Alumni in Action - Andrew Kuhar '05

Andrew Kuhar '05

Cleveland, OH
 

Company: thatgamecompany (https://thatgamecompany.com)
Job Title: Senior UI/UX Product Designer

Growing up with strong Slovenian roots in a close-knit family, Andrew Kuhar ’05 was always surrounded by creativity. With two older brothers, Nick ‘03 and Mark ‘01, Andrew followed in their footsteps after graduating from St. Felicitas Grade School. From an early age, video games became a shared language among Andrew and his friends - not just for play, but for appreciating artwork, storytelling, and strategy. Combined with a lifelong love of drawing, these interests quietly began shaping a future he couldn’t yet see.

At Saint Ignatius, Andrew found space to explore that creativity. One of his favorite memories came from Poster Club when he helped organize a video game tournament on campus where he proudly designed the poster himself, featuring characters like Zelda and Link. It was a small moment, but one that blended community, art, and passion in a way that mattered greatly. He also participated in Pallbearers, Labre, and other service programs, experiences that broadened his perspective and reinforced the call to be a Man for Others.

Several faculty members left a lasting impact on Andrew. Jim Skerl ‘74 instilled the importance of empathy and understanding of others. Andrew carries these lessons with him today, along with his well-worn copy of The Little Prince. Mike Howard Hon. ‘19 encouraged Andrew’s artistic instincts, often weaving drawing into history lessons through sketches of Gothic cathedrals, battles, and cities. And in Jon Jarc’s ‘93 class, Andrew was first introduced to Photoshop, CGI, and 3D modeling. One project, a rendered scene of a cabin near a waterfall at sunset, opened his eyes to the power of digital art, texture, color, and light.

Looking back, Andrew credits Saint Ignatius with teaching him how to think and communicate. Writing and analysis were challenging at the time, but those skills became invaluable in college and throughout his professional career. Just as importantly, Ignatius helped him understand that excellence comes in many forms, there is no single path to growth, and students are encouraged to discover how they learn best. After high school, Andrew attended The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA).

Andrew’s career path became more clear when a fellow classmate encouraged him to look into CIA’s digital arts program, which was piloting a game design emphasis. There, he was introduced to the work of thatgamecompany, who revealed to him that video games could evoke beauty, emotion, and connection, not just conflict.

Today, Andrew serves as a Senior UI/UX Product Designer at thatgamecompany, a fully remote studio of more than 200 employees supporting Sky, a live service game, with millions of players worldwide. His work spans both the game itself and internal tools designed to help colleagues do their jobs more effectively - improving collaboration and, ultimately, the player experience.

Before his current role, Andrew worked with the Cleveland Orchestra, helping redesign their digital presence, especially during the rapid shift brought on by COVID. Andrew touched everything from ticketing to marketing and web experience.

Having navigated layoffs, freelance work, and start-ups, Andrew is grateful to have found a collaborative home where he can lead, mentor younger designers, and share knowledge within his team. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue growing at thatgamecompany while helping others develop along the way.

For current and future Wildcats, Andrew emphasizes the power of community. Saint Ignatius places students among a wide range of people and perspectives. An opportunity, he says, that should never be taken for granted. “Build relationships, be open to others, break down barriers, and help when you can. Those connections, formed early, often last a lifetime and shape who you become.”