About me
For me, creating is both profession and practice.
I'm Daniel Nikoi Djanie, an Art Director, Illustrator, Character Designer, Author and Visual Development Artist based in Berlin. For more than two decades, I've been building worlds, shaping experiences and bringing ideas to life.
The Profession
For more than two decades, I've been helping bring ideas to life through stories, worlds and experiences people can see, feel and remember.
My professional journey began under the artist name Gilmec. In 2006, my first published comic, Santaman – Patron der Gerechtigkeit, was released by Ehapa Verlag, marking the beginning of my professional career. Soon afterwards, I illustrated several book covers, including the Wolf-Gang series by bestselling author Wolfgang Hohlbein for Schneiderbuch.
A few years later, I was recruited to work in Shanghai, where I spent four years in animation and games. I began as an Animation Director before joining Electronic Arts, where I entered the games industry and laid the foundation for my future career in Art Direction and creative leadership.
From Shanghai, my journey continued in Berlin, where I worked as Senior Artist, Lead Artist and Art Director at studios including GameDuell and Wooga. My role extended beyond visual development. I collaborated closely with leads across multiple disciplines to shape creative vision, align teams and mentor artists through guidance, feedback and individual development. It was during those years that I discovered how much I enjoyed helping ideas, people and teams grow together.
Alongside my studio work, I've collaborated for many years with Trojan Horse was a Unicorn (THU), one of the world's leading communities for artists working across concept art, illustration and game development.
Books, however, have always remained part of my creative life. My first picture book was published by Tulipan Verlag in 2015. Today, I'm proud to continue that journey with Carlsen Verlag, where my latest picture book has been published and several new projects are already in development.
The Practice
I'm a creator at heart. It's simply what I love.
Outside of commissioned work, very little changes.
I draw, write and fill sketchbooks with ideas. I build worlds, develop original characters, experiment with new technologies, dance, photograph, explore consciousness and follow my curiosity wherever it leads. Some explorations grow into books, games or illustrations. Others quietly shape the next project instead.
Not everything I create needs to become a finished piece. Sometimes the greatest value lies in the act of exploration itself. It's where I discover unexpected connections, sharpen my instincts and continue growing, both as an artist and as a person.
Not because I have to.
Because I can't imagine not doing it.
Creating has never been something I switch on when work begins and off when it ends. It's how I stay curious, continue learning and remain connected to the joy that brought me into this profession in the first place.
Some ideas become finished projects.
Others quietly shape the next one.
Both matter.
What Drives Me
Nothing inspires me more than seeing an idea connect with people.
To me, that's where the real magic begins. The moment an idea stops being something personal and becomes something shared. A story someone carries with them. A character that makes them smile. A moment of wonder, curiosity or recognition. That's what keeps me creating.
I've always been fascinated by creativity's ability to bridge the distance between people. It allows us to share experiences, exchange perspectives, learn from one another and occasionally see the world through someone else's eyes. Sometimes a story lets us escape reality for a while. Sometimes it helps us return to it with fresh eyes. Both matter to me.
Through my work, I get to explore inner worlds as well as imaginary ones. I can travel through the past, imagine possible futures and ask questions that don't always need immediate answers. I can build worlds, shape experiences and create characters that invite people to laugh, wonder, reflect and connect.
That's the kind of work I want to put into the world.
Work with integrity.
Work with curiosity.
Work that celebrates joy as much as meaning.
Work that creates meaningful connections.
Looking Forward
We live in extraordinary times. The pace of technological and cultural change can feel both exciting and unsettling. It challenges many of the assumptions we've built our creative lives upon. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but I've come to see these moments of uncertainty not only as challenges, but also as opportunities to rethink how and why we create.
Today, I'm bringing together everything I've learned across illustration, publishing, animation, games, leadership and visual development to explore new creative possibilities while staying grounded in the values that have always mattered to me: curiosity, craftsmanship, integrity and genuine human connection.
Whether I'm working with a pencil, a paintbrush or emerging technologies, my focus remains the same: creating meaningful experiences, telling honest stories and helping good ideas find their way into the world.
I'm excited by ambitious collaborations, meaningful challenges and people who believe that creativity still has the power to bring us closer together.
Because despite all the uncertainty, I remain deeply optimistic about one thing:
Creativity is one of the few things that grows the more we share it.
Daniel Nikoi Djanie
Art Director · Illustrator · Author · Visual Storyteller
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