Often at the head of small or medium-sized companies, the directors of 3D studios have a dual role of director, manager and administrator.
THE TASKS OF A 3D STUDIO MANAGER
In the world of the 3D industry, the head of a studio is a privileged position to which many enthusiastic professionals aspire.
It’s a highly versatile job. 3D studio managers organise workstations, define budgets, keep close track of accounts, as well as projects and their progress..
Their missions are therefore very wide-ranging and comprehensive, and require extreme versatility, responsiveness and availability.
Generally speaking, the quality of a company director is judged by how quickly he or she takes decisions within the organisation and in general.
KNOW-HOW, KNOWLEDGE
To become a digital studio manager, you need at least a 2-year degree in graphic arts or applied arts.
Like all business leaders, they are first and foremost entrepreneurs: their aim is to keep their company running. That’s why his extensive address book is so useful, especially when it comes to landing projects with production companies.
This 3D professional must ensure the quality of the work of his teams, by dealing directly with the various artistic and technical people involved in each project, or by relying on various supervisors (animation supervisor, special effects supervisor), depending on the size of his company.
Their finesse, rigour and meticulousness, and their ability to keep an overview are some of their main assets, as is their mastery of DTP and computer graphics software (XPRESS, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.).
It goes without saying that the manager has a highly developed sense of organisation, an ability to listen and to manage, as well as a creative and artistic sensibility.
From a managerial point of view, a good company director must be able to adapt to circumstances and be positive.
Studio managers and their teams regularly monitor technical and technological developments in software, tools and hardware to keep abreast of the latest trends.
CAREER AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The studio manager works in a graphic design studio or in an advertising, press or publishing company. They may also work on a freelance basis. Working hours may be irregular, depending on production requirements.
The job of head of a 3D studio is often a path that computer graphics professionals take after proving themselves, either as employees or freelancers.
Over the years, the manager may take on greater responsibilities and take charge of a larger structure.
