Conclusion
For me, the most important lesson was learning about dimensions. Initially, I didn’t pay much attention to realistic proportions. Over time, I had to learn the correct heights for desks, chairs, and so on, particularly when building them from scratch rather than relying on ready-made assets. The same applies to doors, beds, and all the other elements of a space. When designing spaces for people in a game, it is important to ensure that every size makes sense.
I would often review my blockouts with the rest of the art team and consult with 3D artists or animators to ensure that our characters would have sufficient space for sitting, standing, or eating animations. Taking this approach from the outset avoids many problems later in production. It was also important to me to send my scenes as FBX files to the game artists, so that they could see exactly what I had in mind. Because of that, the in-game assets often matched my vision perfectly.
The work I do on games is often very different from my personal art. I try to maintain a healthy balance. For instance, if I spend a month or two at work creating realistic characters, I’ll focus on stylised environments or characters at home. I really enjoy making art, but working in just one style doesn’t feel right to me. This is why most of my personal pieces are highly stylised and cartoonish, whereas professionally, I specialise in realism. If you are a professional artist who is worried about burnout or who is experiencing it right now, I recommend creating things that truly bring you joy. When you create art for yourself, you are your own art director.
If I could give beginners one piece of advice, it would be not to be afraid to experiment and try new things. Nobody becomes skilled at everything straight away. It often takes months or even years of practice and experience. I remember feeling completely hopeless when it came to working with 3D software back in 2017 and 2018. I just didn’t understand it and thought it wasn’t for me.
Years later, designing in 3D has become as natural and quick for me as drawing or painting. It’s often my first choice. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Learn in small steps. Although the number of resources available online can seem overwhelming, with the right mindset, anything is possible.
