What is 3D design?
What is 3D design?
3D design refers to using software to create a digital
model of a three-dimensional shape or object. Organizations and professionals
across industries use 3D design to communicate ideas, create products and
customer experiences, teach concepts, and more. For example, dentists can X-ray
a damaged tooth and produce a 3D model of a crown to repair it, while the film
industry uses 3D design to envision scenes and execute special effects.
3D design vs. 3D modeling
In your research, you may come across the term 3D
modeling. This concept is similar to 3D design in that both involve using
software to envision three-dimensional objects. Definitions of these concepts
may vary, depending on the brand, software, or company using 3D design or 3D
modeling.
3D design involves
the creation of a 3D object from scratch. It begins with a sketch or concept
and includes the entirety of the process to completion. In contrast, 3D modeling is focused on
building and fine-tuning the actual visual model of the object.
Types of 3D design
The list below outlines a few different types of 3D
design and how they differ from one another:
·
Additive manufacturing (3D
printing) has grown in popularity recently. It refers to the method
of using a computer to create a three-dimensional object, one layer of material
at a time. Its use cases range from creating geometrically complicated parts in
the aerospace industry to printing models of pop culture characters.
·
Building Information
Modeling (BIM) enables architects, engineers, contractors, and other
construction professionals to collaborate on designing a building in 3D. BIM
designs can include information about parts, materials, financials, logistics,
and actionable steps.
·
Product design refers
to creating new products or enhancing existing products through 3D
conceptualization, simulation, and design finalization before products are
manufactured.
·
Visual effects (VFX) refers
to altering, creating, or enhancing media for live-action imagery, especially
when capturing live footage would be dangerous, costly, or impossible.
·
Virtual reality (VR) falls
under the umbrella term extended reality (XR) and refers to creating immersive
3D experiences so that individuals, teams, and businesses can visualize
concepts, collaborate, be entertained, and more.
·
Generative design refers
to the process of finding multiple design options based on a concept. Designers
or engineers input their design goals, requirements, parameters, and
constraints into generative design software. Then, the software produces
representations of different design outcomes for the designers and engineers to
explore.
·
CAD/CAM refers
to computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. Innovators,
inventors, and machinists use CAD/CAM software to design and manufacture
prototypes while expediting the process using automation.
3D design software and project ideas
Three-dimensional design offers many opportunities to
explore your creative and professional potential. In this section, we’ve
organized a list of project ideas and 3D design software that can be used to
execute them.
·
3D room design refers
to the use of software to produce three-dimensional representations of fully
functional interior spaces, such as homes, offices, restaurants, and event
spaces. 3D interior design considers a space's internal structure and
dimensions. The goal is for furniture, lighting, decor, and other design
elements to work together harmoniously. You can re-imagine your entire
living space or a specific room using 3D home design software like Planner5D, HomeStyler, or RoomToDo.
·
3D landscape design refers
to the use of software to create 3D representations of outdoor landscapes,
including yards, gardens, parks, and professional exterior spaces. 3D landscape
designers determine how plants, trees, shrubbery, furniture, walls, stones,
walkways, and other elements will fit into an overall design. Try 3D
landscape design with software like VizTerra, SketchUp, and Plan-A-Garden.
·
3D molecular design refers
to the use of software to create three-dimensional representations of chemical
or biological systems, such as chemical compounds or DNA chains. 3D molecular
designs can be used in classrooms to help students visualize scientific concepts.
They can translate to physical objects that students can touch and hold, 3D
graphics for use in educational videos, and more. Discover
three-dimensional molecular design with software like ChemDoodle or ChemSketch.
·
3D logo design refers
to rendering logos so that they have a three-dimensional appearance. Depending
on the brand, having a 3D logo can make a memorable impression on a target
audience by presenting a modern and dynamic look. If you want to create
your own 3D logo, software like Photoshop can
help.
Careers in 3D design
If you're interested in pursuing a job in 3D design, you
have many career paths to consider. In the list below, we've compiled overviews
of jobs from several different industries and their respective salaries.
*Salary
data was sourced from Glassdoor in June 2023. Figures are for the US and
include the annual base pay and additional reported yearly wages. Additional wages
may include commissions, bonuses, and profit-sharing.
·
A 3D designer uses software to
create renderings of three-dimensional objects, including models, animations,
or physical products. 3D designers make $56,278 per year on average.
·
A video game designer uses
software to create 3D video game characters and settings. Video game designers
make $81,202 per year on average.
·
A 3D printing technician prepares
files for 3D printing and maintains equipment. 3D printing technicians make $42,467 per year on average.
·
A graphic designer who works in 3D
design uses software to create three-dimensional concepts such as logos,
product renderings, and illustrations. Graphic designers make $46,487 per year on average.
·
A 3D animator creates 3D
animations for video games, films, or other applications. 3D animators make $69,200 per year on average.
·
An architectural designer uses
software to create plans for buildings and landscapes. Architectural designers
make $70,946 per year on average.
·
A web developer uses
software to incorporate 3D imagery and other elements into websites. Web
developers make $82,283 per year on average.
·
How to get started in 3D design
If you’re ready to begin 3D designing, but you're not
sure where to start, review the steps below.
1. Clarify your 3D
design goals.
What do you want to accomplish in 3D design and why?
Having answers to these two fundamental questions can help you focus your
efforts on the most important tasks. Here are some examples of goals to draw
from:
·
Use 3D design technology to create art.
·
Introduce 3D design skills to your current career in
another field.
·
Transition from your career in another field into 3D
design.
If your goal is to change careers or enhance your current career, search job listings on sites like Glassdoor and Indeed to get a feel for the kinds of companies hiring and the industries with a high demand for 3D design professionals. For example, Glassdoor has over 19,000 listings for 3D designers (or similar roles) as of June 2023. Industries with the most 3D designer job listings are information technology and construction, repair, and maintenance services.
2. Explore 3D design
paths.
For both personal and professional 3D design goals, it’s
a good idea to familiarize yourself with software that may suit your purposes.
In the above section regarding 3D design software, we listed a few options that
correlated to project ideas. Here are a few more paid and free 3D design
software options for those who don't have a specific project in mind:
·
Blender, open source software for modeling,
animating, rendering, and more
·
AutoCAD,
3D design for architects, engineers, and construction professionals
·
TinkerCAD,
for 3D design, electronics, and coding
·
Inventor,
for professional 3D mechanical design, documentation, and product
simulation
·
ZBrush,
for digital sculpting and painting
·
Maya, for 3D animation and visual
effects
·
Adobe Substance 3D,
a collection of tools for flexible and seamless 3D design across devices
3. Subscribe to 3D
design brands, blogs, and resource hubs.
Gaining access to 3D design resources can make it easier
to navigate this vast field and get the most out of your 3D design journey.
Look for brands that offer tips and best practices, industry news and research
reports, as well as highlights of the latest software. You may be able to
subscribe to brands for free via email or follow them on social media.
4. Connect with other
3D designers.
In addition to subscribing to brands, you may find it
useful to participate in 3D design communities through courses, bootcamps,
social media groups and forums, conferences, and networking events. Talk with
other designers and view their work. Doing so can spark ideas for new projects
as well as introduce you to career and educational opportunities.
5. Take a 3D design
course.
A 3D design course can be a great way to build skills in
a structured, supportive environment. When looking for courses, consider
factors such as:
·
How the skills you’ll learn correspond to skills needed
in today’s business landscape and your 3D design goals and interests
· The support forums, peer review groups, live events, and access to instructors that may contribute to your learning experience
6. Complete 3D design
projects.
As you build skills and become more familiar with
resources and communities available to you, complete 3D design projects to
discover the area of 3D design that best suits your interests. You may find
that the more projects you complete, the more insight you gain into your true
passions.
7. Compile a 3D
design portfolio.
Whether you are pursuing 3D design for personal projects
or career purposes, compiling a portfolio of your work can offer some benefits,
including:
·
Tracking how your skills evolve over time, as you
complete more projects
·
Showcasing your work to others who may want to hire or
collaborate with you
· Applying for scholarships, internships, or admission into 3D design educational programs
Guided projects for
aspiring 3D designers
It can be challenging to self-start if you still need to
gain experience in this field. For those who want to start building a portfolio
with instruction, guided projects can be exceedingly helpful. Here are a couple
of options to consider that you can complete in just 2 hours:
e Illustrator and the blend tool to create various types of shapes, color gradients, and more.
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