include info about Brick and fun tasks to help you settle in fast
How do you help them become part of the team?
Even though Brick is a company of nearly 100 people, we work in small groups of 7-8 which we call workgroups. You become part of your workgroup from the first day. From what I see, our new colleagues settle in quickly, and they become particularly close to this small community. There are company parties and workshop days once in a while and regular team-building sessions for the workgroups separately.
Several 3D artists from our company decided to explore new opportunities elsewhere before eventually returning to Brick. What happens to those artists who wish to rejoin or return from maternity leave? Are they also included in the program or a modified version of it?
At Brick, we continuously evolve. We update our workflows and adopt the latest technologies and software. Artists who choose to come back to Brick should catch up with these advancements. They are expected to participate in the program, but we take into account the duration of their leave. While some returning artists complete the entire program as is, others may only need a fast-track variation, which lasts a week or two.
“We warmly welcome back 3D artists who want to re-join Brick, offering them full support for a smooth integration and confident collaboration on future projects.”
Do you want to join our community? We’re always looking for talents from around the world.
