3D Design & Modeling FAQs

A freelance 3D designer refers to a professional who works to create three-dimensional models, visual effects, and animations to be used in different creative projects such as films, video games, and advertising campaigns. The profession involves creating special effects to resemble particular briefs using hand-drawing techniques combination and computer software.

With the high level of competition in the industry, getting and convincing a client can be quite challenging. You can use the following tips to convince a client to hire you:

• Know who and what type of clients you need
• Create a portfolio or a website
• Advertise yourself on different social media platforms 
• Network in person
• Attend designing conferences such as FinTech Design Summit, UXBristol, Clarity Conference, Design Thinking "At Home," and ACE! without borders.
• Join 3D designing groups and associations such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts, Society of Illustrators, The Society for News Design, Society for Experiential Graphic Design, and International Color Consortium 

It is effortless to learn the 3D design basics. You can master the tools and software used in the trade within a few weeks. However, understanding 3D modeling and all its intricacies and all the different paths can be quite challenging to understand. Fortunately, you can easily take up a short online course on the same, and you’ll be a pro within a few months of both learning and practical work. 

Apart from turning the client's vision, their brand image together with the proposition into the graphic display, the freelance 3D designer can undertake different tasks as part of the 3D design project. Some of the other roles of a 3D designer are: 

• Review and enhance 3D designs for existing products.
• Manage documentation of both new and revised 3D designs.
• Develop design layouts for complex projects using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools.
• Develop primary sketches and models for the final selection of product designs. 

There are different ways you can always work with a freelance 3D designer. You can consider using a partnership option where you work through an agency. You can use platforms such as 99designs. 

In case you want proper communication with the designer, you can always consider hiring them directly and have contacted them on the phone or another method to explain what you need from them. Having clear communication, hiring them now, and minimizing revisions will help you stay on budget. 

With the 3D design field becoming flooded with freelancers, it is quite challenging to know who you should hire. You can use the tips below to hire the best freelance 3D designer:

Consider if the freelance 3D designer receives your calls or how long it takes before replying to your email before hiring.

• Consider how low a freelance 3D designer takes before replying to your email. 
• Ask for a portfolio or website.
• Ask if the designer will be available for some revisions. 

It is easy to become a freelance 3D designer; however, succeeding in the field requires many commitments. Below are some of the essential tips you can use to grow as a freelance 3D designer. 

• Get your first clients fast.
• Brand yourself and your business name 
• Create a minimum viable portfolio 
• Ensure you over-deliver for your first clients 
• Widen your network 
• Have a mentor and learn from them 
• Follow relevant blogs 
• Further 3D design education

The main thing that potential employers look at before hiring you is your portfolio. They need to assess the quality of your work and how much your skill set would be beneficial to them. If you are fresh out of school, you ought to put your expertise to practice by landing on your first clients. You do not have to look for those that pay handsomely, but you can work on a few projects for your friends and family, even if it will be pro bono work.

You also need to stay up to date with all the trends in the industry by keeping tabs on influencers, popular blogs, and podcasts. You should also strive to further your education as the creative sector is ever-evolving, meaning you shouldn’t be left behind.

To become a freelance 3D designer, you first need to get several qualifications related to design software, computer programming, and engineering principles. There is a need to have an associate's or a bachelor's degree in 3D design, architecture, engineering, or computer animation to become a top freelance 3D designer. 

As a 3D designer, you will have to maintain a visual portfolio that will demonstrate your creative design capabilities and technical skills to any potential client. 

Here are some of the top 3D design software applications any freelance 3D designer should have: 

• Sketchup: This is the perfect software for anyone who wants a robust but powerful 3D modeling program. Use the available tools to design from scratch or consider using the warehouse to get things to move faster. 
• TurboCAD Deluxe: It offers strong 2D and 3D tools that come with editing and drag and drop functionality. It allows the 3D designer to import existing designs.
• Blender: This is an excellent open-source 3D software application. Developed by the Blender community and it is free to use. Have great features such as animation, modeling, rigging, compositing, video editing, and rendering.
• DesignCAD 3D Max: An affordable CAD software application that is very easy to use. Versatile and designed in a way that most people can learn in a short space of time. 
• AutoCAD: Computer-aided design software that engineers, architects, and construction experts use to create 2D and 3D drawings. 

There is always a massive demand for 3D artists these days. Getting a great job will not take that long. However, despite the 3D designers being on-demand, more and more people are getting into the 3D design field. For you to stand out from the crowd, you should strive to become a specialist in one category of 3D designing instead of solely becoming a generalist. Some of the specialisations you can make as a 3D designer are: 

• Architectural visualisation
• 3D modeling
• 3D concept artist
• 3D animation
• 3D graphic design
• 3D printing 

National average hourly rate for freelance 3D designers ranges between $25 and $55. However, the rates can be higher for experienced and more skilled designers. The design complexity will always affect the cost, just as the designer's experience, education, and training levels.

Other factors that can affect the charges include location and market condition. Freelance 3D designers who are still building their client base may take cuts and charge a little lower than freelance 3D designers with a vast client base. 

Many perks come with being a freelance 3D designer, and most full- time employees will always envy their freelancing lifestyle. What many people don't know is that there are lots of challenges the 3D freelance designers face. Below are some of the common challenges: 

• Lack of enough capital: Most freelance 3D designers do not have enough capital to purchase the right 3D design software applications to help start their careers as 3D freelance designers. Lack of enough money might be a significant hindrance in them succeeding as freelance 3D designers.
• Competition: Getting into a 3D freelance design has become more and more popular in the recent past. More people are getting into freelance designing, which has made it very competitive. An increase in competition levels has led to a reduction in the rates clients charge. 

There are lots of benefits that come with hiring a freelance 3D designer. Working with a freelance 3D designer will help save on expenses such as offering annual bonuses, health insurance, and other benefits associated with employing a full-time 3D designer.  

Furthermore, you avoid all the bureaucracies involved in working with a firm - not to mention how much you’ll end up saving while working directly with an individual. While working with a freelancer, you’ll have one-on-one communication until the end of the project. 

Furthermore, freelancers tend to be more dedicated to individual clients as they only work for one at a time, meaning they pay more attention to your work. Projects take a shorter period to be completed when a freelance 3D designer handles them from start to finish.