November 3rd, 2021
David Peachment
Why Kids Should Learn 3D Modelling
With technology progressing as quickly as it does, newer and newer ways to design and create are developed to keep up. One of these newer ways is 3D modelling. Whenever professionals would need to design something, such as buildings, processes, new materials, products, etc., they would have to draw out their ideas and designs either on paper or in a basic program. But with 3D modelling, everything changed drastically. It is now at the forefront of product and technology development and is an essential skill to acquire for anyone venturing into a career of the future! What are some of the reasons kids should learn it now? Let’s dive in!
Design of the Future
The chief reason is simply that 3D modelling is the designing tool of the future. Architecture? Design the house in 3D to see how it all looks and works together. Creating a new product? Use a 3D printer to make a prototype before you mass-produce it. This allows you to easily make changes fast and efficiently without wasting valuable resources. 3D modelling is essential to entertainment industries, such as video games (an industry on track to break 180 billion in revenue this year alone!), movies, television, and even music videos. Because it is such a core part of special effects and animation, 3D modelling is used in nearly every entertainment aspect.
Engineers, financial analysts, doctors, law enforcement, and countless other industries and professions increasingly use 3D modelling to analyze, design, and create new innovations. And as the years’ progress, more and more people will be turning to this form of composition. Being at the forefront of such an expanding industry will set up your kids for great success in their future careers!
Virtual Reality
Another tenet of innovation that is tied directly into 3D modelling is virtual reality or VR. For entertainment purposes, this medium is growing rapidly. Over the past few years, new virtual reality headsets have been released, improved upon, and used in various areas, from simple entertainment to practical applications. Video games are seeing a massive surge of new hardware and games developed for virtual reality. Certain films and television shows have been created with virtual reality in mind. Even YouTube itself has videos that can only be properly viewed in VR.
As far as the professional workforce goes, VR is getting implemented in an increasingly large number of industries. In car manufacturing, VR is being used by some brands such as BMW and Jaguar to see how the finished product would look and find any design issues. Virtual reality is also being used in healthcare to train new surgeons and doctors for operations and health checkups in a safe, stress-free environment. Real estate has seen lots of houses offer virtual reality tours allowing an individual to see how the place looks before visiting. And education is really starting to kick things off with VR by having apps that allow students to explore ancient Rome, space, the Titanic, and any other environment they wouldn’t normally be able to explore to learn better. While technology improves, you’ll begin to see huge numbers of applications emerge that can’t even be dreamed of today. And ensuring your child is ready for it is crucial for their success in the new world.
How to Learn 3D Modelling
Of course, with all of the above points mentioned, the big question remains: just how will my kid learn it? Well, there are a few options to consider. One free option is simply YouTube. There are many many channels on there that can teach 3D modelling just by following along. They can give lots of great information, and sometimes the creators will answer questions in the comments! However, the downside of this is that it can often be less structured, and you typically won’t receive much help if you get stuck. Another available option is an online course such as those found on SkillShare, Udemy, and Coursera. These are usually well-structured courses that will cover most of what you need to know. The instructors will generally reply to questions on the videos on certain platforms. These courses aren’t usually free, but you can get them for pretty cheap!
The final option is to seek in-person or online 1-on-1 instruction. These can be pretty great for learning! While they are generally more expensive than strictly one-way online courses and YouTube videos, your kids will typically learn the most from this form of teaching. The kids can get hands-on experience and ask any questions and get immediate replies. Also, with one-on-one instruction, the content can be tailored for the child a bit and help them learn at their own pace without feeling rushed or behind. For 1-on-1 learning, whether in-person or online, Google local classes in your area. Or check out the classes Coded Minds offers HERE. We offer a lot of different classes teaching 21st-century skills including 3D modelling!
However your child learns, just make sure they can find answers to their questions, help when they need it, and use a medium that works for them.
Until next time,
David Peachment