Discover how Langara College alumni Clint Hocking went from Fine Arts student to Creative Director at Ubisoft, shaping iconic franchises like Splinter Cell, Watch Dogs and Assassin’s Creed.
From Langara to Ubisoft
Clint Hocking first enrolled at Langara College in the early 1990s without a clear destination in mind. Fresh out of high school, he signed up for a mixture of general courses – Philosophy, History, English, Science – hoping they would spark inspiration and help guide his next steps. While that clarity didn’t come immediately, a strong foundation of learning from Langara College set Clint on the path to becoming one of the most influential Creative Directors in the video game industry.
"I had no idea what I wanted to do,” Clint recalls. After a brief period working odd jobs in graphic design and visual arts, Hocking felt drawn to storytelling. Unsure if he would be accepted into a creative writing program, he leaned back on his talents for design and enrolled in Langara’s Fine Arts program.
The Fine Arts program provided Clint with two years hands-on, multidisciplinary training, from drawing and painting to sculpting and media, offering both employable skills and a transferable portfolio for further study. That portfolio helped him successfully apply to the University of British Columbia Creative Writing program, eventually attaining a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.
While a student, he developed a passion for video games which led to an interest in the mechanics behind the on-screen action, such as scripting, level mechanics, and player psychology. He tinkered with level editors in Doom and Unreal Tournament, eventually creating and sharing his own custom-designed levels. On a whim, he applied to an open position at Ubisoft, a French video game company that had recently established an office in Montreal, Quebec after their success with the platform game Rayman. To his surprise, he was hired.
With a little bit of luck, the thing you want to do will find you.
A foundation of creativity
Looking back, Clint credits Langara with giving him more than technical skills. The College provided an environment where he could explore freely and grow as an artist and as a person.
The small class sizes allowed him to discover the learning style that fits him best. “I learn best by doing. I need to make things to understand them,” he says. “That’s something I figured out at Langara, and it’s guided me ever since.”
Clint preaches the immense value for creatives in going wide and embracing each lesson as it comes. “Langara didn’t just teach me how to draw, it taught me how to see,” he says. “I learned how to look at the world differently, how to be subjective, how to be abstract. Langara opened so much of the creative world to me.”
Langara was a safe space – physically, cognitively, emotionally, intellectually – to explore my interests, my identity, my creativity.
That mindset helped him push his creative boundaries and shaped his career of AAA game development. Over the past two decades, he has worked on internationally acclaimed franchises including Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Splinter Cell, and Assassin’s Creed, gaining a reputation for bold, narrative-driven design.
Lifelong learning in the world of game development
For Clint, video game design is the ultimate collaborative art form. Unlike traditional mediums where a single artist or writer can shape the work alone, modern games require massive teams working toward a shared vision.
“The games I work on are incredibly complex,” he explains. “At this scale, there are hundreds of people contributing. My role is often to understand people’s needs and requirements to help shape the box we’re working in.”
Clint thrives in environments where he can learn while creating, often seeking out roles that push him beyond routine.
“If I’m not learning something new, I’m not as inspired or effective. That’s why I’ve moved between studios and franchises. I want to keep pushing at the edges of the box, seeing how wide we can make it while still having it work.”
Clint’s design philosophy revolves around giving players space to explore: “The most rewarding part of a game is the experience of the player. I want to give them as wide a box as possible so they can do something unique,” says Clint.
This philosophy has allowed him to continually reinvent himself as a creator, while collaborating with some of the most talented professionals in the industry.
Advice for Langara students and aspiring creatives
Clint encourages future Langara students to embrace uncertainty and curiosity. “I went there because I didn’t know exactly what I wanted and it was a place to explore,” he says. “And, you know, it was affordable. There was less pressure financially, so I had time to figure out my ideas, my expressions. It’s where you can find your creative voice.”
And for aspiring creatives still searching for their focus, Clint offers a simple reminder: stay curious.
“I feel lucky that the thing I wanted to do found me,” he reflects. “But I also think I found it by being willing to explore. Langara gave me that start, and it was a super rewarding part of my life.”
Clint offered one last piece of advice for students who are unsure of their desired destination: “You can begin anywhere. There isn't one way that it begins.”
The Langara Fine Arts diploma is a strong 2-year foundation that emphasizes hands-on skills, materiality and ethical practices within a supportive community of makers, learners and thinkers.
No matter where you're headed, Langara has the programs and courses to help you get there: Explore all programs at Langara.
