MARCH 11, 2004
Peter Gifford
The 3D world of Universal Head
Designer works on a huge 3D project—among other things ...
These days designers have to wear a lot of hats. They have to become an expert typographer, illustrator, programmer, copywriter, interface expert ... and now a lot of designers are adding 3D modelling, texturing, lighting and animating to the mix.
Peter Gifford, director of design studio Universal Head, has worked for many years as a designer and first worked professionally in 3D using Strata StudioPro, creating graphics for the official websites for computer games Myst III and realMyst. But after completing those projects he began to look around for a more powerful 3D package.
“My first choice was Lightwave, but I found the interface non-intuitive and the workflow got in the way of my creativity,” says Gifford. “That's when I was offered a year’s work on the computer game The Omega Stone, and the developers, Omni Adventures, had decided to use Cinema4D for the project.”
A crash course in Cinema4D
Gifford abandoned Lightwave and plunged into Cinema4D, and he hasn’t looked back. “Cinema has everything I need in a 3D package. It’s powerful yet easy to use, the interface is fully cusomizable so I can set up the program the way that’s most comfortable for me, and the renders are beautiful.”
Since Gifford had to learn C4D from scratch while on the job, he was pleased to find the program relatively easy to learn—and he was soon sending the excellent results to his client. Online communities such as Postforum were essential to learning the ins and outs of C4D. But Lightwave continued to have one advantage over Cinema—more resource sites on the web.
Cinema4DUser.com is born
As an experienced web designer, the answer was for Gifford to make one himself. “The existing C4D sites online are good, but I wanted a site more geared to the creative results possible with C4D, plus an extensive selection of free resources—all in one place. And I wanted helpful, well-designed tutorials and articles on how other people used the program” said Gifford.
It’s early days yet, but in time and with the help of C4D users worldwide the site you’re viewing will become that resource.
“Once the site becomes known among the people who use C4D, I plan to add an online user forum. Then we’ll really get a sense of community here among Cinema4D Users. I want the focus to be on professionals who use the program to achieve real-world results.”
Other projects in the works
In between running his design business Universal Head, and updating Cinema4DUser, Peter has some other 3D projects on the backburner. He also maintains the official website for the imaginary world of Tékumel at www.tekumel.com. This intricately detailed world cries out for some 3D illustration. Says Gifford: “Tékumel is very visual creation, and deserves the full 3D treatment. There’s enough material there to keep a 3D illustrator—and perhaps one day, an animator— busy for a long, long time.” In addition, of course, to typography, programming, copywriting, interface design ...
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Universal Head, located in Sydney NSW, is a small, creative design firm that blends traditional design craftsmanship, the latest graphics technology and a strong understanding of visual communications. Since 1994 Universal Head has created work in the fields of print, motion, web and 3D design for clients as diverse as Telstra, the Australian Tourist Commission, Australia Post, major Australian television networks and international games distributors Ubisoft and Dreamcatcher. For more information visit www.universalhead.com.
