Comparing 3D Design Techniques: Insights from Mick Coulter

Mick Coulter

• https://www.coulteraction.com/about-us
• https://www.autodesk.com/community/gallery/profile/com-000000471340

One of the best things you can do to get better at something is to take inspiration from someone better than you. It allows you to want to try new things and helps you push yourself to new heights.

The person I will be comparing my work to today is Mick Coulter, who has a very different style from mine, though I have tried to do some similar work in the past.

Some of his work:

Some of my work:

Technique/Style

Just by looking, you can clearly see some major differences in both our styles and techniques. I tend to make things more rigid and angular with less cohesion from part to part than his. Sometimes I also make things that are meant to be 3D printed or manufactured in some quick way that aren’t supposed to be perfect, but more so to get the point across.

Looking back at his he has a very smooth, colorful style that looks pleasing to the eyes, almost more so resembling art. He also goes for much more organic shapes than I do, which makes the renders he does look much more professional. Based on some of the parts of his renders, I would not be surprised if he used a different software for them, based on some of the textures. Thought that might just be a technique I’m unaware of.

The one thing about technique and style I would like to try and replicate more in the future would be his use of textures, his higher quality rendering, and his ability to make cohesive organic shapes.

Skill

In terms of skill alone, I don’t think we are too different. Yes, I know he looks much more professional, but that goes back more so to his unique style. Though it’s not what I’m used to, I have done very similar kinds of models in the pasted. The biggest skill gap is apparent in the scale of his models compared to mine. While I have made a single wheel in the same style, he made a whole bike.

In the future, I would love to take on some larger projects made in his style rather than what I do most. Not only to get better at a different kind of modeling than I’m used to, but also to get better at working on larger-scale projects.