What do you do if you're struggling to learn 3D modeling for game design?

I am thoroughly delighted that LinkedIn's algorithm has, in its infinite wisdom, selected me to answer this question, despite me having no experience in 3D modelling whatsoever. Perhaps now is a good time too spend a few intense weeks picking up the relevant skills so that I may provide an adequately useful, inspiring, or even remotely accurate answer

Ensure you have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of 3D modeling. Learn about primitives, vertices, edges, and polygons. Understand how to manipulate objects in 3D space. Choose the Right Software: There are several 3D modeling software options available, such as Blender, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, and Cinema 4D. Choose one that fits your needs and learning style. Blender is a great option for beginners because it's free and has a wealth of tutorials available online.

Start 3D modeling with the basics: focus on simple shapes and understand vertices, edges, and faces. Get comfortable with the tools and interface of your software. This foundation is vital; mastering it makes advanced techniques easier to learn, akin to drawing basic shapes before tackling a full portrait.

Start with fundamental concepts like shapes and tools before moving on to complex 3D modeling, emphasize this by comparing it to learning to draw - understanding the basics is essential for later success.

There are countless tutorials available online for learning 3D modeling. Websites like YouTube, Udemy, and Blender Guru offer comprehensive tutorials for beginners to advanced users. Follow along with these tutorials to learn new techniques and workflows. Practice Regularly: Like any skill, 3D modeling requires regular practice to improve. Set aside dedicated time each day or week to work on your modeling skills. Try to recreate objects from the real world or challenge yourself with more complex designs.

Online tutorials can be overwhelming. Expert tutorials are valuable, but community input is important too. Imagine tutorials with mini-challenges where students replicate modelling tasks. Real-time feedback highlights mistakes and suggests corrections. This gamified approach fosters accomplishment and improves knowledge retention.

Explore beginner-friendly 3D modeling tutorials on platforms like YouTube, Udemy, and Coursera. Look for instructors who provide clear explanations and demonstrations, breaking down concepts into manageable steps. Utilize interactive tutorials and software with built-in guidance features, such as Autodesk's Fusion 360 or Blender's built-in tutorials. Engage with online communities like Reddit's r/3Dmodeling or Stack Exchange's Blender community for additional support and resources. Practice regularly and experiment with different techniques to solidify your understanding. Remember to take breaks and be patient with yourself as you progress. With dedication and the right resources, you'll soon develop confidence in your 3D modeling skills.

Watch GameDev.TV. 100% the best courses online for learning game development. Their Blender course is absolutely amazing, and will get you up and running in no time.

Practising modelling from scratch is the best proven method to improve modelling. You can also start by modelling real time objects which are easier and quicker to complete. Keeping yourself updated on new tools on a regular basis will help you excel in modelling.

If you're struggling with a particular concept or technique, break it down into smaller parts. Focus on mastering each part individually before trying to combine them into a larger project. Join Online Communities: Join online forums, subreddits, or Discord communities dedicated to 3D modeling and game design. These communities are a great resource for asking questions, getting feedback on your work, and learning from others.

It is essential to dedicate time to practice, but aimlessly tinkering can be inefficient. Picture project-based learning modules that guide aspiring 3D modelers through the creation of small, achievable game assets. Each project could focus on a specific technique, with built-in milestones and checkpoints. At each stage, the system could provide automated feedback, highlighting areas for improvement and suggesting best practices. This iterative approach ensures focused practice and accelerates skill development.

I think that as someone who sends his work to receive comments, he should have the ability to distinguish between useful comments and worthless comments. It is useful for me to have a comment that, in addition to pointing out the strengths of the work and explaining why it is good, also mentions ways to improve that strength. A negative comment is useful when, in addition to the correct tone of expression, the solutions to fix it are also mentioned.

Share your work with others and ask for feedback. Constructive criticism can help you identify areas for improvement and learn new techniques.

Utilize collaborative platforms like GitHub or GitLab to share your game design projects. These platforms offer version control, allowing for easy collaboration and feedback from peers. By creating repositories for your projects, you can invite others to review your code, assets, and design documents. Utilize features like pull requests and issue tracking to facilitate constructive criticism and iterative improvements. Additionally, participating in online communities such as Reddit's gamedev or Discord servers dedicated to game development provides opportunities for networking and sharing insights. Embracing these modern tools fosters a collaborative environment, enhancing your skills and expanding your network.

Analyze game assets from your favorite games to understand how they were created. Pay attention to topology, texturing, and optimization techniques used in these assets. Don't Get Discouraged: Learning 3D modeling takes time and patience. Don't get discouraged if you're struggling or if your early work doesn't look as polished as you'd like. Keep practicing and learning, and you'll improve over time.

Start by focusing on the most captivating or difficult aspect of the character, such as a facial expression conveying a key emotion or the intricate details of a weapon hinting at the character's background.

Stop overthinking! Give yourself some time. Don't overthink your inability to learn or your lack of focus. When you feel ready, dive in head first, and set aside an hour of pur dedication. Don't just do mind numbing learning, approach everything as if you were planning to have fun with some friends. Make it a game! If you enjoy what you're doing, learning will come later.

It's going to take time to learn especially if you never done it. Make sure to have separate time for both 3D modeling and game designing. Never feel discouraged by other artists, ask about their process and techniques

Find inspiration in the unpredictable patterns of nature - the intricate fractals of seashells, the dynamic flow of water currents, or the geometric complexity of spider webs. Explore how these organic forms and systems can influence the design of otherworldly environments, creature behaviors, or innovative user interfaces that defy traditional gaming conventions. Analyze how different societal values, belief systems, and artistic traditions can ignite ideas for compelling narratives, symbolic iconography, or alternative modes of interaction that go beyond conventional game mechanics. Seek inspiration from the limitless realms of human experience.

Similar to step 1, keep things simple when breaking down what you see. Being able to understand complex objects in a simple manner can give inspiration by making it seem easy. Getting that completed product can also inspire you to keep creating. Once you get into that workflow of breaking an object down and replicating it, it will get to a point where when staring at a room you can dissect everything. Sometimes overlooked but the basics can lead to a great amount of inspiration. For example you could take a game level that you really love and break it down and figure out exactly how the block mesh was aligned. Then take the blocks and turn them into that finished object like planks of wood or vines from a tree.

I was really struggling with 3D artwork. I couldn't wrap my head around it and I could see the writing on the wall, that all game art was going to be 3D art (at least for awhile, this was the 90's) so I did what any rational person would do... I became a game designer. :D And I haven't looked back since.

Figure out your learning style. A big hinderance I've noticed is that most tutorials and learning on the subject is often written like a catalog and fundamentally, everyone learns different. This cannot work for everyone. If one tutorial doesn't work, try another, then another, then another. Join communities of others doing similar things. The right community will be supportive, allow you to vent frustrations and allow you to ask questions. These small supports will often let you push through whatever task you're facing. With time, as you share your knowledge in these communities, they in turn expand and refine your own knowledge. Don't forget to play. Enjoying what you do reinforces the best in your work and by extension, learning.

As a new and upcoming terrain artist, I tried my hand on every skillset a game development team needs, down to FX to modelling, came to realise best way to learn is to breakdown the existing assets on marketplace, let them be free assets but breaking them down and learning piece by piece, you'll come to realise very small simple checkpoints leads to some great models, I use to pick random models off marketplace and just try to recreate them at my own pace, often they use to come disfigured and ugly compared to original product but as I did it more and more, I started to created better if not equally good looking models as of the one I picked at random from marketplace,

In my experience, as a developer who's not the best with 3D modeling I suggest to look for free 3D assets and start by altering those. Assets are great for reference and you can even start projects with these assets so you don't block yourself from the actual game development process.

In light with current trends and also the state of the industry, you can really be a game designer and rely and AI art or marketplaces from Unity and Unreal for free assets to start it off your design process. Use them as placeholders and vigorously work out the game design (unless you think a game designer is an artist) and make the game experience engaging and once that works out, you can use that prototype to pitch to artists to co-create with you.