Open to new roles & select freelance
Availble for Freelance
michael ko
michael ko
michael ko
michael ko
Art Director — 3D, Motion & Launch Films
3D Art Director
BASED IN CALIFORNIA, SF
Directing product launches, Ads
Featured
Featured
Work
Work
Product launches, brand films, and the 3D systems behind them — including the in-house pipeline I built at Vagaro, now behind +750 projects.
AURA
product launch
2026
2026
AURA
product launch
2026
2026
reveal
product launch
2024
2024
reveal
product launch
2024
2024
connect
product launch
2025
2025
connect
product launch
2025
2025
Hampton - f.a.c.t
interactive
2025
2025
Hampton - f.a.c.t
interactive
2025
2025
The Last Notebook
advertisement
2023
2023
The last notebook
advertisement
2023
2023
vagaro hardwares
web
2026
2026
vagaro hardwares
web
2026
2026
About
About
michael ko
michael ko
I'm an SF-based art director working in 3D, motion, and launch films. Over 14 years — at Apple, Instagram, and now Vagaro — I've specialized in making complex, technical products feel human.
I'm an SF-based art director working in 3D, motion, and launch films. Over 14 years — at Apple, Instagram, and now Vagaro — I've specialized in making complex, technical products feel human.
I'M A SF-BASED 3D ART DIRECTOR AND A SOLO AGENCY. A CREATIVE WHO NEVER STOPS LEARNING — DRIVEN BY CHALLENGES, SHAPED BY EXPERIENCE.
What sets my work apart is that I build creative capability, not just creative deliverables. At Vagaro I founded the company's first in-house 3D pipeline from scratch — an initiative that now powers +750 projects and has measurably grown hardware revenue. I'm drawn to emerging technology not for its own sake, but for what it makes possible in the right creative hands.
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My
My
EXPERTISE
EXPERTISE
(1)
DESIGN
My design process goes beyond aesthetics. It's about uncovering what makes a brand distinct and giving it a visual language that's entirely its own.
(2)
ART DIRECTION
Vision, leadership, and precision — art direction that elevates every project, every team, and every outcome with uncompromising intent.
(3)
R&D & Innovation
Emerging technology excites me — not for what it is, but for what it makes possible when put in the right creative hands.
(1)
DESIGN
My design process goes beyond aesthetics. It's about uncovering what makes a brand distinct and giving it a visual language that's entirely its own.
(2)
ART DIRECTION
Vision, leadership, and precision — art direction that elevates every project, every team, and every outcome with uncompromising intent.
(3)
R&D & Innovation
Emerging technology excites me — not for what it is, but for what it makes possible when put in the right creative hands.
(1)
DESIGN
My design process goes beyond aesthetics. It's about uncovering what makes a brand distinct and giving it a visual language that's entirely its own.
(2)
ART DIRECTION
Vision, leadership, and precision — art direction that elevates every project, every team, and every outcome with uncompromising intent.
(3)
R&D & Innovation
Emerging technology excites me — not for what it is, but for what it makes possible when put in the right creative hands.
(4)
CGI & 3D Production
PRO
From concept to final render, I bring the technical depth and artistic vision to make products look better than reality.
(5)
Motion Design & ANIMATION
Motion design is where art direction and time intersect — transforming a great image into an unforgettable experience.
(4)
CGI & 3D
PRO
From concept to final render, I bring the technical depth and artistic vision to make products look better than reality.
(5)
Motion Design &
ANIMATION
Motion design is where art direction and time intersect — transforming a great image into an unforgettable experience.
(4)
CGI & 3D Production
PRO
From concept to final render, I bring the technical depth and artistic vision to make products look better than reality.
(5)
Motion Design & ANIMATION
Motion design is where art direction and time intersect — transforming a great image into an unforgettable experience.
Motivation
Motivation
Motivation
What drives me is technology's power to democratize creativity. From AI to time-tested tools and learnings, what once required a full studio is now in everyone's hands. That's what keeps me passionate, curious, and constantly pushing forward as a creative.
What drives me is technology's power to democratize creativity.
From AI to time-tested tools and learnings, what once required a full studio is now in everyone's hands. That's what keeps me passionate, curious, and constantly pushing forward as a creative.
Design communicates what words can't.
A single well-crafted visual can cross language barriers, bypass skepticism, and connect with people on a purely human level. That's what drew me to this craft — and what keeps me here.
What drives me is technology's power to democratize creativity. From AI to time-tested tools and learnings, what once required a full studio is now in everyone's hands. That's what keeps me passionate, curious, and constantly pushing forward as a creative.
Design communicates what words can't.
A single well-crafted visual can cross language barriers, bypass skepticism, and connect with people on a purely human level. That's what drew me to this craft — and what keeps me here.
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
vagaro
art director/ 3D, Product LAunch
2022 - Present
At Vagaro, no two days look the same. I've led 3D asset creation for hardware products, directed animations for product launches, produced advertisements that drive customer growth, and designed digital mockups for tradeshows and conferences.
Beyond the work itself, I mentor co-artists in 3D production — a role that's shaped me into an art director that cross-functional teams trust and rely on.
vagaro
art director/ 3D, Product LAunch
2022 - Present
At Vagaro, no two days look the same. I've led 3D asset creation for hardware products, directed animations for product launches, produced advertisements that drive customer growth, and designed digital mockups for tradeshows and conferences.
Beyond the work itself, I mentor co-artists in 3D production — a role that's shaped me into an art director that cross-functional teams trust and rely on.
3d AR/product designer
2017 – 2022
At Instagram, I bridged AR design and product thinking to create camera experiences rooted in user research and intention. Every project was driven by a clear goal — increasing engagement in meaningful ways. I also contributed to building creative tools that expanded how users express themselves and share within the platform.
3d AR/product designer
2017 – 2022
At Instagram, I bridged AR design and product thinking to create camera experiences rooted in user research and intention. Every project was driven by a clear goal — increasing engagement in meaningful ways. I also contributed to building creative tools that expanded how users express themselves and share within the platform.
apple
senior 3d artist
2017
At Apple, the role was focused and the bar was uncompromising. As a Senior 3D Artist, I produced hyper-realistic product visualizations across multiple projects — work that lived directly on Apple's interactive websites and served as the first visual touchpoint for their newly released models.
apple
senior 3d artist
2017
At Apple, the role was focused and the bar was uncompromising. As a Senior 3D Artist, I produced hyper-realistic product visualizations across multiple projects — work that lived directly on Apple's interactive websites and served as the first visual touchpoint for their newly released models.
Freelance
freelance
3d CREATIVE
2012 – PRESENT
2010 – 2017
Over a decade of freelancing built the foundation of who I am as a creative. From artist to senior lead, my responsibilities grew as my craft earned trust. Working alongside studios like Scholar, Buck, Imaginary Forces, and A52 pushed my design and animation to a professional level that leapt my career forward — and never let it settle.
Freelance
3d CREATIVE
2012 – PRESENT
Over a decade of freelancing built the foundation of who I am as a creative. From artist to senior lead, my responsibilities grew as my craft earned trust. Working alongside studios like Scholar, Buck, Imaginary Forces, and A52 pushed my design and animation to a professional level that leapt my career forward — and never let it settle.
Favorite
STack
Favorite
STack
Favorite
STack
maya
software
SOFTWARE
S/W
3d
3d
Autodesk Maya is where my digital worlds begin. From initial modeling to final render, it's the core tool that empowers every stage of my 3D production pipeline.
adobe suites
software
S/W
Design/anmmation/comp
Design/anmmation/comp
Design/anmmation
Adobe Suite is my go-to across the full production pipeline outside 3D. Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects cover everything from early concepting and design to final animation and compositing.
substance painter
software
SOFTWARE
S/W
3d painting/texturing
3d painting/texturing
Substance Painter is where the magic happens. It's my primary 3D texturing tool — bringing material depth, surface detail, and hyper-realism to the digital worlds I build, one layer at a time.
AI
TOOLS
S/W
Full AI + 3D Pipeline
Full AI + 3D Pipeline
I developed a production method combining CGI-rendered products with AI-generated environments — now a repeatable standard used to produce high-end launch films without a full crew.
redshift
software
S/W
rendering
rendering
Redshift is my renderer of choice — a GPU-accelerated powerhouse that delivers production-quality results at a fraction of the render time, without compromising a single detail.
v-ray
software
S/W
rendering
rendering
When hyper-realism is non-negotiable, V-Ray is the answer. The industry benchmark for photographic CG imagery — trusted by brands like Apple and Nvidia — it's the renderer I rely on when the standard for visual fidelity is absolute.
RECOGNITION
RECOGNITION
RECOGNITION
MOTIONOGRAPHER
iphone diorama
My personal project iPhone Diorama was handpicked by Motionographer as a featured Quickie — accumulating over 830K views on Vimeo and earning unsolicited coverage from Fast Company, Feel Desain, AWN, and TrendHunter. A personal creative pursuit that resonated far beyond what was expected.
MOTIONOGRAPHER
iphone diorama
My personal project iPhone Diorama was handpicked by Motionographer as a featured Quickie — accumulating over 830K views on Vimeo and earning unsolicited coverage from Fast Company, Feel Desain, AWN, and TrendHunter. A personal creative pursuit that resonated far beyond what was expected.
VIMEO STAFF PICK
The Trials and Tribulations of Being a Skeleton
& Fail Again, Fail Better
The Trials and Tribulations
of Being a Skeleton
&
Fail Again, Fail Better
Vimeo Staff Pick — twice. Scholar's 'The Trials and Tribulations of Being a Skeleton' at 160K views and Blind's 'Fail Again, Fail Better' at 270K — both handpicked by Vimeo's editorial team for standout creative work.
VIMEO STAFF PICK
The Trials and Tribulations of
Being a Skeleton
&
Fail Again, Fail Better
Vimeo Staff Pick — twice. Scholar's 'The Trials and Tribulations of Being a Skeleton' at 160K views and Blind's 'Fail Again, Fail Better' at 270K — both handpicked by Vimeo's editorial team for standout creative work.
Instagram — Shipped Feature
COUNTDOWN STICKER
I designed the end-to-end animation for Instagram's Countdown Sticker — a Stories feature that transformed how users build anticipation and celebrate moments together. The impact reached far beyond everyday users, becoming a go-to tool for celebrity events, product launches, and music artist album releases at scale.
COUNTDOWN STICKER
I designed the end-to-end animation for Instagram's Countdown Sticker — a Stories feature that transformed how users build anticipation and celebrate moments together. The impact reached far beyond everyday users, becoming a go-to tool for celebrity events, product launches, and music artist album releases at scale.
Ready?
Ready?
LET'S CONNECT
©2026 MICHAEL KO DESIGN
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©2026 MICHAEL KO DESIGN
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