Unit 11

Work I have undertaken

At the start of the year we had a 10 week rotation in which we were given 5, 2 week-long projects covering a range of software and skills. The first of these was a video project.

Personally, I enjoyed the video project the most. We were given complete freedom with what the video was on - it could have been an animation, documentary style video, a video about yourself etc. I loved being given complete creative freedom on a project which is the main reason I loved this short project so much. The rest of the projects were enjoyable on the whole, and I learned a lot of new skills and software, including Blender.
We also got to do a couple of client led projects which was a great experience for us. I got to learn what it is like to work alongside a real life client and understanding their needs and wants. It also provided a great experience with having to meet deadlines with work.

Skills I have learned

Since September I have learned and developed a range of skills, mainly in Blender, a 3D modelling software. Over the last few months I have been trying to learn as much as possible on Blender, improving my skills in modelling, lighting, rendering, making materials, animating, character design, realism etc etc. I have also learned how to work efficiently in a group thanks to a couple group projects since the start of the year.

Areas I enjoyed and struggled with

The areas I really enjoyed were video creating and editing, and 3D design. Video editing is something I have been doing for a while, so I was able to pick it up fairly quickly. Working in 3D was something completely new to me however, but I still managed to pick it up quickly.

One area in particular I struggled with was working in After Effects. I found the workspace in AE far too confusing and overwhelming, and the shortcuts were entirely different to similar tools in Photoshop, despite both applications being made by Adobe.

Learning Outcome 3.1

What made this piece of work really stand out to me is the unique art style the artist has used here. It's a very cosy, calming look but it still looks like a model that is in the real world. It's quite rare to see this art style done so well, and this is a great example of it. The colours also work really well together - nothing is too 'in your face' and the blues and oranges provide a nice contrast, adding to the overall look of the image.
As someone who is trying to learn 3D and have a broad skillset allowing me to have a range of options for jobs, university courses etc, learning to produce work in varying art styles - such as this - would be hugely beneficial.
I can already produce work on a similar level to this, I would just need to spend some more time researching the art style and how to create content in that art style.
Skills I believe I would need to improve to be able to make content as-good-as and better than this are lighting and procedural materials.

Source: ArtStation

What made this stand out for me is the texturing of this model. It looks very clean and crisp, as if someone has just taken a photo of the real thing. The design of the model is great too with all the varying shapes, details and lighting.
What makes this unique is the sort of sci-fi yet realistic look, it reminds me a lot of Lockdown from Transformers

Source: Spline

What made this catch my attention is again the art style, and I especially love the shading on the blue parts of the image.  It's hard to put into words the feeling this art style gives off, but it's very relaxing and inviting. It's quite a unique art style but reminds me a bit of the Zelda games.

Source: Instagram

I have been a fan of this artists work for a while now. What I love about their work is that their art is both stylised but still looks realistic. What I also really like is that he 3D prints his work so that he has a real, physical model that you can hold, something I am very interested in.

Source: Instagram

This art piece caught my attention for similar reasons to the first art piece I looked at. Again it's a cosy art style, but what I love about this is how there are so many items and a lot going on, yet it doesn't feel crowded or overwhelming. Everything is made of simple, very smooth and rounded shapes, the lighting is soft, the colours are fairly desaturated - almost like they are pastel colours.
What I will take from this is that you can create really good pieces of art without having to overcomplicate things - the most complex shape in this entire piece has 6 sides.
The skills I need to develop to be able to produce content similar to this is getting a better understanding of lighting, colour palettes and how colours work together and modelling.

Personal Development Plan

Potential Role: Modeller/Model Maker

What is a model maker good at;

• Being able to draw and create models

• Good understanding of form, colour, texture, light, and knowing how they all work together

• Anatomical knowledge

• Communication skills

• Knowledge of all aspects of the animation process

'Tools of the trade'

Different softwares used in this industry are Blender, Maya, RenderMan and 3ds Max.

Who does a modeller work with?

A modeller would typically work with concept artists, character designers, riggers, animators and director(s).

How to get there

Fortunately, a modeller can be an entry level job. Although a degree in animation, computer graphics, fine art or anything equivalent is preferred, they are not essential.
The most important thing is a strong portfolio of work showing creativity, techincal skills, examples of models that you have produced.

Personal Statement

Whether it be designing assets for a game, modelling a character, or a straight forward animation, 3D artists aim to make people’s experience the best that it can be through innovative and creative thinking. They take design concepts on paper and make them into a digital reality that gives a visible and lasting impact. All of this led me to choose creative media as my career path. 

My initial desire for creative media came from an interest in performance cars – why was the McLaren Senna so called? This led me to conduct an investigation into Ayrton Senna, and an Instagram account soon followed (@sennachamp) which gained in excess of 40,000 followers. I created graphics and video content for the account, and also started to take an interest in other creators and their content. After a couple of years of running the account, I got in contact with the Williams F1 team, resulting in me having an affiliate link with them.

Out of the many pathways down which a degree in creative media could lead you, the 3D design element is the one I favour the most. I would like to develop my 3D skillset further by looking at digital sculpture, texturing, unreal engine, lighting, rendering etc. This could include taking my 3D designs and placing them in a games context or similar. I believe this course would help me play to my strengths that I have developed over the last 18 months, as well as help me to express my creativity in new ways by broadening my skills in the world of 3D.

As a fast learner who thrives on creative thinking, I enjoyed studying related subjects at A level, but after finding out those specific subjects weren’t for me, I moved to HCA where I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my studies in the Creative Media Production and Technology course. 3D design is the area that excites me the most. I am fascinated by seeing things being printed before my eyes, using this relatively new technology. Having watched many videos on how different forms of 3D media are constructed just demonstrated to me how many different possibilities and career paths there are in this area.

I went straight from school to HCA, studying a 2 year course on creative media. During my time there, I have had a real insight into how digital media is used in the real world. From the designing of items in blender, through to the printing of 3D models and working with local businesses on different creative projects, my skills are constantly put to the test. Teamwork and creativity are extremely important, and the skill and experience I’ve developed have helped me become a more confident person who’s more willing to take on challenges. These skills are invaluable and also required in the creative team in which I study.   

My career goal is to become a 3D artist, to be a part of an industry that takes on challenging projects which will help to shape the modern digital world we live in, an industry which is constantly looking to improve and express creativity in never seen before ways through being innovative and forward-thinking. I believe that my passion and creativity combined with my thinking and eagerness to learn will give me all I need to excel in this degree.

Mock Interview

Taking part in a mock interview was a really beneficial experience that helped me identify my areas of strength in an interview scenario, and also areas for growth. The overall experience was helpful and I'll definitely refer back to it in the future.

The value of preparation was among the most important lessons learned from the event. As we only had just under an hour or so to prepare for the mock interview, I felt uneasy going into the mock interview. The lack of preparation was clear because I stuttered a lot and had to think about my answers a lot, something that probably wouldn't have happened had we had more time to prepare. However, I still managed to answer most of the questions with some confidence, and I proved to myself that I was able to come up with an answer on the spot, even if it took me a few seconds to think about it.

I also noticed that I need to work on my body language. I noticed that although my responses were ok, I sometimes showed nervous tendencies, including fidgeting with my hands or not maintaining eye contact. I now know to concentrate on keeping consistent eye contact, sitting up straight, as non-verbal signs may show a lack of confidence.

The mock interview was a fantastic learning opportunity all around. It provided me with an opportunity to practice interview techniques, and we recieved helpful criticism. I feel more ready and prepared to face actual interviews going forward after having this experience. 

CVs

Personal Statement

Whether it be designing assets for a game, modelling a character, or a straight forward animation, 3D artists aim to make people’s experience the best that it can be through innovative and creative thinking. They take design concepts on paper and make them into a digital reality that gives a visible and lasting impact. All of this led me to choose creative media as my career path. 

My initial desire for creative media came from an interest in performance cars – why was the McLaren Senna so called? This led me to conduct an investigation into Ayrton Senna, and an Instagram account soon followed (@sennachamp) which gained in excess of 40,000 followers. I created graphics and video content for the account, and also started to take an interest in other creators and their content. After a couple of years of running the account, I got in contact with the Williams F1 team, resulting in me having an affiliate link with them.

Out of the many pathways down which a degree in creative media could lead you, the 3D design element is the one I favour the most. I would like to develop my 3D skillset further by looking at digital sculpture, texturing, unreal engine, lighting, rendering etc. This could include taking my 3D designs and placing them in a games context or similar. I believe this course would help me play to my strengths that I have developed over the last 18 months, as well as help me to express my creativity in new ways by broadening my skills in the world of 3D.

As a fast learner who thrives on creative thinking, I enjoyed studying related subjects at A level, but after finding out those specific subjects weren’t for me, I moved to HCA where I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my studies in the Creative Media Production and Technology course. 3D design is the area that excites me the most. I am fascinated by seeing things being printed before my eyes, using this relatively new technology. Having watched many videos on how different forms of 3D media are constructed just demonstrated to me how many different possibilities and career paths there are in this area.

I went straight from school to HCA, studying a 2 year course on creative media. During my time there, I have had a real insight into how digital media is used in the real world. From the designing of items in blender, through to the printing of 3D models and working with local businesses on different creative projects, my skills are constantly put to the test. Teamwork and creativity are extremely important, and the skill and experience I’ve developed have helped me become a more confident person who’s more willing to take on challenges. These skills are invaluable and also required in the creative team in which I study.   

My career goal is to become a 3D artist, to be a part of an industry that takes on challenging projects which will help to shape the modern digital world we live in, an industry which is constantly looking to improve and express creativity in never seen before ways through being innovative and forward-thinking. I believe that my passion and creativity combined with my thinking and eagerness to learn will give me all I need to excel in this degree.

Potential Courses

I see myself working in the 3D industry as a career, whether that be making assets for games, designing toys, creating characters ready for animation etc. I stumbled upon the degree level course 'Games Design' at the College Road Campus at Hereford College of Arts.

Course Overview

The course teaches animation, character design, environmental art, game mechanics and programming using blueprints. They also use industry standard software such as ZBrush, Substance Painter and Unreal Engine.

In the first year we simply lay down the ground work - understanding the historical and cultural contexts of games design, gaining an understanding of the industry's foundations. We also develop skills in software for 2D and 3D design, character, asset and environment modelling, together with animation.

In the second year we focus on advancing our skills and knowledge, deepening our contextual understanding of games design, studying contemporary issues and trends influencing the industry. We look at the art of storytelling within games by exploring narrative structures, character development and interactive storytelling techniques. We also learn about character rigging, environmental design and level creation. We also get to work on live briefs in the second year, collaborating with industry professionals and building up a portfolio to showcase our skills and creativity.

In the third year the focus switches to our Final Major Project (FMP), an opportunity to show our artistic and technical abilities. We can create either a fully functional game, or even just a significant component of one, either way we get to show off the skills we have acquired during the course. We'll also start to look forward to working in the professional world, refining our portfolio, preparing for job applications and engaging with industry networks.

I definitely want to apply to this course as it will allow me to develop skills in 3D, learning techniques I haven't yet learned and using industry standard software I would likely be working with in my career.

Portfolio

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