Behind the Scenes with VFX and Tech Art Intern Alina Varavva
- Sierra Division
- Jul 23
- 3 min read
It’s a pleasure to welcome Alina Varavva, our newest VFX and Tech Art intern!
Alina greatly impressed us with her skills in simulation, VFX, tech art tools, and Unreal Engine. But more than that, it was her eagerness to learn and grow that stood out; a quality we greatly value when hiring new artists to join the team.
Continue reading below for our Q&A with Alina, and learn more about her path into VFX and what inspires her.
Alina, tell us a bit about yourself and where you are studying?
Hi! I’m Alina, a real-time VFX artist studying at Futuregames in Stockholm in the Animation and VFX program.
I guess I've always been what people call creative. I’ve tried a lot of things, from painting furniture to drawing, and creating embroidery patterns for my Etsy shop.
Everything changed when I installed Blender. I was completely drawn into 3D. I started by learning a little bit of everything like modeling, rigging, and animation. Pretty soon I started focusing on effects more.
After a few years of learning on my own, I found the Futuregames program nearby and decided to take the next step and study VFX more professionally.
What attracted you to a career in real-time VFX for games?
I enjoy it most when something makes my brain work so hard it feels like it’s about to overheat in a good way. Real-time VFX gives me exactly that feeling.
There’s a creative side to effects that makes it not just challenging, but also fun and satisfying. That mix of pressure and creativity is exactly what attracted me. Also, effects are the first thing that visually attracts and mesmerizes me in games.
What type of visual effects do you enjoy creating the most?
The first work I published on ArtStation was a northern lights effect. Even though I’ve learned how to create many different kinds of effects since then, I still enjoy environmental VFX the most, especially anything related to fire, smoke, and natural forces.
These kinds of effects can add a powerful feeling to a scene and make the atmosphere feel more alive and emotional.
In your opinion, which games feature awesome VFX and why?
It’s hard to pick just one game. I try to regularly review new games with a focus on visual effects. It helps me understand how other VFX artists think and what the current production standards are.
One of the recent games whose effects I really admired was The Alters. It was pure visual eye candy.
What are you most excited to learn during your time as an intern?
Sometimes when I’m creating a new effect, I feel like something is missing like it needs that extra touch but I can’t quite figure out what it is. That’s usually a good sign to take a break and play something new.
When I look at VFX in other games, I often realize what my own work is lacking. Seeing how other artists approach timing, color, or motion helps me understand what could make my visual effects feel better or more complete.
I’m really glad to have this internship opportunity alongside such experienced professionals who care deeply about details, and to have the chance to contribute to the atmosphere they’re creating.
I’m especially excited to learn what it takes to deliver high quality production ready VFX as part of a real development team. Being surrounded by talented artists is a huge opportunity for growth.
What goals do you hope to achieve by the end of your internship?
My goal is to become more confident as a professional and to know that I can handle any task that comes my way.
I also want to improve my workflow, learn how to work efficiently in a team and gain a better understanding of what’s expected in a real production environment.
What's one piece of advice you would share with students looking for their first internship?
It’s a stressful time. I’d suggest being open with people, talking to professionals and trying to enjoy the process and enjoy yourself too.
At the same time work hard on your portfolio. Polish it, ask for feedback, and polish it again!
We are always on the lookout for talented Artists and Developers to join our studio. Even when there are no openings listed, we invite unsolicited portfolio submissions through our Careers page here.
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