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About

Chengkai Xu is a technical artist and creative technologist focused on production HMI, interactive installations, and XR storytelling, building real-time visual systems while balancing artistic quality, runtime performance, and reliable delivery.

Skills

Technical

C#, Python, Java, Pascal, GLSL shader programming, Kanzi, Unity (XR Toolkit), TouchDesigner, OpenCV, YOLO, performance profiling (Perfetto, RenderDoc), and Git/GitHub workflows.

Creative

Interactive narrative design, technical art pipeline collaboration, real-time visual development, video/audio post-production, and visual storytelling.

Language & Communication

Fluent in Chinese and English; beginner in Spanish; currently learning Arabic; with strong communication, collaboration, presentation, and self-learning capability.

Professional Experience

RightwareThunderSoft

Technical Artist / HMI Engineer

Rightware / ThunderSoft|2025.06 - Present

Delivered production-grade in-vehicle HMI and IVI features in Kanzi, optimized GLSL shaders on Qualcomm automotive chipsets, and improved troubleshooting speed through profiling and automation scripts.

Studio NOWHERE

Interactive Developer Intern

Studio NOWHERE|2025.02 - 2025.05

Built multimodal exhibition interactions with TouchDesigner, Unity, and WeChat Mini Program pipelines, prototyped AIGC workflows with ComfyUI, and reduced Unity mini-game package size by 30% through asset-loading refactors.

Yeah Two Design

3D Visualization & Rendering Intern

Yeah Two Design|2023.06 - 2023.08

Supported end-to-end commercial spatial visualization and delivery, from lighting and PBR animation rendering to on-site photography support and final post-retouching.

Education

University College London

MA, Immersive Factual Storytelling

University College London (UCL)

2023.09 - 2024.12 | Distinction

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

BA, Digital Media Arts

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU)

2019.09 - 2023.08 | Distinction