Vilnius, Lituania-based 3D model marketplace CGTrader has just launched their improved 3D jobs board to make it easier for companies and graphic designers to find and connect with each other. For 3DPI, the biggest news here could be that this decision comes in response to the “rapidly growing demand in VR and 3D printing industries” which is bringing along “a significant increase in specialized 3D jobs listings, targeting designers with a clearly defined skill set and work experience.”
This trend, which is particularly evident in Eastern European nations such as Estonia, Lithuania, and Ukraine to mention the first that come to mind, brought CGTrader to develop a system conceptually similar to generic freelance networks, but more focused on the specific needs and wants of the 3D industries.
CGTrader realized that “3D designers often find themselves immersed in pointless bidding wars that squeeze them dry of energy and scarcely ever bring any money”, while private companies “spend hours and hours of their time just hopping from one freelancers platform to another, posting project briefs and hoping to find someone who knows what they’re doing.”
The new board will help companies that only have occasional 3D modeling requirements by eliminating the need for an internal CG design team, while making it easier to look within a pool of 3D professionals that have already shown off their previous works and skills. For designers, the job board becomes a natural evolution of their presence on CGTrader. The network is conceptually similar to an integrated, specific LinkedIn, that already has all their information and basically offers a way to shake the money tree.
CGTrader will act as intermediary, which means that, while the two parties discuss business terms and deadlines, the team will ensure that they are met and hold onto payment until both parties are satisfied and the job is completed, thus ensuring that all completed jobs are paid.
Given the CGTrader team’s expertise in 3D modeling, they were able to introduce a series of filters to reduce search time for both parties. For example, it will be possible to search by category (3D, 3D Print, 3D Scan), software type (Max, Maya, etc.) or by dates and rates (newest postings, lowest budget, or highest budget). As you can imagine the jobs currently posted range anywhere from 3D modeling for video games, to 3D scanning repair and 3D modeling for prototypes. These – especially those that are 3D printing-related – are job areas that are going to grow a lot in the following years (so much for those who think that 3D printing will eliminate jobs).
At the same time, each user also have access to a more personalized experience; employers and job seekers can interact through a direct, private interface and keep track of all the job progresses in their own Dashboard page. All content that needs to be shared can be posted in the Workspace area, along with discussions and feedback. The new world of distributed manufacturing can hardly exist without functional, distributed co-working.
