3D Models
I designed up to 60 items for avatars weekly, primarily focusing on crafting beautiful, detailed, hand-painted textures. Over time, I advanced to leading the department, overseeing its creative and operational direction.
Overview
Role
3D Design
Genre
Social Game
Engine
In-House Engine
Tools
Photoshop, Autodesk 3ds Max, Substance Painter, Blender
Team Size
1-4
Duration
2019 – 2024
Platform
PC, Web Browser, Android,
macOS, iOS
Background
Smeet is a 3D social multiplayer game that allows players to connect and interact in a virtual world.
It combines social networking features with a vast variety of game elements. Users can customize their avatars, their rooms, engage in community events like parties, compete in group challenges, and they can participate in fashion shows.
Smeet blends social interaction with creative customization, offering a space for players to express themselves and connect with others in a dynamic virtual world.
Fashion is one of the primary ways to do that.
Players can reveal their own style by assembling unique outfits from a selection of thousands of clothing items, ranging from everyday wear to extravagant pieces.
This rich wardrobe allows for the creation of distinctive looks that stand out in the vibrant community. Through customization, players not only enjoy creative freedom but also connect with others in a space that celebrates individuality.
Goals
Each week, I released a cohesive collection of up to 60 items that align with the week’s room theme, ensuring consistency in style and quality to deliver a seamless, exciting experience for players.
Keeping the community engaged and invested is a constant priority. Providing players with stylish clothing that allows them to express themselves is a big part of that. By introducing brand-new items, we aim to enhance social engagement. For example, new looks should inspire weekly fashion shows and encourage players to coordinate partner outfits.
The sale of avatar items is a significant cornerstone of the game’s revenue.
In addition to standard collections, I designed exclusive premium items, event-specific pieces, and holiday-themed attire to boost purchases even further.
Challenge
Maintaining quality while creating up to 60 high-quality items each week required me to implement efficient workflows, foster strong collaboration, and manage time and my team effectively.
At the same time, I must ensure there is enough diversity in the designs so that players receive fresh and unique items every week, which isn’t easy with such a high output.
Roles and Responsibilities
Research
I collaborated closely with the community department to research current fashion trends and gather player insights, understanding their preferences for what they want to wear and purchase. Leveraging real-world clothing references, I refine my designs and created initial clothing concepts that align with player interests and trends. Additionally, I ensured all creations are in line with promotional goals and seasonal themes, making them both relevant and highly appealing.
Modelling and Texturing
Every week, we delivered a complete clothing collection to users, ensuring each collection was cohesive in design and allowed players to mix and match pieces to create fully styled outfits.
The textures are entirely hand-painted, offering precise control over fine details such as intricate patterns and fabric designs. This approach also makes the textures less resource-intensive and independent of advanced technologies, which was crucial given the limitations of our outdated engine.
Additionally, I overlooked the visual direction of clothing designs, guiding the team to maintain consistency and uphold the highest quality standards.
Quality Assurance
After implementation, I ensure clothing fits and functions perfectly across all avatar types by verifying alignment, visual consistency, and realistic movement. I identify and resolve issues such as clipping or deformation, upholding high standards for a seamless and polished player experience.
Key Takeaways
Efficiency
I optimized workflows to deliver high-quality results within tight deadlines, prioritizing tasks to maintain detail and meet project timelines. This ensured polished, immersive visual assets, supporting rapid development without compromising quality.Communication
Clear, open communication integrated diverse perspectives, ensuring a unified vision. This adaptability allowed for smooth changes, new features, and technical adjustments. The collaborative environment fostered mutual respect and innovation, driving successful outcomes.
Achievements
Increased User Satisfaction
I was implementing designs that resonate well with the player community, resulting in higher engagement, positive feedback, and revenue growth.High Volume Production
For 4 years, I consistently delivered up to 60 high-quality items weekly, overcoming outdated technology with creativity and resourcefulness to find innovative solutions.