Architectural visualization is growing more popular each year. The whole niche is developing quickly with more and more 3D artists, visualization tools, new techniques, and more potential clients. What does this mean to you as someone looking for visualization services? Probably nothing.

Since all of this is new, not many people know what to look for in visualization services. You need to consider many things regarding the artists’ attitude, education, skills, and project requirements.

In this post, we’ll talk about everything you need to know when looking for a good visualization artist that will be a perfect match for your project.

Learn what it means to be a 3D artist

3D artists are people who make 3D models of structures, products, environments, animations, and so on. They have the right toolsets to create realistic materials, images, lighting conditions, colors, and effects. Their work can be used for various reasons, including presentations, advertisement, and marketing efforts.

However, not all 3D artists are the same. We’re not talking about the level of knowledge they have – we’re talking about the industries they work in. 3D artists work in architecture, gaming industry, film industry, AR and VR, marketing, etc.

The first thing that should be on your list is to find a 3D visualization artist that works in architecture. No, they can’t work in different industries, and specialization matters. If you want someone to do the job right, they need to have an architecture background.

Before you start talking to people, make sure to learn who are 3D artists in architecture. That way, you won’t end up wasting your time and someone else’s time. You also won’t get tricked by someone who doesn’t specialize in what you need.

See which skills are required

One of the best ways to hire the right candidate is to know what to look for. In other words, you need to know which are the crucial parameters that can tell you how competent they are. One of those parameters is their skillset.

Software knowledge

Every 3D artist works on visualization software. Some of the tools they use are V-Ray, 3Ds Max, Photoshop, and so on. Visualizers spend years perfecting their software knowledge. They need to know all the features and functionalities like the back of their hand to create perfect images.

Architectural knowledge

3D visualizers can be architects, but it isn’t a requirement. What is required of them is to have some basic architecture knowledge. More specifically, they need to understand architectural drafts and get the proper dimensions and proportions to accurately capture the projects.

Communication skills

3D artists need to have flawless communication skills. There are so many details, technical information, and ongoing collaboration their work involves. Most importantly, you as a client need to talk to them constantly. If they can’t communicate, they won’t understand your requests, and you won’t be clear on what they intend to do.

Artistic skills

Visualization isn’t just about having technical knowledge and using software flawlessly. 3D artists need to have design knowledge, composition, and color understanding to set the right atmosphere. Their work involves a lot of creativity, and that’s what sets projects apart.

Do they have a portfolio?

3D artists need to have extensive visual portfolios. They need to display their previous work so that you can see the level of quality they provide. After all, you can’t know how good of a job someone can do unless you actually see it.

People can write anything they want and all of their skills and qualifications might look nice. However, this doesn’t translate into practical work. The first thing we should do is avoid any “professionals” who don’t showcase their work.

The portfolio can give you the story of the artist, a short statement, and a biography that lets you get to know them better. Apart from seeing the results, you can also see information about products and how they were involved. In many cases, artists will also give more details about the design process for that project.

What do previous clients say about them?

When you look at some portfolios, you can see all their projects and who the clients were. It’s a perfect opportunity to reach out to those clients and see what information they can give you. Again, a 3D visualization process has a lot of complexities, and you need to get firsthand information.

In other words, you’re not just hiring someone’s services but forming a relationship that will last for as long as the project itself. Apart from the information on their portfolio, feel free to ask the artist about the companies they worked with.

See if they are ok with you asking them questions about their work. Naturally, you should be looking for positive comments such as good communication, punctuality, and a great level of satisfaction. See if the artists finished everything on time, if there were any issues, how they approached fixing errors, etc.

Transparency is a must!

When starting a relationship with a visualizer, you need to know what you’re getting into. In other words, you should have open communication right away. Don’t be afraid to ask all of the questions you have. Artists should be prepared to give all the necessary answers before they start working for someone.

Yet again, there are a lot of details you need to pay attention to. First of all, you should know what their price is and what the pricing model is. In most cases, you should be able to get a fixed price along with some free edits or changes.

However, some artists will only say their base price without mentioning additional work. You need to know what to expect. Furthermore, they need to tell you how much time they have for your project, whether they are working on something else as well, and what their realistic deadline is.

Both sides need to be transparent about their expectations. That’s the only way to avoid any friction and issues along the way. At the same time, when you’ve put everything down on paper, you will have leverage for any potential negotiations and disputes.

Check online platforms

Even though there is a growing number of 3D visualization artists in architecture, they aren’t that common. On top of that, their services can get really expensive. You need to have a choice and go through different portfolios, check their skills, and see what kind of prices they have.

However, where can you find a wide choice of different professionals? The answer is simple – you can find them online. Luckily, people in the industry have recognized the need for architectural visualization.

We are seeing the development of websites where you can find both individuals working as freelancers and visualization companies as well. These sites let you find rendering services with ease while going through hundreds of different portfolios.

It’s a great way to get in touch with 3D artists quickly from all around the world. On top of that, these online platforms act as middlemen that protect your finances. They don’t let the payments go through until the artist has completed all the tasks for you.

Get referrals if you can

It’s always a good idea to look for referrals no matter what kind of service you’re looking for. The most common referrals are, of course, word of mouth. Many people find reliable 3D artists by getting recommendations from their business partners, friends, or coworkers.

Naturally, it’s best to hear about someone in person so that you can ask questions and get a good picture of them. Also, make sure to follow your social media. People often share their recommendations on social media like LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social networks.

Of course, these are only a couple of the ways you can get referrals. The important thing is to take the time and do your research. You can’t expect to get a single referral and instantly find a 3D artist that is perfect for your project. Yes, this could happen, but it usually requires a bit more time.

Check their background

You need to check the important historical details of a visualization artist. Your safest bet is to do your check online. First of all, look for their own personal website and their social media. See what they have to say about themselves, past work, portfolio, examples of visualizations, knowledge, skills, education, and so on.

See where they’ve been employed and try to verify all of the information you can. Yes, some people will simply lie on their resume and give you false information about themselves. We talked about it earlier – make sure to ask your potential partner about these previous clients.

Ask for their contact information so that you can reach out to see how satisfied their previous clients were. That’s the best way really to check how reliable someone is. However, once you’ve verified someone and they’ve established credibility, you can look at their qualifications to see their level of expertise.

What education do they have?

There are a lot of misunderstandings when it comes to the education of 3D artists and what it should include. In most cases, 3D artists will have a bachelor’s degree, and they’ve studied things like computer science, graphic design, animation, architecture, CAD, and so on.

However, there are a lot of 3D artists that haven’t gone to college, and they’ve still managed to establish themselves as experts. How? It’s quite simple – architectural visualization doesn’t require a college degree.

Yes, most people who have studied similar courses will have an easier time getting the hang of it, but it’s really not a requirement. After all, this is still a pretty new role, but it seems like having a degree will never be a requirement.

It will always be about what kind of images someone can produce, as this is what matters ultimately. However, even if they don’t have a formal degree, they should have a variety of courses, practical education, and experience to do the job right.

Make sure to pay attention to these things when going through the process. Feel free to ask the rendering artist what their qualifications are.

Talk to the artist to learn how they approach clients

After you’ve done all of the things we mentioned above, you should have a shortlist of potential candidates. Start getting in touch with all of them one by one. Naturally, if possible, try to meet with them in person to discuss your project.

If not, consider talking to them over a phone or a video chat. Chatting and emailing projects is not practical because there are many different things to discuss and ask. More importantly, this is your opportunity to vet the artist and see what they are all about.

Seeing good things on paper is one thing, but you need to see whether they match reality. You can learn a lot from an initial conversation. You can instantly learn whether that person actually listens to clients, if they understand your ideas, how flexible they are, and so much more.

Conclusion

Make sure to go through all of these things. It’s the only way for you to find an experienced professional that will get the job done how you wanted and even better. We all want our visualizations to have that “wow” effect and make our projects feel and look unique.