Barcelona, August 23th, 2023

Currently based in Barcelona, Celia Lopez is a freelance senior 3D designer. She started in the industry because of her passion to create beautiful things using new technologies and her entrepreneurial spirit. She is now working in Ava, a digital friend and influencer, after having done other exciting projects using 3D and AR.

In an interview with TIA, Lopez described her day-to-day activities and gave some suggestions on how to build a brand as a freelancer designer. She explained the process of creating a 3D design, from concept to final product, and listed the most important elements of story-telling when working on a project.

To kick things off, let’s dive into the hidden side of Barcelona – what are some local favorites or lesser-known spots worth discovering?

Right now I’m in Barcelona, and people has to know the very well-designed coffee La Papa Barcelona and has to spent some evening time at the Hoxton rooftop, with the feet in the pool, enjoying the music while planning which restaurant to visit next with their loved one.

Could you walk me through a day in Célia’s shoes?

I usually wake up and make myself a fresh vegetable juice, my two favorites are apple-carrot-ginger-lemon and apple-cucumber, then I go to sports or I walk in the city or I stop at a cafe. Then at 10 am I have an appointment with my team. I work from home all day long. This month I did an apartment swap with a friend, so I’m in Barcelona. I like to work in different places of the world. At the moment, my mission is to lead a team, in the morning I give my feedback on a Framer document to the Makata team which animates Ava, out digital friend and influencer we are working on. Then I prepare the documents for the next animations, guiding them on the artistic direction. As we are launching her a Tiktok account, we need Tiktok type of content, so I reproduce the dance or the animation by filming myself to help the animators. In the afternoon I do 3D production. I’ve created the 3D universe of the bedroom (the half of the room has been created my Makata), then I’ll work on the bathroom and the kitchen. Also, last week we started exploring the motion capture track for faster animation execution. So I’m learning how to make motion capture thanks to Rokoko and their adapted suit, and I’m testing with my team the creation of the workflow that will allow us to post one video per day on Tikotok. I have regular calls during the day with members of the team to coordinate everything. In the evening I eat with my boyfriend, on the terrace watching the sunset, at the restaurant or a picnic on the beach to decompress.

What inspired you to pursue a career in this industry?

I’m amazed by beautiful things. I know it’s super subjective, but I call beautiful things, the ones that give me emotion, desire, that attract me. I like the idea of creating beautiful things, so I practice that a little more every day. In addition, I am fascinated by all new technologies, telling stories, immersing people in different worlds, I also have an increasingly entrepreneurial spirit so I like to help a company grow and evolve. Learning new things, being a pioneering leader, creating quality and teaching are my highest values. So, my “why” is a mix of all of this.

How does the process of creating your own brand as a freelancer go?

I’ve always been guided by my heart and I try to keep up to date with new technologies. I am also always attentive to my desire which evolves over time. For example, today I am very interested in fashion, real or digital. I wonder a lot about this new world which increasingly mixes the real with the digital. So, I try to create personal projects that explore these themes, which support my questions. Thus, being aligned between my actions and my deep desires attracts professional projects that really suit me.

Tell us about a recent project you’ve worked on that you’re proud of. How was the development process and end-result?

Today with the new tools, it is easy and fast to create photorealistic images. You can tell any story. It’s fascinating, exciting and at the same time scary! How will we be able to define right from wrong now? Based on this questioning, I worked on a personnal project around a Jacquemus bag, working on it in 3D motion, shooting myself thanks to a photograph friend wearing it or creating it in 3D AR (I went to the Jacquemus store in Paris to film the AR in the store shelf). Applying myself to create a 3D and AR version as real as possible, to foil the human eye and questioning, what’s real, what’s not? I’m very satisfied with the renders.

What software and tools do you typically use in your 3D design work?

Cinema 4D, Octane, Redshift, Blender, Spline, Marvelous designer, Clo3D.

How do you balance creativity and technical proficiency?

I always try to learn, to improve myself, I try to practice with a personal project whenever I can and I spend my free time talking to inspiring people, having new experiences, exploring the world and looking to Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration.

Can you walk me through the process of creating a 3D design, from concept to final product?

I look for references, look for the competition, think a lot, confront my ideas with the team, test, explore, try to be as clear as possible in the message to be conveyed to find the best concept, try to innovate. Then it’s a long process of creating, iterating, failing and succeeding. It’s a long road strewn with doubts, challenges and small victories. But we always learn.

Which would you say are the key elements for great story-telling?

I think it should be reminiscent of a common situation. If people can recognize themselves in the main character, or through the scenario whether through funny, romantic or painful situations, then it’s a win!

What are some of the most important skills that a successful 3D designer should have, and how have you developed those skills over time?

Always have a posture of improvement and be in constant learning. Also I would say to have a personal eye on the design. I developed mine thanks to my personal projects but also through professional projects over time.

What are your long-term career goals as a 3D artist, and how do you see yourself evolving and growing in this field?

I would love to drive a team while keeping improving my 3D skills. Also I would love to explore more and more the digital fashion industry.

When looking at the technological landscape today, what makes you think “wow”?

When I first saw the movie Her in 2014, I knew it would be the future one day, and the day has come. My job today is to create the first avatar friend, to make her a digital influencer with 5 million followers! I’m in the future! Also, a long time ago I had seen how the movie Matrix was made for Neo’s very famous move. Today I can do it in my apartment thanks to the Rokoko motion capture suit and it’s also my job! Should I say that I am an animator since I can animate my avatar in 30 seconds thanks to the motion capture suit? Just wow. The technology that allows us to create so quickly is fascinating.

What is the best advice you can give to young creatives aspiring to move into the industry?

Do personnal projects, and show it to the world. Go to digital festivals, connect to people, create contacts, and communicate a lot on your social media your qualitative work.

What’s your preferred way of dealing with distractions while working (e.g. headphones, scheduling breaks, etc.)?

Joker, I’m not good at being serious in my breaks, I can get lost on Pinterest for hours. So I work late at night to finish my work if it happens.

Do you make friends with the people you’re working with?

I have been lucky enough to have worked with my friends on a lot of professional projects, and I’m close to my colleagues that weren’t my friends before, yes.

What’s the next skill you plan on learning?

Motion capture animation and upgrade my skills in digital fashion.

Can you name a fun-fact people would be surprised to learn about you?

I love to sing loudly while working, but unfortunately the only thing I share with Jlo is her last name.

Thanks Célia!

• Follow Célia on social media:

LinkedIn

Twitter

Instagram

TikTok

3D3D animationFreelancingStorytelling