Caloundra Transport Corridor
Developed the interactive digital twin at Aurecon, translating engineering designs into an explorable real time environment.
Unreal Engine · Digital twin
DEVELOPER · TECHNICAL ARTIST · 3D GENERALIST
Sam Ghafari.
Making ideas work.
I build real time applications, production tools and interactive 3D experiences. I combine code and creative thinking to make complex requirements work.
Unreal Engine · Unity · C# · Python · React · WebGL
PROJECT COLLECTION
Proof in the work.
Tools, systems and experiences built around a real challenge. Choose a perspective to explore.
49 projects
3Ds Max Unreal live link plugin
Built the live link workflow for scene and material updates between 3ds Max and Unreal Engine.
Python · 3ds Max · Unreal Engine
Gloria Sports Arena
Led 3D art for the Gloria Sports Arena image film, bringing the architecture and facilities to screen.
Lighting · Rendering · Architectural CGI
Conquest of Istanbul
Technical direction for a large scale projection mapping production commemorating the conquest of Istanbul.
Projection mapping · CGI production
Plugin for Power Bi
Developed a custom plugin bringing 3D GIS visualisation into Power BI reports for Transport for NSW.
Power BI · GIS · 3D visualisation
CRR Experience Centre
Worked with the V2i team on the Cross River Rail digital twin and interactive Experience Centre.
Digital twin · VR · Projection mapping
Signal Sighting & Train System
Developed train simulation and signal sighting systems at Aurecon for multiple Australian rail projects.
Rail simulation · Signal sighting
3D Gaussian Splatting
Explored the capture and reconstruction of a physical space as an interactive 3D scene.
Gaussian splatting · Web 3D
UniSC’s CAVE2
Adapted the Caloundra digital twin for the University of the Sunshine Coast’s CAVE2 display.
Unreal Engine · Immersive display
3Ds Max Aerial Painter
Built a tool that paints vertex colours from area images to prepare 3D environments for Unreal Engine.
Python · Vertex colour · 3ds Max
3D Watch Visualization
Created an interactive watch visualisation for exploring product detail in a browser.
Real time 3D · Product visualisation
Tesseract VR
Developed a spatial VR puzzle game during my time at Dreambox.
Unreal Engine · VR
Adeland Boutique
Developed a character customisation game for the Adeland world.
Unity · Mobile
Digital Face
Wrote software to interpret Kinect facial motion and animate a digital face in real time.
Kinect · Motion capture
AR for Architecture
Developed an AR application that turns printed design drawings into interactive 3D building models.
Unity · Image tracking
VR Cardboard App
Built a Cardboard VR application for navigating property tours through gaze based interaction.
Unity · 360° media · Gaze input
Piyalepasa Hologram
Combined real time visualisation and holographic presentation for the Piyalepaşa showcase at MIPIM.
Holographic display · Real estate
Next Level
Created a real time property experience to support exploration and decision making at Next Level Residence.
VR · Interactive applications
Ozak Hologram
Connected an Unreal Engine real time experience with an interactive holographic property presentation.
Unreal Engine · Holographic display
AcarBlu Residence
Developed an immersive property experience for exploring AcarBlu Residence.
VR · Real estate
NextDC WebGL website
Built a NEXTDC website prototype that brings interactive 3D into the browser.
WebGL · Interactive 3D
Bilgili Holding VK 108
Contributed to a real time property visualisation experience for Bilgili Holding’s VK108 project.
Interactive applications · Real estate
Adeland TVC
Contributed rendering and 3D artistry to the Adeland television commercial and animated webisodes.
Rendering · Animation · CGI
Photorealistic 3D Render Piyalepasa
Created photorealistic visualisation work for the Piyalepaşa İstanbul development.
Lighting · Rendering · Architecture
TV Commercial
Combined technical direction and 3D rendering for an ice cream commercial.
CGI · Lighting · Rendering
Battle of Alexander
Led technical and rendering work for the Battle of Alexander proof of concept trailer.
CGI · Simulation · Cinematic rendering
Blood of Eden
Led technical work and rendering supervision for the Blood of Eden CG trailer.
Maya · Arnold · CGI
Hyundai GTL
Contributed to the immersive dome presentation for the Hyundai GTL groundbreaking ceremony.
Dome projection · CGI · Live event
World Petroleum Congress
Combined technical direction and development for a large scale World Petroleum Congress projection mapping presentation.
Projection mapping · Live experience
CRR Virtual Production
Developed a Cross River Rail digital twin used as a virtual environment in a television advertisement.
Digital twin · Virtual production
Guardian of Colors
Developed a Unity adventure game set in the colourful world of Adeland.
Unity · Interactive entertainment
Hard Target Game
Built Hard Target, an interactive game in the Adeland series.
Unity · Interactive entertainment
Adelia AR
Developed an augmented reality experience that brings Adel characters into the user’s surroundings.
Unity · Character interaction
A Racing Game for Kids
Created a racing game that connects interactive play with a stationery retail experience.
Unity · Retail gamification
AR in Architectural
Explored augmented reality as an interactive way to present architectural designs.
Unity · Architectural visualisation
AR App
Built an educational AR experience that connects learning materials with interactive 3D content.
Unity · Education
EDQ
An interactive project for Economic Development Queensland, supporting exploration of development and planning information.
Web · Community planning
Cross River Rail
Worked with the V2i team on a digital twin and public facing experience for Cross River Rail.
Digital twin · Interactive visualisation
TfNSW Richmond River Bridge
Developed an interactive visualisation at Aurecon to communicate the Richmond River Bridge project.
Real time 3D · Infrastructure
Piyalepasa VR
Developed an immersive VR experience for exploring the Piyalepaşa İstanbul project.
Unreal Engine · Virtual reality
Ozak Mipim France
Connected a physical maquette, interactive lighting and real time animation for Özak’s MIPIM presentation.
3D printing · Lighting · Real time animation
A Vision in Projection Mapping
Translated a refinery and its processes into an immersive dome projection experience.
Industrial CGI · Dome projection
Ozak Immersive Real Estate
Created an interactive real time visualisation and VR experience for an Özak property presentation.
Unreal Engine · VR
Turbine Simulation
Worked with engineers to translate turbine design, assembly and operation into detailed 3D visualisations.
Engineering · Simulation · Rendering
Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway Ramp
Developed a digital twin of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway Ramp to make the design easier to explore and understand.
Real time 3D · Engineering communication
Wharf upgrade program
Developed an interactive wharf visualisation that lets the public explore proposed upgrades and provide feedback.
WebGL · Public engagement
Showreel
A film bringing together work in real time 3D, games, digital twins, XR and projection mapping.
3D art · Development · Creative technology
Microsoft HoloLens Mixed Reality
Created an interactive mixed reality showcase at Aurecon, connecting engineering models, data and spatial interaction.
HoloLens · Mixed reality
AR Kinect
Built a motion tracked retail experience that turns people’s movements into interactive AR particle effects.
Kinect · Motion tracking · Real time particles
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HOW I APPROACH A CHALLENGE
Connect the dots.
Make it possible.
A few examples of the processes I connect to solve a specific problem.
Different challenges. Connected thinking.
01 / UNDERSTANDA repetitive
A repetitive
artist workflow.
Scene changes need to move from 3ds Max into Unreal Engine.
02 / CONNECT3ds Max.
3ds Max.
Python. Unreal.
A custom live link tool connects the modelling workflow to the engine.
03 / MAKE IT WORKLive updates.
Live updates.
Less repetition.
Models and material assignments stay in sync across the two tools.
THE RESULT3ds Max to Unreal live link
AN EXAMPLE FROM MY WORKExplore the live link tool ↗
CAPABILITIES & TOOLS
What I can do.
I’m a creative problem solver. I connect code, visual craft and production workflows to turn ideas into working tools, applications and experiences.
Unreal Engine
- Level and environment design
- Blueprint development and Python tools
- Custom shaders, materials and lighting
- Real time optimisation, VR and simulation
Unity & C#
- Application and game development
- Gameplay, UI and gamification
- Live data and backend integration
- Custom shaders and mobile optimisation
Code & production tools
- Python automation and C# development
- Custom tools and production pipelines
- 3ds Max to Unreal workflow integration
- Third party integrations and data workflows
Web & interactive 3D
- React interfaces and applications
- Babylon.js and WebGL experiences
- WebXR and browser based interaction
- Interactive product and data visualisation
3D production
- Modelling, UVs, texturing and PBR materials
- Lighting, rendering and look development
- 3ds Max, Maya and production workflows
- Animation, CGI and projection mapping
Immersive & spatial technology
- AR, VR and mixed reality experiences
- Photogrammetry and point cloud workflows
- Gaussian splatting, NeRF and NVIDIA Omniverse
- Digital twins, simulation and 3D GIS
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
Creative instinct.
Technical curiosity.
I’m Sam. I find a way to make it work.
My background spans software development, technical direction and 3D production. I bring those perspectives together to solve practical problems, from automating a creative workflow to building an interactive application.
Sometimes the answer is a custom tool. Sometimes it is a simulation, a data integration or an immersive experience. The starting point is always the problem, not a particular medium.
Read my résumé ↗EXPERIENCE
Built over time.
Bank’dSenior Unity DeveloperFeb 2025 to Present
Real time Unity applications for financial education and gamified investment experiences. Backend integration, dynamic data, investment tracking, parental controls and reward systems. Architecture, code review, developer mentoring and collaboration with design teams and contractors.
Unsigned Studio · AureconSenior DeveloperFeb 2021 to Jan 2025
Digital twins and immersive applications for major Australian infrastructure: Suburban Rail Loop, Sydney Airport, Perth Airport, Inland Rail and Gold Coast Light Rail. Rail simulation, signal sighting, WebGL, WebXR and a custom 3D GIS plugin for Power BI.
V2i GroupDeveloper & Senior 3D ArtistApr 2018 to Jan 2021
Interactive visualisation for infrastructure and urban planning, including Cross River Rail and its Experience Centre. Real time Unity and Unreal Engine applications, large scale data pipelines and research across VR, AR and WebGL.
Dreambox · IstanbulDeveloper & Technical DirectorNov 2011 to Jan 2018
3D visualisation, games, VR, AR and multimedia production. Technical direction, production pipelines, architectural experiences and interactive storytelling, with mentoring and delivery across multidisciplinary teams.
Didar Film3D ArtistMay 2002 to Jan 2009
Modelling, texturing, lighting and rendering for animation, advertising, film and promotional productions. Worked with creative teams, directors and clients to deliver 3D assets and visual effects.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Qualifications.
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science
University of Plymouth, UK
2009 to 2011
Studies in computing, with a focus on 3D computer graphics, real time technologies and rendering.
LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS
Certificate IV in Cyber Security
TAFE Queensland
Issued March 2026
VU23220 / 21 Certificate
TryHackMe
Issued January 2026 · Expires January 2029
AWS Academy Graduate, AWS Academy Cloud Architecting
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Issued August 2025
VU23215 Certificate
TryHackMe
Issued July 2025 · Expires July 2028
VU23216 Certificate
TryHackMe
Issued July 2025 · Expires July 2028
LET’S MAKE SOMETHING WORTH EXPLORING
Your next idea.
Let’s build it.
info@ghafari.co.uk ↗+61 403 835 798Gold Coast, Australia