Learn to manage work effectively

This article is intended for junior and mid-level asset artists aspiring to reach the next level in the VFX and animation industry. Although work is a never-ending process in this creative industry, I hope the following pointers will help you effectively manage your day. It includes a detailed description of how to manage your work efficiently and boost productivity.

Briefing Calls: Ask as many questions as possible during the briefing calls, including details like the level of detail, how it will be presented in the film, whether it's a day or night scene, and its location—be it underwater, interior, or exterior. Try to grasp the bigger picture.

Studying reference material: Gather all possible relevant reference material. Study the reference material and keep it always open, such as anatomy and muscle—elements that are created naturally by natural forces like weathering. Create a habit of studying outside of the office too. I used to take pictures when I found them relevant to my work.

Moodboard Daily: Create a moodboard daily and seek approval for the selected references to be followed. Ensure that your grading and color space are correct in case of a photo shoot reference material.

Prioritize work: Learn to prioritize your tasks by consulting with your lead or production team to identify the most critical assignments. Items classified as urgent and important should be your top priority, requiring immediate attention. Those deemed important but not urgent can be planned and scheduled accordingly. For example: A shot production fix will take priority over working on an asset that will appear in the next sequence. Similarly, if you are working on bird textures while the groom artist is working simultaneously, prioritize skin, nails, and non-dependent tasks.

Non-destructive Workflow: In this creative industry, you should be able to navigate back and forth at any point in time. Endeavor to use a non-destructive workflow wherever applicable, such as Mari node graphs, Katana templates, Nuke scripts, etc. This provides the flexibility to update based on creative demands. Optimize, and label them properly for better file sharing.

Make Dailies Every Day: Don't panic; you're the first reviewer of your work. Creating dailies daily isn't just for your lead's review but for your self-assessment. This habit helps you identify your strengths and areas that need improvement. Always write what is expected to be reviewed and what is pending in the comments. This way, the reviewer is aware and can provide notes accordingly. Also, always create comparable dailies to measure your work progress. Many people postpone doing dailies, leading to a pile-up of work and creating pressure. Your lead can correct your approach if it's wrong. It's always better to catch bigger mistakes in the early stages; otherwise, you'll have to redo the entire process, significantly impacting production.

Meeting Schedules: Break down your work into organized tasks and share your plan with your lead or supervisor. I have been using a technique for a long time: divide the entire timeline by half, which is 50%. Aim to achieve 60% of the results within the initial 50% of the timeline – this places you in the green zone. Allow ample room for improvements and feedback. Anticipate client requirements and have a Plan B in place.

Review Notes: Take notes during reviews and turn the key points into bullet points for easy reference. Feedback can be positive or negative. Keep an open mind to understand different perspectives and look at the bigger picture.

Add value: Study the nature of the creature, character, or vehicle. Add a story to your asset, such as fingerprints on the gear knob or dirt on the brake pedal. Always go the extra mile beyond expectations. This effort will benefit you in the long term. As the old saying goes, if someone asks you to bake a cake, make sure to add a cherry on top.

Multi-tasking: Try to avoid Multi-tasking. Yes, you heard right. Many people think we can multitask, but, based on my experience, it's not a good idea to work on multiple tasks simultaneously. You may disagree with me. Instead, I'd suggest working smartly, like initiating a render before going on a coffee break. Delegate certain tasks to your computer, such as baking, exporting maps, or converting to .tx format, to use your time effectively in your absence. In the worst-case scenario, production can assign two tasks, allowing you to work on alternative days while waiting for feedback on the other asset. This is still feasible.

Be a Proactive Team Player: As you're aware, nobody likes complaints, so come up with solutions. Be the solution. Help others and take a look at all the other dailies. Ask questions and learn new knowledge from your colleagues. We are all learning. It's better to clarify than nod your head for everything. There's nothing wrong with learning from a co-artist. Bring out-of-the-box solutions when required.

Emails: Checking emails 4 to 5 times a day should be sufficient for artists during specific time slots to ensure focused and productive work. It's essential to implement proper filters and folders for effective organization, allowing you to navigate to relevant emails within seconds. Prioritize responding to your immediate client (your lead/supervisor). For individuals sending emails more than 3 times a week consistently, consider creating a dedicated folder. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the filtering options in your email inbox. Check the Calendar for meeting invites create reminders for meetings, and always be on time.

Communication: You can become a great communicator only when you pay attention to listening. Listen completely, then respond. Use polite language; you can check the email etiquette policy with your company's HR department. Any email marked to you must be responded to (unless it is an announcement email). Acknowledge the email and provide an estimated time of arrival (ETA).

General Guidelines: Stay away from distractions to maintain focused and productive work time. Keep your files clean and regularly archive them (store them on the server) so that others can work on them in your absence. Avoid burning yourself out; don't stretch too much. Do your best, and the rest will be taken care of.

Thanks for reading my article. Practice the above time-tested principles to achieve positive results. Good luck!