Justin Jacox is a passionate, multi-talented composer & sound designer. Colleagues acknowledge him for his understanding of orchestral composition and use of color in his works, his extensive knowledge of Audiokinetic Wwise, along with his inherent ability to lead. He has composed music for Nwain (online animated comic) and Doll Drop (mobile game) and provided music and sound for 23 student video games and 5 student animations. His work as a sound designer on student animation Super Secret, helped lead to the animation being featured at the 2014 Seattle Independent Film Festival and the 2014 Los Angeles International Film Festival. In addition to his work as a composer & sound designer, Justin is a voice actor and an accomplished vocalist.
Prior to his pursuit of a career in Music and Sound Design, Justin displayed the characteristics of a natural-born leader. He would often be the first to step up to a challenge and the first to want to try something different. That determination from his younger years followed him into middle school, giving him the confidence to join choir in 8th grade. With no formal training or singing experience, Justin still found ways to shine and was selected for the WMEA Junior All-State Choir within his first three months of singing. As music continued to be his food of love, he started to shy away from sports, dropping them all together after an injury in his junior year of high school. During his time at Kamiak High School, Justin spent only one year in the beginners’ choir before he was placed in the advanced choir as well as advanced barbershop and vocal jazz groups. While he received basic music theory in choir, Justin strived for more and joined the AP Music Theory class, which was invite-only for students that showed proficiency in basic music theory. After he passed AP Music Theory with an A, he went on to score a 5 on the AP exam. In 2011, Justin went on to win 1st place for best Large Men’s Ensemble from WWIA/WMEA and 3rd place for best Large Mixed Ensemble from WIAA/WMEA, in his senior year. He also received special recognition for his dedication and hard work from the Mayor of Mukilteo (Joe Marine) for achieving a high level of excellence in music performance.
He studied at DigiPen Institute of Technology in pursuit of a B.A. in Music and Sound Design with a focus on video game development. Justin actively pushes the boundaries of his knowledge and explores techniques that are not often taught in an academic environment. Among his peers and professors, Justin is considered one of the hardest working and most professional students. He will often spend hours working towards solutions to challenging, thought-provoking problems. His dedication to his craft is noticed and well-received from those who get to work with him.
The following is a list of Justin’s accomplishments/awards:
Prior to his pursuit of a career in Music and Sound Design, Justin displayed the characteristics of a natural-born leader. He would often be the first to step up to a challenge and the first to want to try something different. That determination from his younger years followed him into middle school, giving him the confidence to join choir in 8th grade. With no formal training or singing experience, Justin still found ways to shine and was selected for the WMEA Junior All-State Choir within his first three months of singing. As music continued to be his food of love, he started to shy away from sports, dropping them all together after an injury in his junior year of high school. During his time at Kamiak High School, Justin spent only one year in the beginners’ choir before he was placed in the advanced choir as well as advanced barbershop and vocal jazz groups. While he received basic music theory in choir, Justin strived for more and joined the AP Music Theory class, which was invite-only for students that showed proficiency in basic music theory. After he passed AP Music Theory with an A, he went on to score a 5 on the AP exam. In 2011, Justin went on to win 1st place for best Large Men’s Ensemble from WWIA/WMEA and 3rd place for best Large Mixed Ensemble from WIAA/WMEA, in his senior year. He also received special recognition for his dedication and hard work from the Mayor of Mukilteo (Joe Marine) for achieving a high level of excellence in music performance.
He studied at DigiPen Institute of Technology in pursuit of a B.A. in Music and Sound Design with a focus on video game development. Justin actively pushes the boundaries of his knowledge and explores techniques that are not often taught in an academic environment. Among his peers and professors, Justin is considered one of the hardest working and most professional students. He will often spend hours working towards solutions to challenging, thought-provoking problems. His dedication to his craft is noticed and well-received from those who get to work with him.
The following is a list of Justin’s accomplishments/awards:
- Super Secret, student animation – featured at 2014 Seattle Independent Film Festival and 2014 Los Angeles International Film Festival
- OcuBlocks, student game – featured at DigiPen Games Booth at PAX Prime 2014; selected for submission to IndieCade, The PAX 10, and IGF
- Miraculous, student game – featured at 2015 Seattle Transmedia & Independent Film Festival 2015 DigiPen Game Awards (selected): 2nd place: Best Poetic Experience
- Relic, student game – featured at DigiPen Games Booth at PAX Prime 2015; featured at 2015 Seattle Transmedia & Independent Film Festival; selected for submitted to IndieCade and IGF 2015 DigiPen Game Awards (selected): 1st place: Best Spoken Dialog 1st place: Best Characters 2nd place: Best Music 2nd place: Best Sound Design 2nd place: Claude Comair Game of the Year
- Magnolia, student game - selected for competition 2016; DigiPen Game Awards: Community Service Award; Best Junior Game: 3rd place; Best Music: 3rd place; Most Poetic Experience: 3rd place;
- Chrono Drive, student game - selected for competition 2016; DigiPen Game Awards: Best Multiplayer Experience: 3rd place; Best A.I.: 2nd place; Best Graphics Tech.; 2nd place; Best Technology: 2nd place;
- Neilos - selected to showcase at PAX 2016 in the Indie Games Section.
- 2013 – Interviewed for first featured article on student sound design at DigiPen Institute of Technology.
- 2011 – 1st place award for Large Men’s Ensemble from WIAA/WMEA, 3rd for Large Mixed Ensemble from WIAA/WMEA, and a special recognition for dedication and hard work from the Mayor of Mukilteo (Joe Marine) for achieving a high level of excellence in music performance.