Dwell article for discussion

[Sawyer]

http://www.dwell.com/peopleplaces/profiles/18378934.html

[Jeff Mottle]

Nice article. Will link to this on the home page later.

 

At the end of the day the world evolves and those that have the vision, skills and forsight to evolve with an industry - survive. Outsourcing will always affect someone negatively, but I think there are still large parts of the industry that serve a purpose that would not be well suited to outsourcing the work, so this is a mute point. I think this has been discussed at length in another thread.

 

I think companies like Spine3D, who might otherwise have been affected by outsourcing at some point, are taking the right approach. If you can't beat them, join them, buy then, or partner with them.

 

I think there are many way to leverage the fact there are skilled workers available to outsource work to and partner with or even hire. Clients will always want a local contact, so if you can combine your own skills, client base with workers who can help you increase your profit margin, then I would look at doing that. I'm not saying this is something everyone should do, but there is an entire business model there, ready for the taking.

[Sawyer]

It actually seems that many of the big houses are already outsourcing modeling to other countries. In fact I am looking to do the same. It just seems like the way to go. What I am wondering/worrying about is that at some point this becomes an assumed outsourcing issue. Architects and their clients begin saying "What you aren't using India?" Maybe its not a real concern but it does seem that with articles like this people will assume that India/overseas is the only choice and if you are spending more than $200 an image you are throwing away money.

[Jeff Mottle]

I'm sure there are some companies overseas that can take the information you give them and produce the same quality of work as someone local, but most people I've spoken to have said they have not had very good experience. In fact, I ran into this same thing when I tried it 3-4 years ago. Companies like Sattelier are big because they have presumably hired people who can deliver a standard level of quality cost effectively, and have a local representative or staff to smooth out the bumps. I think a lot of overseas companies have mastered the cost effective part, but not the quality end. The ones who do will survive and grow and the rest will fade away. The architects who have been burned will come back to the locals, until there is a more consistant level of service and quality. Either way, the door is open for visualization companies to take some of this work back and possibly partner with the overseas companies who are reputable.

[Sawyer]

IEither way, the door is open for visualization companies to take some of this work back and possibly partner with the overseas companies who are reputable.

 

It would be great to get a list of companies like that. Seems like its a huge world and finding the reputable overseas companies is daunting. I have been thinking about this for a while and I have heard the horror stories and I have heard good things as well. I know I don't really want to try out a new company on a deadline and most of my projects are really tight. But I would jump at a well recommended company. Its a frightening leap to take.