Develop:Brighton is taking place again between the 14th and 16th of July in Brighton. The event brings the entire game-making industry together – from micro indies to global studio superstars, to learn from each other, share ideas and experiences, network and do business in a friendly and inclusive environment.
Sumo Digital will once again be there this year taking part in talks, hosting our famous Sumo Mixer and being on-hand to discuss any of your development needs.
Our 20+ years of experience in full development, co-development and development services has made us an industry leader in providing end-to-end game dev solutions. With the ability to scale up and down to suit a project’s need, as well as the vast expertise we have available to us from our developers worldwide, we can ensure that versatility and quality are the cornerstones of any solution we offer you.
Join our talks
Games:Edu Track Intro & Keynote: Apprenticeships & the Tacit Knowledge of Game Development
Tuesday 14th July 9:45am – 10:45 am
Following a brief introduction and welcome to the day’s events by track hosts Laurence Oldham and Dr Tom Cole, in this keynote, Sumo’s Director of Education Partnerships, Jake Habgood, explores the role of formal and informal apprenticeship in the games industry. Drawing on experience from his own early career at Gremlin Graphics and 20 years of leading training initiatives across industry and academia, the session examines how much of what defines an effective developer is not easily codified, but instead acquired through observation, collaboration, and participation in real production environments.
The talk focuses on tacit knowledge, the practical understanding of workflows, judgement, and team dynamics that emerges through close interaction with experienced colleagues. It argues that this form of learning is central to game development, where rapid iteration, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and shared problem-solving are essential. The session also considers how changes in working patterns, particularly the shift toward remote working, affect the transmission of this knowledge by reducing opportunities for informal exchange, mentorship, and apprenticeship-style learning.
The keynote reflects on the implications for studios seeking to build capability, maintain cultural cohesion, and support early career development, particularly where traditional learning pathways are disrupted. It outlines considerations for sustaining effective knowledge transfer and team development in modern production contexts, before concluding with a Q&A.
Session Takeaway
- Understand the role of apprenticeship, both formal and informal, in developing games industry skills.
- Recognise the importance of tacit knowledge in production environments.
- Identify the challenges remote working presents for knowledge transfer and team development.
- Consider approaches to sustaining effective learning and cultural cohesion within studios.
Exploring Practical Applications of the 80:20 Rule in Concept Art
Wednesday 15th July 3:00pm – 3:45pm
Join Gargi Roy, Concept Artist at Sumo’s sister studio Lab42, as she explores the practical applications of the 80:20 rule.
The Pareto Principle suggests that 80% of output comes from just 20% of input. For concept artists, this idea can be a powerful framework for deciding where to focus time, attention, and skill development, especially when working under tight deadlines and shifting project demands. In this session, a working concept artist will share how the 80/20 rule can be applied in practice: from rapidly learning new software and tools, to onboarding onto large, lore-heavy IPs, and prioritising daily tasks for maximum creative impact. The talk breaks down how to identify the set of features, skills, and decisions that consistently deliver extraordinary results. Attendees will leave with a practical, repeatable framework for improving efficiency, reducing wasted effort, and elevating their day-to-day performance as a concept artist in a production-focused environment.
Session Takeaway
- Using the 80/20 rule to understand softwares – what are the crucial elements we need to master to get the results we want?
- Creating workflows using the 80/20 rule.
- Using the 80/20 rule when trying to understand a new IP/lore/design principles.
- Planning and preparing for the end goal.
- Having an exit strategy to finish your concept pieces efficiently.
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