Van Phan

Van Phan is a facilitator at the intersection of storytelling, design, emerging technology, psychology, and animation. Van gained extensive experience in roles such as director, game developer, consultant, animator, technical director, educator, and curriculum designer. He has worked on high-profile projects for DreamWorks, Naughty Dog, Disney, 2K, Sony Imageworks, Epic games, Paramount, Digital Domain, Activision, and others, contributing to titles like Harry Potter, Fortnite, Shrek, Madagascar, Ice Age, Uncharted, and How to Train Your Dragon.
As an educator, Van has taught and been invited to speak at over twenty institutions, including Stanford, AAU, LSU, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Duke. He advises universities and studios on workflows, systems, and curricula, integrating industry best practices and systems thinking. 

Van's directorial projects have premiered at festivals such as Tribeca, SXSW, and SIGGRAPH, earning numerous accolades, including Best of Show at SIGGRAPH. Recently, he has explored AI, VR, and game engines, collaborating with Meta's "VR for Good" and the Diana Award NGO to create "Upstander," a VR social impact project used in behavioral therapy research. He was a technical director and instructor for the Unreal Animation Fellowship 2023 and consulted with the Art Directors Guild on game engine curriculum development.

Van's diverse career path has provided him with both breadth and depth of knowledge, enabling him to connect various fields innovatively. He is passionate about fostering creativity and helping others achieve their "aha" moments and "wow" experiences.


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Office hours are Monday, 9 am - 11 am EST. Additional hours are 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Room Teer105 Please book a meeting, or you can stop by to chat without an appointment.