You think finding a great freelance 3D renderer is hard?

Try assessing their talent, expertise, and skills.

The problem with hiring any artist is not in the lack of available talent but in the shortage of time and resources needed for evaluating their reputation, ambition, and work ethic. This is especially true for architecture and design firms that are looking for a quick but trustworthy freelance 3D rendering artist.

Freelance or in-house, let’s not forget that your new hire must reflect your company’s values and seamlessly fit into its culture. Communication is of great importance when it comes to design projects, which means that your 3D artist must be easy to collaborate with and able to understand your vision.

All this calls for a holistic assessment approach, the one that takes into account both hard and soft skills. To help you create a framework for hiring freelance 3D rendering artists, we’ve compiled a list of evaluation tricks for you to use while screening, reviewing and interviewing your firm’s candidates.

Without Skype, of course.

Step 1: Check Their Online Reputation

There are numerous ways to find a good freelance 3D renderer. Though your options extend beyond the online universe, the talent pool is here not only vast but also nicely organized. Online job-finding services allow you to preview potential hires’ profiles that include both portfolios and endorsements.

Read them carefully, and pay attention to various signals that indicate the artist’s reputation. How many gigs have they worked on in the past? Do their profiles showcase ongoing projects and long-term collaborations? Which firms have employed them before you, and have they rated their work?

If not, send these firms an email to ask them why. Perhaps there was something about this 3D artist’s creative process that they weren’t satisfied with. The artist’s portfolio can be technically perfect, but that still doesn’t mean that they possess all other qualities that should qualify them for your projects.

Also, google their name. High-end 3D rendering artists usually have a website presentation of their own, along with success stories and client testimonials. If what you see meets all your requirements, write their name down and continue your search. Check them on LinkedIn, UpWork, and Freelancer.

Step 2: Set Up a Face-to-Face Meeting

After checking the potential hire’s online reputation, most firms conduct a phone screening before they eventually set up a face-to-face meeting. In these digital times, these two steps are often merged into one, when the candidate is simultaneously screened and interviewed via video chat such as Skype.

But you’re not looking to fill in a permanent in-house position, so don’t waste your time. If you’ve done your research right, and if the artist’s online reputation says enough about their performance, invite them for a meeting straight away. You’ll have a better chance of evaluating them face-to-face.

Again, online research should tell you everything you need to know about the artist’s background in 3D modeling, which includes both technical and creative skills. The interview serves to evaluate whether or not the freelancer is a good fit for your project, so ask them the following five questions:  

1. What drove you to 3D rendering, and how did you learn it?

With this question, you’ll be able to determine how ambitious and hardworking the candidate is, just as well as whether they have any formal education and should you consider that as a plus or not.

2. What was your worst experience as a 3D artist, and why?

The candidate is here expected to talk about their failures as an artist. 3D rendering is very hard, and it takes a lot of trials and errors to perfect it. Their answer should tell you how they deal with setbacks.

3. Would you describe yourself as a flexible professional?

Don’t ask them if they are a team player or not; they know that they must say yes if they are to pass the test. Ask them about their flexibility, and let them give you an example of how adaptable they are.

4. Have you worked on any similar projects in the past?

If the answer is yes, then your search is almost finished. You need an artist who specializes in what you need. If not, label them as a hot candidate and allow them to show you their ideas in practice.

5. Will you be able to meet our production timeline?

This is very important when evaluating 3D artists, particularly when they are freelancers. You’re looking for a yes, but be careful about what that means. Maybe they’re unemployed for a good reason.

Step 3:  Test Their Performance in Practice

If the candidate has checked off all your boxes, both online and in person, then it may be a good time to evaluate their performance in practice. There are two ways to do this, depending on how much you are in a hurry – by assigning them a low-profile project, or by asking them for a mock-up of a big one.

The first way may be better, as it allows you to assess hard and soft skills alike. The artist will have to collaborate on a project, keep in touch with the rest of the team, and eventually deliver your first 3D design. You’ll see how self-sufficient they are too, as well as how they manage budgets and deadlines.

If you’re in a middle of a project that must be completed ASAP, then a mock-up is a good alternative. An experienced artist should be able to do it in a couple of days. You won’t ask them to do a full 3D render, of course, but rather a project plan that details how and when the design will be completed.

In either case, let them talk you through their process. Listen carefully as they explain their ideas since that is the best indicator of how outspoken, ambitious, and creative they actually are. A good 3D artist should showcase all three of these qualities, but should also be able to take in constructive criticism.

So, listen and criticise.

If you need a reliable freelance 3D artist fast, then this 3-step strategy is your only chance. You cannot entrust somebody with your design without knowing their professional background, meeting them in person, and letting them prove themselves in practice. As evaluations go, this is the shortest route.