The world has adapted to the advent of digital 3D design capabilities and now, there are more ways to utilize 3D art in design than ever before!
While computer 3D imagery has been around for quite a while, the capacity of computer-generated imaging and computer-aided design has increased exponentially. As such, there are ample opportunities to break into a professional career that revolves around 3D work, or simply a very rewarding hobby.
If you’re looking for jobs in art that are promising and well-paying, 3D design is a good industry to get involved with.
The 3D design world is widespread and multi-faceted, so let's explore the opportunities available!
What Do 3D Artists Do?
In broad terms, 3D artists use computer software to create a multitude of different designs.
Specifically, 3D artists and designers generally tend to work in the video game and media industries but are also present in places like engineering and architecture.
Video Game Industry
3D designers in video games can work with any platform, like console, PC, or mobile.
They may design characters, assets and objects, scenery, environment, animation, special effects, and any other visual elements.
Media
In media, 3D artists may work on TV and movies as well as advertising and social media.
They may design characters, objects, environments, and scenery, and work on animation for animated films/shows and CGI.
For things like advertising, think of all the bells-and-whistles ads out there these days designed to grab your attention, even if it’s just text and shapes. A 3D artist may have a hand in such creations.
Engineering
In some instances, a 3D designer may be needed in engineering and architecture companies. Creating mock-ups of prototypes, buildings, civic spaces, and more is a valuable part of these industries.
While many industries like these will have an engineer who also knows how to design, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that a specific designer could be required.
What Is the Career Outlook for 3D Arts in 2023?
3D art and design is a hot career right now, and just looking at the Bureau of Labor’s stats on Special Effect Artists and Animators, we can see that the projected growth of the industry is quite high: an 8% increase between 2022 and 2032 (faster than average).
3D is being integrated into all sorts of areas in life, and it will likely continue to grow, which will require new, unique, never-before-seen jobs and skills.
When you throw yourself into the world of 3D design, you can potentially be at the forefront of new advances in how we interact with the world!
Now, 3D artists are mostly in the entertainment industry, but more and more, 3D design is being used in places like hospitals to teach doctors. Rather than using cadavers, some lessons can be taught to med students using interactive computer models.
Other innovations that might come to pass include using more VR in media and for real-life tasks like remote working and training, augmented reality (AR) being used more often, and 3D printing as a viable and sustainable manufacturing resource.
Imagine VR being used to train doctors, emergency personnel, and pilots. Other uses could be sustainable tourism (like virtual tours through places that suffer when people actually visit), VR sports, and driver’s ed.
AR could be used for wayfinding, as could 3D printing, especially for visually impaired people. A touchable scale model of a place can help people who can’t see get a better understanding of the lay of the land. And imagine if you had an AR map to help you navigate through a tricky train station in a foreign country!
All this is to say that the career prospects for 3D artists and designers are currently quite good, and is expected to be even better in the near future. Should you want to pursue any 3D art and design jobs, you will have many opportunities to do so!
Titles and Salaries
According to ZipRecruiter, these are the top 10 3D design jobs with their average salaries in 2023. Of course, the wide range in salaries refers to the difference in seniority, experience, and places where designers actually work.
- 3D Game Artist
Salary range: $64,000-$173,500 per year - 3D Modeling Artist
Salary range: $54,500-$140,000 per year - 3D Technical Artist
Salary range: $127,000-$152,000 per year - 3D Production Artist
Salary range: $36,500-$60,000 per year - 3D Environment Artist
Salary range: $54,500-$140,000 per year - 3D Digital Artist
Salary range: $44,000-$114,000 per year - Lead 3D Artist
Salary range: $31,000-$48,500 per year - 3D Texture Artist
Salary range: $54,500-$140,000 per year - 2D 3D Artist
Salary range: $54,500-$140,000 per year - 3D Modeling Texture Artist
Salary range: $54,500-$140,000 per year
What Education and Training Do 3D Artists Need?
To get into the 3D design career path, you need to have the right education and qualifications.
Typically, you’ll need at least a bachelor's degree in an area such as graphic design, animation, fine arts, or a related field.
Additionally, you need to have a strong portfolio showing your artistic talents, processes, and technical skills.
It is possible to get a 3D design job without a degree, however, if you have a strong enough portfolio. A certificate from a 3D design course or proof of an internship or training can also help your employability.
Ensure that you know the industry standard programs before you start applying for jobs. You must have in-depth knowledge of the programs mainly used in the sector you're entering, such as Blender, SketchUp, AutoCAD, Maya, ZBrush, and 3ds Max.
What Skills Can I Work On to Become a Professional 3D Artist?
To begin your journey into the life of a 3D artist, you may want to start with the basics.
Anatomy and Proportion
It’s important to know how to create a realistic-looking person or animal and have that skill in your back pocket, even if you don’t end up using it for your job (like if you make fantasy creatures instead). Having that solid foundation first makes you a better artist and gives you more credibility.
Lighting and Shading
Likewise, even though computer programs generally create lights and shadows for you on your 3D designs, you still need to know how to choose a good light source and know how it will affect the visuals of your scene.
Composition and Elements
Make sure you know the foundations and elements of art and design as well as different compositional styles. Once again, you need to be able to walk the walk when it comes to technical terms, or else you may be seen as ignorant.
Teamwork, Collaboration, Communication
Not artistic skills, but necessary ones, being able to work well with a team is incredibly important. At any given time as a 3D designer, you will likely need to be communicating with many other contacts in many other departments. You all need to be able to collaborate to make sure you have the same vision in mind so that the project will work.
Innovation
Having a good imagination and problem-solving skills is crucial in the artistic field. Practice thinking outside the box, creating your own characters and designs on the side, and continuing to push your brain and creativity. You don’t want to freeze up when someone asks you to come up with something!
You can practice all these skills and more with drawing classes! Even if you already have an education in the arts, there are so many advanced drawing classes out there that can still teach you a thing or two.
Simply search “drawing classes near me” to find a suitable class and teacher. You can even get private tutelage, meaning you will receive individualized, immediate help and feedback. On Superprof, you can find a drawing instructor who can help you learn anything you’d like about drawing and 3D design.
3D art and design is an exploding industry, so if you’re interested in entering that field, there has never been a better time to study and practice your art!
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