How Not To Make An Environment

Summary

In this reflective video, the creator shares the challenges and lessons learned from creating an environment, discussing themes like impostor syndrome, modular design, and the importance of early planning. The creator emphasizes the value of focused reference gathering, the need for early camera shots to guide design, and how simplifying textures and lighting can improve the overall environment. They also touch on the importance of rescoping projects to avoid burnout, working in manageable sessions, and tracking progress to stay motivated. The video offers valuable advice for anyone working in environment design or creative projects.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reference gathering is crucial, but too much overlap between different themes can lead to confusion and a lack of focus.
• 😀 Play with camera shots early in the process to help determine the key spaces and ensure consistent progress shots.
• 😀 Early blockout stages should have determined height values and avoided major changes that affect multiple elements.
• 😀 Don’t rush from blockout to detailing stages. Ensure the blockout is truly finalized before moving forward.
• 😀 Simplify texture placeholders, focusing on basic shapes, sizes, and colors before adding complex details like normal maps or AO.
• 😀 Avoid overcomplicating textures with too much detail early on, especially in large environments. Use simpler textures for better readability.
• 😀 Don't tweak lighting to fit your textures. Instead, adjust your textures to work with neutral lighting setups for better material clarity.
• 😀 Rescoping is a valuable tool in project management, allowing you to adjust your environment as needed to make it more manageable.
• 😀 If you're new to the industry, start with smaller environments to avoid burnout and gain confidence with new tools and techniques.
• 😀 Long sessions can lead to burnout, so it's important to stop when you reach your planned session time and end on a positive note.
• 😀 Recognize your progress by identifying wins throughout the project, which can boost your mindset and motivation, rather than focusing only on mistakes.

Q & A

Why does the speaker feel imposter syndrome when browsing ArtStation?

The speaker experiences imposter syndrome because they see other artists creating impressive work regularly, which makes them feel as if their own progress is slower and less significant. They believe it will take them much longer to achieve similar results.

What does the speaker consider a normal part of the creative process?

The speaker acknowledges that things going wrong, such as technical issues or design challenges, are normal in the creative process. It's a difficult and ever-expanding field, and mistakes are inevitable.

What was the key mistake the speaker made with reference gathering?

The speaker's key mistake was having too much overlap in their references, such as mixing different architectural styles like temples and cathedrals, which made it difficult to maintain a cohesive vision for the environment.

What advice does the speaker give about collecting reference images?

The speaker advises future projects to focus on gathering references that inspire modular design, avoid unnecessary overlap between different styles, and prioritize quality over quantity when selecting reference images.

How did the speaker feel about camera shots during the project?

The speaker regrets not setting up camera shots earlier in the project. They advise doing so early on to better guide the environment's design and ensure that progress shots are consistent and useful.

Why is it important to establish height values early in a modular environment?

Establishing height values early is crucial because it helps maintain consistency in the environment's design, preventing the need for reworking elements like pillars, stairs, and railings after making significant changes to the blockout.

What was the issue with the speaker’s texture placeholders?

The speaker initially used overly detailed texture placeholders, which included unnecessary effects like AO and curvature. This added noise to the environment, making it harder to troubleshoot. They now recommend simplifying placeholders to focus on basic tones, shapes, and sizes.

What lighting mistake did the speaker make when testing textures?

The speaker initially made the mistake of tweaking textures to fit their lighting, rather than adjusting the lighting to suit the textures. They later realized that testing materials with neutral lighting helps better evaluate textures.

How did the speaker deal with burnout during the project?

The speaker experienced burnout due to the lengthy process and almost abandoned the project. They advise against dropping projects entirely and recommend rescoping to reduce overwhelm and make progress more manageable.

What is the speaker’s advice for managing long projects while avoiding burnout?

The speaker suggests starting with smaller projects, managing workload to avoid long sessions, and ensuring that progress is recognized along the way. They also stress the importance of taking breaks and being kind to oneself during challenging phases.