Week 19: Life Changing or Career Building?

Experience vs. Liberal Arts

This is basically the argument which this blog entry is trying to resolve. Whats more important within the design career, experience in using the modelling applications.....or experience in the creative and artistic side.

Some employers prefer the experience within a 3D programme, such as 3DS Max as apposed to a good liberal arts background. It means that they dont have to pay for training, and that they know what the employee is capable of doing. The employees capabilities will be presented to them im the form of pictures taken within 3DS Max. (I myself, got rejected from a certain university who i shall not name, simply on the fact that i had had no 3D experience...its a UNIVERSITY! arent they supposed to teach me that 4 gods sake!? Good job i didnt wanna go there wasnt it!)

On the other hand, having a good liberal arts background is also seen as being very important. All design artists are most likely to need to draw at some point, and proving this is an important part of the job criteria. The career area of 'design' always requires some kind of drawing and artistic skills to be present with the emplyee. Hence why we have to do both art and 3D modelling. It means we cover each of the required fields. Having a more liberal arts background of course means that more often than not, the employee will need to be given the correct training in the 3D programme at the expense of the company. However, some are willing to do this if the liberal arts background is sufficient enough.

In games design, you need to be able to draw accurately (measured drawings), and also know how to consider things such as sociology, psycology and environment when designing a character or scene for a game. This to me, needs to be more of a specific thing than just havng a liberal arts background. Even though, with a liberal arts background you can still cover this, just not necessarily as a spcific representation, maybe just pass by on it or present this without realising you are doing so.

Looking at job applications, many of them require an even amount of the two, Good computer skills, but a little more vitally in some cases, a good ability to draw a range of scenes and characters. None of them said they would provide training, but then that information could be presented to you at a later stage.

Nothings certain in the job business, sometimes, you have to jump and take risks. Nothings ever easy. Doing this degree should however give us all a good enough boost to make it into the business a little bit easier. Weve got all we need to know...and probably more.