A Quick Guide to 3D Graphic Design

We perceive the world in three dimensions. So it’s not surprising that 3D illustrations and designs naturally stand out, especially against their 2D counterparts.?

And the best part? Designing with 3D has never been more accessible. If you’re a graphic designer looking to get into 3D, or if you’re just curious about this design trend, here’s a quick guide to 3D graphic design.

3D graphic design uses 3D elements in design projects

What is 3D graphic design?

• Graphic design is the process of communicating a message through visual content – whether that’s through posters, web pages, social media or mobile app interfaces, logos, infographics, book covers, and so on.?
• 3D graphic design is simply the application of 3D elements in graphic design projects.?

Tools and software used in 3D graphic design

As a 3D graphic designer, here are a couple of tools you may use when creating 3D designs.

• Blender - Free, open-source 3D graphic tool that provides texturing, sculpting, and animation. It is one of the most popular 3D software out there, thanks to its powerful features, non-existent price tag, and wealth of learning resources available.
• Cinema 4D - Easier to pick up and generally more user-friendly than Blender, but it requires a paid subscription.?
• Vectary - Create 3D designs in your web browser, then embed entire scenes in your website. Free and paid plans are available.
• Autodesk Maya - Used mainly for 3D assets for video games, films, and television. Also requires a paid subscription.

How do you learn 3D graphic design?

There are generally two ways to learn 3D graphic design – through formal education, or through independent online resources.?

• Formal education - Typically, this involves taking a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or fine arts that covers (or specializes) in 3D design or related 3D fields.
• Online resources - There are tons of learning resources on sites like Udemy, Skillshare, or independent course providers who specialize in 3D. You can start by trying out free, short tutorials available on IconScout.

How do you earn an income as a 3D graphic designer?

As with any other creative work, there are a couple of ways to earn an income with 3D graphic design.

• A full-time 3D graphic designer job - The median pay for a 3D graphic designer is $71,881, slightly higher than the median pay for a graphic designer, which is $70,914.
• Freelancing as a 3D graphic designer - Top 3D designers on freelancing sites like Upwork charge hourly rates of $20 to $200 per hour.
• Selling 3D assets - Create 3D assets like icons and illustrations to sell to developers, designers, and marketers. For example, you could apply to be a contributor on IconScout, which offers a royalty split of 70% for the sale of your assets. Top contributors on IconScout earn up to thousands of dollars a month.?

Learn more about 3D graphic design

This content has been adapted from A Beginner’s Guide to 3D Graphic Design, originally published on IconScout. Check out the article to learn more about getting started with 3D graphic design.

About IconScout

IconScout is a design asset marketplace with over 4.4 million vector icons, illustrations, 3D graphics and Lottie animations. Explore IconScout’s integrations with your favorite design tools like Adobe XD, Figma, Sketch and more to ease your design workflow.