EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 Also I forgot to ask Eddie you said "I believe that if we got together as an industry and set the groundwork for work process, terminology, contracts, yada yada yada...we would have greater respect, public awareness, and get greater compensation." Is this greater compensation for us as artists or for the profits of your business?. I ask this as I think there are more important issues that affect us artists in terms of compensation. For example rendering companies who outsource all of there work to artists outside the U.S. to maximize profits. My simple answer to your question is that everyone benefits. Even my friends overseas! If the intent of your question is to take a jab at outsourcing, then I will put things in a different perspective for you. We are in a service industry. If you are in this business purely for the sake of "art" then you might not be properly serving your client. No matter how good you think you are, someone else will be better, faster, and cheaper than you. Your only true line of defense is "service". Let's not diverge too much into outsourcing/offshoring because I believe this topic has already been discussed at length. Regarding "CG", many people over 40 still don't know what it stands for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudio Branch Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 When asked what I do, I often start with a simple 'I'm an illustrator', hoping that will be enough. Rarely is it... A variation on this approach works for me - I tell people quite simply that I do 3D work. It is broad and generic, but also allows people an opportunity to ask more if they want to know more. My over-verbose title is "3D Visualization Coordinator" best suited for my business card, not conversation! As far as the title of "film-maker" goes, I agree with Eddie, Neoscape and other arch firms are just using cinematic elements and processes to sell buildings not tell stories... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hidden_Pixel Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Eddie I agree that this thread should not diverge into an outsourcing discussion. We all know that outsourcing does not benefit U.S artists, all it does is benefit the guys at the top of the companies who partake in it. It can be sugar coated anyway you like but there is plenty of talent in the U.S who can't compete with outsourced prices, end of story. I brought it up because I felt that a universal title has a small impact in compensation for a digital artist compared to outsourcing. I totally agree with you that service is a huge factor which will be the difference between a company sinking or floating. I promise no more talk about outsourcing. I understand that some people are touchy about it, back to the topic in hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 When I first started in this field I once told someone I was a modeler. They asked if I was in any current ads, and told me that they once wanted to be a model. I had to chuckle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 We all know that outsourcing does not benefit U.S artists, all it does is benefit the guys at the top of the companies who partake in it. It can be sugar coated anyway you like but there is plenty of talent in the U.S who can't compete with outsourced prices, end of story. Alex, there is so much that I can say about this, but I'm not going to. I understand your point about priority and real issues that artists are facing today. After all, what difference does a label make if you think it won't help you find work. My faith is that the work will always be there in some shape or form regardless of how the industry evolves. I also believe that there will be mutual benefit if we were better organized and performed under universal standards. I don't know. Maybe I am being naive, but I see that other older industries have done this at some point and it worked for them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 The title of Architect when viewed by the general public is one of the sexiest tiles you can have out of any profession. Yeah Baby! Yeah! We are groovy! I wonder how AIA would feel about us calling ourselves 3D Architects? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I wonder how AIA would feel about us calling ourselves 3D Architects? I would have to check, but I think they would take us to court. I don't think you are legally allowed to call yourself an architect until you have passed the exams. I am guessing that even with 3d in front of it, it will still be a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 Also where I am originally from Architects are not viewed on the same level as a doctor, far from it. Maybe in the U.S this is the case. That is true. Architects in Mexico get a lot of respect. I'm not sure what countries look down at them. Maybe North Korea and Cuba since they don't build much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 I would have to check, but I think they would take us to court. I don't think you are legally allowed to call yourself an architect until you have passed the exams. I am guessing that even with 3d in front of it, it will still be a problem. I agree, but what about "IT Architects". I don't think they are getting sued. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hidden_Pixel Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 My point about the term architect was that I wouldn't compare it to have the same inherent respect as the title Doctor, which was mentioned earlier. Eddie you can twist it to sound like I said people look down on architects. Far from it, but personally and I mean personally I wouldn't put them on the same level as Doctors. I agree it is the most pertinent title but I am afraid it may pigeon hole our skill set. Lets not get to high and mighty about ourselves in the end we are really just pixel pushers. Hey not too bad, what about that for a title "Pixel Pusher":). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 ...in the end we are really just pixel pushers. Hey not too bad, what about that for a title "Pixel Pusher":). That works for me too I agree that the label architect can be a bit of a straight jacket. I think this debate has been a healthy one. It is clear that we use many different names under different circumstances. And even then, we have to go through layers of refining descriptions before anyone understands what we do. I love what Ian said about the Sunday Paper, "I'm one of the guys that does all the 'pretty pictures of the new buildings you see in the real estate section of the Sunday Paper." I have actually had to resort to this description a couple of times. It would look really cool on a business card. It seems that we are all actually some sort of digital chameleons. We create illustrations, movies, real-time walkthroughs (game tech), VFX, etc. Is it even possible to have a universal label? Would anyone want it? Maybe this is something that will evolve naturally and we will have a revelation someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upshot Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I don't think you are legally allowed to call yourself an architect until you have passed the exams. That's not exactly true. It's just the AIA behind your name (after going to an accredited school, passing the exam and paying your dues) and the ability to stamp drawings for non-residential/commercial projects over 3500 sq ft (believe that's the number..) - you can slap architect, architectural designer, etc. around all you want without any consequence. The AIA is about as powerful as... the cat food lobby... wait... I take that back, I bet the cat food lobby is quite well funded. The funny thing (as you mentioned) is how probably 90% of the populous if handed a rendering or even DVD with a 'this is what I do' would respond = Oh your an architect. Because they think it just take some glasses, fancy drawings, and a metrosexual lifestyle! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hidden_Pixel Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 "Pixel Pusher" it is, I will get my business cards made up tomorrow . It is a great debate, I think it will never be truly resolved. Companies and people like different titles. As you say Eddie you can have a completely different title in different situations. To people outside the industry I find it easier to give a description of what I do rather than a title. You know what though, it is nice being in a career where people can't pin us down. I understand from a marketing stand point we may need to be pinned down one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 The AIA is about as powerful as... the cat food lobby... wait... I take that back, I bet the cat food lobby is quite well funded. The funny thing (as you mentioned) is how probably 90% of the populous if handed a rendering or even DVD with a 'this is what I do' would respond = Oh your an architect. Because they think it just take some glasses, fancy drawings, and a metrosexual lifestyle! LOL LOL...I agree the AIA has some issues. Don't forget to mention that they are good at giving each other awards. By the way, I was once in a conversation with a person that had been on the AIA board of directors. He had a few good stories to tell, but what surprised me the most was how he admitted that the only reason it exists is to reduce competition and maintain high fees. I don't think this is what we intend to do with ArchViz, but now that I think about it..... JK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 "Pixel Pusher" it is, I will get my business cards made up tomorrow . Ok. But, don't tell this to customs or you might get strip searched and arrested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hidden_Pixel Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 You are right Upshot. I have shown some family members my work and the first thing they ask is did I design the building. I must admit when I explain to them it was created on the computer they definitely don't grasp the long hours spent creating the short animation on screen. I have had a few people say, "I could do that". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hidden_Pixel Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Ok. But, don't tell this to customs or you might get strip searched and arrested Very true, they may think Pixel is a new illegal street drug . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 It is a great debate, I think it will never be truly resolved. Companies and people like different titles. As you say Eddie you can have a completely different title in different situations. To people outside the industry I find it easier to give a description of what I do rather than a title. You know what though, it is nice being in a career where people can't pin us down. I understand from a marketing stand point we may need to be pinned down one day. I agree, it's been a great debate and I hope we have inched a little closer to an understanding. I agree that a general description works best if we know that we will need to explain it anyways. I don't like being pinned down either. There is a free feeling about being able to offer almost anyone or company your services. Although it does make it tricky to market yourself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 Very true, they may think Pixel is a new illegal street drug . Hey man...I think it is to some of us. I got addicted back in College. Once I experienced my first fly-through in studio I couldn't get off the sh@$%!t. I tried getting back on the drafting board with my t-square and triangles but I kept getting relapses. My design teacher warned me to stay off the "pixels". She said that stuff would get you nowhere and ruin your architecture career. Little did I know...she was right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hidden_Pixel Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 It is definitely going to be a slow process. Just think back to ten years ago, trying to get people to understand the purpose of your services was a lot harder. Maybe in another ten years we will not have to explain at all. What ever we call ourselves they will understand. Sounds like utopia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hidden_Pixel Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 Hey man...I think it is to some of us. I got addicted back in College. Once I experienced my first fly-through in studio I couldn't get off the sh@$%!t. I tried getting back on the drafting board with my t-square and triangles but I kept getting relapses. My design teacher warned me to stay off the "pixels". She said that stuff would get you nowhere and ruin your architecture career. Little did I know...she was right! There's an idea!. I may start rehab for Pixel Pushers. Check yourself in, no computers, you are not allowed to stare at surfaces too long, just encase you are trying to work out the real world properties of a material for your next render. I would start them off in a dark room and slowly introduce daylight to readjust their eyes. The ultimate test at the end would be a computer hooked up, open session of Max, with a really bad render on it, terrible lighting. I would just leave it in the room with them, see if they could resist it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikinman Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 In the great state of NY at least, you can't have the word 'architect' in your business unless you are a licensed architect. And yes, that does include IT architects. If I'm a networking guru (which I most certainly am not) I can't set up the business name 'IT Architecture' unless I've passed the boards. -Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddieLeon Posted February 15, 2008 Author Share Posted February 15, 2008 I may start rehab for Pixel Pushers. You say I should go to rehab....I say No, No, No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 When I first started in this field I once told someone I was a modeler. They asked if I was in any current ads, and told me that they once wanted to be a model. I had to chuckle. no, i am still not posing in the latest issue of GQ, but i did get referred to as something else today which actually seemed quite pleasant. ...and oddly enough one i have never heard before. one of architects was having a phone conversation with the someone else associated with a project i am starting soon. he told the person that they might want to hold off because we are updating the images, and we have a 'professional renderer' in-house now. very simple, and to the point. however, if someone didn't know we were talking about architecture, we would be back to square one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sawyer Posted February 21, 2008 Share Posted February 21, 2008 I had to stop calling myself a renderer because so many people were thinking I was dealing with animal fat. Illustrator seems good but then I still have to qualify it with a "no I don't do that, just architecture." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now