Simulated Work Experience: Reflection on Collaboration and Professional Animation Practice

My Role and Responsibilities

During the Simulated Work project, I contributed to Ging Gao’s master’s graduation project by taking on roles in character design and 3D model research. My specific tasks included:

1. Character Design – Creating different pigeon character sketches, exploring styles suitable for animation.

2. 3D Asset Research – Finding appropriate telephone booth 3D models online and curating options for the project.

3. Technical Exploration – Learning Blender material application and experimenting with Grease Pencil for an ink-wash effect.

Task Completion and Feedback

I successfully completed my assigned tasks and actively participated in team discussions, incorporating feedback along the way.

In the character design phase, I explored various pigeon designs based on Ging’s directions and refined my sketches after reviewing my teammates’ work. Ging’s feedback was that my designs were expressive and well-structured, but could be more exaggerated to enhance their comedic appeal.

For the 3D asset research, I compiled and presented suitable telephone booth models that matched the project’s style and technical requirements. Although I didn’t create the models myself, this process helped me realize the importance of asset management in animation production—a skill that is often overlooked but crucial in industry workflows.

Additionally, I took this opportunity to delve deeper into Blender’s material application, testing different PBR material settings on models, and experimented with Grease Pencil for creating an ink-wash effect. These studies broadened my understanding of how 2D and 3D animation techniques can be integrated for unique visual results.

Performance & Areas for Improvement

What Went Well:

• Smooth teamwork – Effective communication via WhatsApp helped us adapt to each other’s workflows and efficiently adjust tasks.

• Technical learning – Beyond my assigned tasks, I explored Blender’s material system and 2D/3D integration, which will be valuable in future projects.

• Task execution – I successfully delivered high-quality character designs and curated 3D assets within the project timeline.

What Could Be Improved:

• More exaggerated character design – While my pigeons met the animation requirements, they could have been pushed further in shape and personality for a more dynamic appeal.

• Better 3D asset evaluation – Some telephone booth models I found were visually suitable but had technical issues like poor topology and UV mapping. I need to improve my ability to assess 3D assets for production use.

• Deeper communication with Ging – While I followed instructions well, I could have asked more questions and engaged in further discussions to understand her creative vision better.

How This Experience Relates to Industry Roles

In the professional animation industry, team collaboration, resource management, and technical innovation are key aspects of production. This experience made me realize:

1. Animation production is not just about drawing and modeling—it also involves sourcing, optimizing, and integrating assets effectively.

2. Character design must balance style with animation feasibility—a character should be not only visually appealing but also easy to animate.

3. Technical exploration expands creative possibilities—experimenting with Blender’s Grease Pencil ink-wash effectmade me think about combining 2D and 3D techniques in my future work.

This project also gave me insight into potential industry roles, such as:

• Character Designer – Creating expressive, animation-friendly characters.

• Production Coordinator – Managing and optimizing 3D assets for efficient pipeline use.

• Technical Artist – Exploring hybrid animation techniques like 2D/3D blending.

Key Takeaways & Future Applications

From this experience, I learned:

+ How to work efficiently in a team, contributing creatively while adapting to a shared artistic vision.

+ How to refine character design for both aesthetics and animation functionality.

+ How to use technical tools like Blender’s Grease Pencil to experiment with new styles.

In the future, I aim to:

• Push my character design skills further, exploring more exaggerated and stylized forms.

• Improve my 3D asset evaluation to ensure models meet animation production needs.

• Continue developing 2D/3D hybrid animation techniques, finding a personal artistic direction.

Conclusion

Simulated Work gave me firsthand experience in collaborative animation production, strengthening my skills in character design, asset management, and technical research. This was not just a coursework assignment—it was a realistic industry simulation that prepared me for professional workflows.

Moving forward, I will apply the collaborative skills, design refinements, and technical experiments from this experience to future animation projects, ensuring that I continue to evolve as both an artist and a professional in the field.