Graduate Visualiser eager to break into industry! Advice needed!

[NoodleLuff]

Hi all

 

Currently based in London, I am a recent Computer Animation graduate who specialised in Arch Vis. Since My course finished in late May, I have been non-stop calling companies, applying for jobs and more often than not offering my services for free. Unfortunately very little has come of this.

 

I am wondering if any experienced visualisers out there can offer me advice as to how best to break into industry, furthermore I would be extremely appreciative if some industry pros could look over my CV and Portfolio, which I can email to you (a youtube version is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DISYHa4hrOk).

 

In addition, if anybody would like to offer me work experience of a job that would be ideal!

[Craig Ramsay]

Hi Alain,

 

The first thing I noticed is you are a computer animation graduate but you only have still image work in your show-reel... might be a good idea to include some animations work too.

 

I think it would be worth your time to study some of the images that the other guys are doing here. In my opinion, your images seem quite empty and a bit flat. Adding lots of people and other entourage might help make your work look a bit more polished.

 

Best of luck with the job hunt

[NoodleLuff]

Hi Craig

 

Thanks for you advice, I will take it on board and start more portfolio pieces to try and increase my chances

 

Alain

[notamondayfan]

For a start, don't work for free, or offer to work for free, it will make you look desperate and potential employers could end up walking all over you. I would rather work at home on personal projects, working through tutorials, or doing something else constructive.

 

To me it looks like your strongest skill is modelling? If so try and showcase this as much as possible with some ambient occlusion passes and wire frames.

 

If I were you to move forward, I would find a interesting photograph of a relatively simple building / interior and try to copy it in 3D. If you pick a brick built building you can accurately measure the walls but counting the bricks (so long as they are the standard sized bricks!)

 

Have you got any other work you produced at uni? What were your final pieces like? Do you have a portfolio website?

[carlotristan3d]

For a start, don't work for free, or offer to work for free, it will make you look desperate and potential employers could end up walking all over you. I would rather work at home on personal projects, working through tutorials, or doing something else constructive.

 

I don't totally disagree with this for the reasons you've stated. But if he really needs the experience, and the only way he can get that is trough non-paying gigs-I don't see anything wrong with it. Just make sure that the experience will make a big splash in your resume, like working for Foster or Rogers.

At the same time, know your market and who your competitors are. If you are an employer, would you hire yourself with your reel?

[notamondayfan]

Working for free is degrading for the individual and for our industry in my opinion.

 

http://www.shouldiworkforfree.com is a really good chart.

 

Plus it may also be illegal not to pay someone.

 

Also, if an employer is not willing to pay minimum wage, imagine what they are going to be like to work for if the eventually give you a salary?!

 

I'm sorry I stick by my original post of don't work for free.

 

If the job market local to you is slow, look elsewhere, or look in different areas. You might want to get into arch viz, but you may find other 3D related jobs in design houses, marketing companies, etc, all of which would give you propper experience.

 

Out of interest, did you have a placement year? That was my real first break, and I worked for peanuts, but it paid off in the end.

[NoodleLuff]

Thanks for all the responses

 

I can see the benefits of both sides. When I said I would work for free, I didn't mean on a permanant basis, it would simply be for work expereince and to add value to my CV. I am continually working on new skills and updating my porftolio in any spare time.

 

I'm not the kind of person who would be taken advantage of, but I understand I may need to dedicate some unpaid hours to increase my chances of getting a job

 

 

Alain

[Matt Sugden]

Regarding working for free, I got my first gig by doing work on my portfolio which showcased a local developers housing scheme. They hadn't requested it and I did all the modelling from memory and their 2D sales brochure floor plan. The developer was so impressed when he saw the 3D images he gave me work on his next developments.

 

Even if he hadn't have given me follow on work, it was a really practical example of taking a 2D drawing and turning it into a 3D visual in a real situation, with actual photos of the finished show flat to use as comparison to boot. These 3 elements are great for showing potential employers your practical application of 3D skills and excellent in a portfolio.

 

Even now, I create unpaid work for my company's portfolio to enter into new markets and attract clients, I see nothing wrong with that.

[Celtic_bhoy88]

I haven't done any visualisation work but I am very interested in getting into this field, But. I don't really know where to start...

 

I would like to get a couple of small learning projects done free of charge but can't commit to deadlines because I have work and would only be able to work nights and weekends... would people suggest approaching architects and just asking if they have long term projects they would like done? The steepest part of the learning curve I envisage is understanding dwgs... Is anyone got a resource for getting free dwgs to work with?

 

 

Thanks

[CJI]

I have never been one who agrees with the "working for free" idea. Companies have a habit of exploiting people in this situation. Even to get the prestige on your CV, its the whole principal of it. Honest pay for an honest days work and all that. I do understand why people do it though, i just wouldn't do that myself.

 

There is always the speculative work you do with the chance of getting paying opportunities. I think it would be hard to find those who dont do a bit of speculative work at some level. I certainly do, all to add to the portfolio.

 

Chesands, i think you will find that architects are always very wary and hesitant to give their drawings out to anybody. I don't know of many that would give you an active project, unless you know any personally who can get you copies. You could always approach students, they are far more likely to allow you to use their drawings. Approach 3rd and 4th year Architecture students, they wil have the buildings drawn to a decent detail and mostly well resolved. Most will have some form of 3d that gives you an idea of materials and form. You can then take it where you want. As an incentive you could offer them a few images if they feel its good enough that they can use in their portfolio (crediting you of course). Another way is to try and find some notable buildings, the more famous the more likely there is going to to be drawings you can work from. Architecture books often have block plans (although you would have to CAD these up yourself, just quick, not fancy), all something to start from to give you something to build your portfolio.

[Devin Johnston]

I am wondering if any experienced visualisers out there can offer me advice as to how best to break into industry

 

Alain I'm going to be as gentle as I can, your portfolio needs a lot of work in both lighting and materials and you didn't show a single animation which is really odd considering what your major is. If you're looking for a visualization job you need to show work that's at least on par with what most people are producing now. You need to be looking at the details, look through some architectural magazines and see how the images are composed and lit. A great exercise would be to pick your favorite image and try to replicate it as closely as possible, then animate it. All you need is one really good animated project to show off your skills, don't worry about having tons of different projects because if you can do one really well that should show an employer your capable of dong more.

[carlotristan3d]

I haven't done any visualisation work but I am very interested in getting into this field, But. I don't really know where to start...

 

I would like to get a couple of small learning projects done free of charge but can't commit to deadlines because I have work and would only be able to work nights and weekends... would people suggest approaching architects and just asking if they have long term projects they would like done? The steepest part of the learning curve I envisage is understanding dwgs... Is anyone got a resource for getting free dwgs to work with?

QUOTE]

I don't know what your major is or what the archvis situation in your area, but i'll tell you this-i work for a very large archi firm in vancouver and we don't even have an in-house visualizer. all the architects do their own 3d. and they are good enough for presentation to clients or to council.

[mattclinch]

I am wondering if any experienced visualisers out there can offer me advice as to how best to break into industry

 

You're based in London. Were you at 3DS London last night? There were a good 50-60+ people, 80% of whom were Arch Vis related there, including 3 companies who stood up at the start of the night to say that they were actively recruiting or interested in seeing portfolios (Hayes Davidson, Uniform and Miller Hare).

 

If you weren't you really should be next month. Come along early and speak to Simon Moir about showing your portfolio at the beginning and get some critiques.

 

http://3dslondon.blogspot.com/2011/07/taylor-james-3dslondon-max-user-group.html

[Simon Moir]

Alain did come along last night, I hope he won't mind me posting his email to me this morning:

 

Hi Simon

 

Thank you for inviting me along last night, it was the single most valuble event I have attended since applying for a job. I would also like to thank you for taking the time to point me in the right direction with regards to who to talk to and exchange information with.

 

I would be very appreciative if I could be informed of further events I would be welcome to attend, by contacting me at this email address.

 

Thanks once again.

 

Regards

 

Alain Mehmet

 

A great reason to attend an event like 3ds London is for the networking. Alain was enthusiastic and personable and I know he impressed a number of people last night with his attitude, which is just as important as a good portfolio to employers. Good luck Alain!

 

Matt, cheers, but stop letting me cadge cigarettes off you, it's a filthy habit!

[mattclinch]

Great news! My hangover today is testament to how good a night it was, as always. Glad you found it useful Alain - hopefully speak to you next month.

 

Simon - did you? my memory is a little hazy... anyway, its a perfectly respectable drunken habit and you're more than welcome

Edited July 7, 2011 by mattclinch

[NoodleLuff]

Maxer, I appreciate your candid response, it's exactly what I am looking for. I am constantly updating my portfolio and working on my skills. The reason there are no animations in there at present is purely down to the advice I have received saying a still image portfolio would be better. Based on your feedback, I will definately be adding some flythroughs etc to my reel.

 

Simon, as I said it was very useful. The work shown was very impressive and the people very helpful - I hope some of the contacts I made will follow through on their offers etc!

 

Regards

 

Alain

[ihabkal]

Regarding working for free, I got my first gig by doing work on my portfolio which showcased a local developers housing scheme. They hadn't requested it and I did all the modelling from memory and their 2D sales brochure floor plan. The developer was so impressed when he saw the 3D images he gave me work on his next developments.

 

Even if he hadn't have given me follow on work, it was a really practical example of taking a 2D drawing and turning it into a 3D visual in a real situation, with actual photos of the finished show flat to use as comparison to boot. These 3 elements are great for showing potential employers your practical application of 3D skills and excellent in a portfolio.

 

Even now, I create unpaid work for my company's portfolio to enter into new markets and attract clients, I see nothing wrong with that.

 

10 or 12 years ago when you did that free job the world was a different place and companies had respect for the 3D Artist. I bet if you announce that you are doing free work today, a hundred exploiters will ride your back at the same time.