What Is 3D Design? And How to Get Started

According to Verified Market Research, the 3D mapping and modeling market was valued at $3.64 billion in 2020. It's projected to reach $13.15 billion by 2028 [1]. This growth may stem from more industries using 3D design to address business challenges. Whether you're interested in a 3D design career or just want to try 3D designing on your own time, you can use this article to familiarize yourself with the field.

What is 3D design?

3D design refers to using software to create a digital model of a three-dimensional shape or object. Organizations and professionals across industries use 3D design to communicate ideas, create products and customer experiences, teach concepts, and more. For example, dentists can X-ray a damaged tooth and produce a 3D model of a crown to repair it, while the film industry uses 3D design to envision scenes and execute special effects. 

3D design vs. 3D modeling 

In your research, you may come across the term 3D modeling. This concept is similar to 3D design in that both involve using software to envision three-dimensional objects. Definitions of these concepts may vary, depending on the brand, software, or company using 3D design or 3D modeling.

3D design involves the creation of a 3D object from scratch. It begins with a sketch or concept and includes the entirety of the process to completion. In contrast, 3D modeling is focused on building and fine-tuning the actual visual model of the object.

Types of 3D design 

The list below outlines a few different types of 3D design and how they differ from one another:

• Additive manufacturing (3D printing) has grown in popularity recently. It refers to the method of using a computer to create a three-dimensional object, one layer of material at a time. Its use cases range from creating geometrically complicated parts in the aerospace industry to printing models of pop culture characters.

• Building Information Modeling (BIM) enables architects, engineers, contractors, and other construction professionals to collaborate on designing a building in 3D. BIM designs can include information about parts, materials, financials, logistics, and actionable steps.  

• Product design refers to creating new products or enhancing existing products through 3D conceptualization, simulation, and design finalization before products are manufactured. 

• Visual effects (VFX) refers to altering, creating, or enhancing media for live-action imagery, especially when capturing live footage would be dangerous, costly, or impossible. 

• Virtual reality (VR) falls under the umbrella term extended reality (XR) and refers to creating immersive 3D experiences so that individuals, teams, and businesses can visualize concepts, collaborate, be entertained, and more.  

• Generative design refers to the process of finding multiple design options based on a concept. Designers or engineers input their design goals, requirements, parameters, and constraints into generative design software. Then, the software produces representations of different design outcomes for the designers and engineers to explore. 

• CAD/CAM refers to computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing. Innovators, inventors, and machinists use CAD/CAM software to design and manufacture prototypes while expediting the process using automation. 

3D design software and project ideas 

Three-dimensional design offers many opportunities to explore your creative and professional potential. In this section, we’ve organized a list of project ideas and 3D design software that can be used to execute them.

• 3D room design refers to the use of software to produce three-dimensional representations of fully functional interior spaces, such as homes, offices, restaurants, and event spaces. 3D interior design considers a space's internal structure and dimensions. The goal is for furniture, lighting, decor, and other design elements to work together harmoniously. You can re-imagine your entire living space or a specific room using 3D home design software like Planner5D, HomeStyler, or RoomToDo. 

• 3D landscape design refers to the use of software to create 3D representations of outdoor landscapes, including yards, gardens, parks, and professional exterior spaces. 3D landscape designers determine how plants, trees, shrubbery, furniture, walls, stones, walkways, and other elements will fit into an overall design. Try 3D landscape design with software like VizTerra, SketchUp, and Plan-A-Garden.    

• 3D molecular design refers to the use of software to create three-dimensional representations of chemical or biological systems, such as chemical compounds or DNA chains. 3D molecular designs can be used in classrooms to help students visualize scientific concepts. They can translate to physical objects that students can touch and hold, 3D graphics for use in educational videos, and more. Discover three-dimensional molecular design with software like ChemDoodle or ChemSketch. 

• 3D logo design refers to rendering logos so that they have a three-dimensional appearance. Depending on the brand, having a 3D logo can make a memorable impression on a target audience by presenting a modern and dynamic look. If you want to create your own 3D logo, software like SelfCAD, Canva, or Photoshop can help.

Careers in 3D design

If you're interested in pursuing a job in 3D design, you have many career paths to consider. In the list below, we've compiled overviews of jobs from several different industries and their respective salaries.

*Salary data was sourced from Glassdoor in June 2023. Figures are for the US and include the annual base pay and additional reported yearly wages. Additional wages may include commissions, bonuses, and profit-sharing.

• A 3D designer uses software to create renderings of three-dimensional objects, including models, animations, or physical products. 3D designers make $56,278 per year on average.

• A video game designer uses software to create 3D video game characters and settings. Video game designers make $81,202 per year on average.

• A 3D printing technician prepares files for 3D printing and maintains equipment. 3D printing technicians make $42,467 per year on average.

• A graphic designer who works in 3D design uses software to create three-dimensional concepts such as logos, product renderings, and illustrations. Graphic designers make $46,487 per year on average.

• A 3D animator creates 3D animations for video games, films, or other applications. 3D animators make $69,200 per year on average.

• An architectural designer uses software to create plans for buildings and landscapes. Architectural designers make $70,946 per year on average.

• A web developer uses software to incorporate 3D imagery and other elements into websites. Web developers make $82,283 per year on average.

How to get started in 3D design

If you’re ready to begin 3D designing, but you're not sure where to start, review the steps below.

1. Clarify your 3D design goals.

What do you want to accomplish in 3D design and why? Having answers to these two fundamental questions can help you focus your efforts on the most important tasks. Here are some examples of goals to draw from: 

• Use 3D design technology to create art.

• Introduce 3D design skills to your current career in another field. 

• Transition from your career in another field into 3D design. 

If your goal is to change careers or enhance your current career, search job listings on sites like Glassdoor and Indeed to get a feel for the kinds of companies hiring and the industries with a high demand for 3D design professionals. For example, Glassdoor has over 19,000 listings for 3D designers (or similar roles) as of June 2023. Industries with the most 3D designer job listings are information technology and construction, repair, and maintenance services. 

Read more: ​​How to Prepare for a Career Change: Step-By-Step Guide

2. Explore 3D design paths. 

For both personal and professional 3D design goals, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with software that may suit your purposes. In the above section regarding 3D design software, we listed a few options that correlated to project ideas. Here are a few more paid and free 3D design software options for those who don't have a specific project in mind:

• Blender, open source software for modeling, animating, rendering, and more

• AutoCAD, 3D design for architects, engineers, and construction professionals 

• TinkerCAD, for 3D design, electronics, and coding 

• Inventor, for professional 3D mechanical design, documentation, and product simulation 

• ZBrush, for digital sculpting and painting 

• Maya, for 3D animation and visual effects 

• Adobe Substance 3D, a collection of tools for flexible and seamless 3D design across devices 

3. Subscribe to 3D design brands, blogs, and resource hubs. 

Gaining access to 3D design resources can make it easier to navigate this vast field and get the most out of your 3D design journey. Look for brands that offer tips and best practices, industry news and research reports, as well as highlights of the latest software. You may be able to subscribe to brands for free via email or follow them on social media. 

4. Connect with other 3D designers. 

In addition to subscribing to brands, you may find it useful to participate in 3D design communities through courses, bootcamps, social media groups and forums, conferences, and networking events. Talk with other designers and view their work. Doing so can spark ideas for new projects as well as introduce you to career and educational opportunities.

5. Take a 3D design course. 

A 3D design course can be a great way to build skills in a structured, supportive environment. When looking for courses, consider factors such as: 

• How the skills you’ll learn correspond to skills needed in today’s  business landscape and your 3D design goals and interests

• The support forums, peer review groups, live events, and access to instructors that may contribute to your learning experience 

Online courses in 3D design

Here are a few options to get you started on your search for an online course in 3D design:

• The 3D Printing Revolution, offered by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This self-paced online course is a great fit for someone who is interested in 3D printing specifically. You'll learn how 3D printers work and gain expertise from 3D printing experts through hands-on exercises.

• 3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality, offered by the University of London. If you're interested in 3D video game design, this course can be an excellent starting point. It's intermediate-level, so consider taking the first two courses in this specialization if you're completely new to the field.

• Design Computing: 3D Modeling in Rhinoceros with Python/Rhinoscript, offered by the University of Michigan. This mixed-level, self-paced course serves as an introduction to design computing through programming. By the end, you'll not only learn the output of geometries in still and animate forms but also basic coding in Python.

6. Complete 3D design projects. 

As you build skills and become more familiar with resources and communities available to you, complete 3D design projects to discover the area of 3D design that best suits your interests. You may find that the more projects you complete, the more insight you gain into your true passions. 

7. Compile a 3D design portfolio. 

Whether you are pursuing 3D design for personal projects or career purposes, compiling a portfolio of your work can offer some benefits, including: 

• Tracking how your skills evolve over time, as you complete more projects 

• Showcasing your work to others who may want to hire or collaborate with you 

• Applying for scholarships, internships, or admission into 3D design educational programs 

Read more: Tips for Creating an Impressive Graphic Design Portfolio

Guided projects for aspiring 3D designers

It can be challenging to self-start if you still need to gain experience in this field. For those who want to start building a portfolio with instruction, guided projects can be exceedingly helpful. Here are a couple of options to consider that you can complete in just 2 hours:

• SketchUp: How to Start Modeling Simple 3D Objects. In this online course, you'll learn to use modeling tools on SketchUp to model your own simple 3D objects.

• Create Social Media Posts Using Adobe Illustrator. This guided project is a good fit for those interested in graphic design. You'll learn how to use Adobe Illustrator and the blend tool to create various types of shapes, color gradients, and more.

Learn 3D design with Coursera

Ready to continue building your 3D design expertise? Consider enrolling in a beginner-friendly online program like the Virtual Reality Specialization from the University of London. If you're new to the subject matter and interested in working with VR, 3D graphics, and virtual worlds, the specialization's first few courses offer an introduction to the field before tackling 3D Interaction Design in Virtual Reality in course three. You'll learn the skills to create your own project or game, as well as earn a certificate to add to your resume or share on social media.