Topology describes the underlying structure of a 3D surface: how polygons are arranged, how edge flow is directed, and how density is distributed.

Good topology enables clean deformation, predictable optimization, efficient shading, and stable data transfer between tools. Poor topology creates long-term production debt that compounds at every stage.

While topology is often treated as a component skill, I list it as a dedicated specialty because of its outsized impact on production quality.

I maintain proprietary libraries of base meshes and topology patterns for common forms and deformation scenarios. These are hand-authored, explicitly designed solutions — not auto-generated approximations — tuned for real production constraints such as animation, simulation, shading, and performance.

Retopology is the process of restructuring an existing surface to improve flow, efficiency, or deformation behavior. I regularly perform retopology as both a corrective and optimization step — whether refining sculpts, adapting scanned data, or restructuring legacy assets.

This includes reducing density where it is unnecessary, reinforcing areas that require deformation fidelity, and ensuring topology remains stable across LOD transitions and downstream tools.

Beyond individual meshes, I approach topology strategically at the system level. This includes planning topology standards for entire asset families, defining LOD hierarchies, and designing projection and transfer strategies between mesh resolutions.

By combining topology expertise with production systems thinking, I help ensure assets are built once and reused efficiently — minimizing rework while maximizing visual and technical consistency across a project.

Topology expertise supports:

• Character and creature deformation • Real-time asset optimization • LOD generation and management • Simulation and effects preparation • Long-term asset reuse across pipelines