Designer Interview: Apriliyandi Tami, 3D Artist

Tell us about your role and what you do.

Hi, I'm Apriliyandi Tami, a 3D Artist from Jakarta, Indonesia. I started my career as an Interior Designer in 2015. I help people visualize space and building plans in 3D.

I joined a marketing team as a 3D Artist and Graphic Designer in 2016, designing visual displays for retail outlets by driving branding and sales goals to convert window shoppers into customers.

Since the 3D style trend became popular, in early 2020 until now I have focused on creating 3D icon assets and 3D illustrations for several marketplaces, one of which is Iconscout. I also create 3D icons and 3D illustrations for application or website needs for clients from various countries.

What is your primary source of inspiration, and what is your creative process in creating these awesome, fun designs? How would you describe your style?

My inspiration comes from what I see every day and is close to my life. Most ideas come when I use an app on my smartphone.

Apart from using the features, I have always been interested in the user interface (UI). Every 3D asset I create starts with a question: "what can I do to make the product more visually appealing through 3D icons and 3D illustrations?"

Based on this question, I made a sketch for each icon needed in an application with a specific category, then made it three-dimensional.

During the process, what type of software and design tools do you use?

I usually use a sketchbook, Wacom, or an iPad to sketch at the beginning, depending on which one is within my reach. The sketchbook is my favorite because it is easier for me to reach when I need to jot down ideas quickly.

I use Blender as my main software to create 3D, starting from modeling, texturing, to lighting. Blender has a large community, so if I encounter a problem, there will be many solutions that I can find through discussion forums with fellow Blender users.

What advice would you like to give to the designers of the Iconscout community?

Enjoy the process of building your portfolio. Always be updated with popular trends. Practice every day so that the quality of your work is much better than before. Building a portfolio on Iconscout is a long-term project – the results of your hard work will definitely pay off if you consistently provide the best.

How can people find you and get connected? Do you have a Dribble or Instagram page where people can reach out to you?

I actively share content about my creative process in creating 3D assets on my personal Instagram page.

I also share tips and tutorials about the process of creating 3D design with my audience who are mostly designers.

If anyone has any questions about the 3D creation process or needs a custom 3D icon or 3D illustration, feel free to DM me on Instagram and I'll be happy if I can help you.

If you were to pick your most favorite asset on Iconscout, what would it be?

There are tons of quality assets on Iconscout, but if I had to choose which one is my favorite, the E-commerce 3D Illustration Pack would be my favorite asset.

It contains 35 3D illustrations that can make your product look more attractive.

What are three things you love about Iconscout?

First, Iconscout has a variety of assets, including 3D illustrations, Lottie animations, illustrations, and icons. This makes it easy for customers to find various kinds of assets in one place.

Second, Iconscout can be accessed via a plugin available in many applications. As a contributor, it helps us reach a larger market.

Third, the way Iconscout appreciates their contributors, with the high share rate and the programs they provide, it makes the collaboration between contributors and the marketplace much more enjoyable.

What are your thoughts on the members and culture of the Iconscout team?

I've never come across a marketplace with a team that can get this close to the contributors. They are always trying to make our work as contributors easy in making our assets available on Iconscout. It really helps us save time on technical terms so we can focus on making good assets.

How do you see your future with Iconscout?

With the fast growth of Iconscout as a marketplace that provides various kinds of assets, as a contributor, I am optimistic that I can reach an even bigger market and can help many people make their products more attractive with the work I create.

What are the benefits you have received from uploading your work on Iconscout?

I have received many benefits since I first joined Iconscout until now. By uploading my work on Iconscout, I have one additional source of income that I didn't have before with a very fair share of sales.

How did Iconscout as a marketplace help accelerate the growth of your work?

The programs that Iconscout run help me stay productive producing the work the market needs.