Final Project

As I reach the halfway point in my final design project, which involves creating a 3D model of a car in Autodesk Maya, I’m reflecting on my progress and what I still want to improve. I’ve always been passionate about car design, and this project allowed me to explore that interest through 3D modeling. Learning this skill brings me closer to my dream of exploring car design as a career. This project taught me that mastering even a single detail, like the curve of a fender, requires patience and precision.

At the start, I was both excited and intimidated by the idea of modeling something as complex as a car, but I’ve made significant progress. So far, I’ve completed the basic shape of the car’s body and have started detailing the wheels, headlights, and grille. A big milestone for me was learning how to use Maya’s various modeling tools, especially the extrude and bevel functions, which have been crucial in shaping parts of the car with smooth and realistic edges.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been working with the different views and aligning all the parts correctly in 3D space. It’s been tricky making sure that each side of the car is symmetrical, especially when adding details like door handles and mirrors. I’ve also struggled with creating smooth curves on the body of the car; sometimes, the polygons look blocky, and it’s taken a lot of trial and error to make the surfaces appear smooth. To improve, I’ve been watching tutorials and getting feedback from my teacher, who suggested using specific smoothing techniques and adjusting edge loops to create a more polished look.

This project has really pushed me to be patient and precise, and I feel like I’ve learned a lot about 3D modeling in general. I’ve gained confidence in using basic tools in Maya and have a much better understanding of how complex shapes are built in a 3D space. Completing this project has given me more confidence to tackle complex design tasks. Looking back, this project was a stepping stone in discovering how much work goes into creating designs that not only look good but feel real. For the next phase, my main goals are to work on the interior details and add materials and textures to the model to make it look more realistic. I also plan to explore rendering options so that I can present the final model in a professional way. Overall, this project has been challenging but rewarding, and I’m excited to see how much more I can learn and improve before the year ends.