Wednesday, September 1st, 2021 by Julian Karsunky
While Iranian architect and visualizer Tina Tajaddod herself humbly declines the label of 3D artist, her soulful and intimately personal approach to CGI left us no choice but to select her as our September 2021 '3D Artist of the Month'! Skillfully crafted architectural reflections of her thoughts and feelings, Tina's work offers a unique and authentic glimpse into her mind. Although a design of individual creative expression, she nonetheless invites the viewer to seek refuge in her 'Quiet Place'.
In our interview, Tina discusses the Iranian CG community, introversion and the search for inner peace.
"To stand firm in the face of fire, to be calm in the midst of thunder" Tina Tajaddod, 'Quiet Place'.
Hi Tina, thanks for joining us! To start things off, please introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello all, my name is Tina Tajaddod, I'm a 29-year-old freelance architect and 3D visualizer from Iran.
Where does your fascination with architecture and design stem from?
One thing I always knew about myself was that I wanted to be an artist. My father is an architect, so from an early age, whenever I went to his office, I always looked at his designs, architectural plans and projects. Thinking about the way people would eventually live there tickled my imagination, and I became fascinated with how people live and occupy spaces – in their homes, offices or markets.
Considering this, it is no surprise that at about 10 years old, I started playing simulation games such as 'The Sims', which further increased my interest in architecture. Having finished high school with a major in mathematics, I decided to study architecture, and I graduated with a master's degree from IAUTSB three years ago!
When and how did CGI enter your life and career?
About ten years ago, I first took classes on Revit, 3ds Max and Photoshop, but I took no immediate interest at the time and soon forgot about it. And a few years later, during my third semester of university, I was introduced to Lumion and began working with the software as a hobby. Initially, I had no intentions of pursuing a career in CGI, but the more I learned, the more passionate I became. Eventually, I asked myself: "why not?" I figured if others could do it, so could I!
After graduating, I felt a strong desire to further my CGI skills, so I started vocational training at Vividvisual Studio, where I studied under accomplished CG artist Yones Bana. So while I might not have a specific academic education, I feel my practical experience combined with my master’s in architecture makes for a solid foundation!
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Tina tells us the lighting was instrumental in achieving the desired effect. Notice how the mood shifts completely depending on the time of day.
Please tell us about your current job situation. Are you exclusively freelancing at the moment?
Yeah, I am working freelance with international and domestic clients, but I do have the support of a team I can count on if necessary. My services include 3D visualization, interior visualization and styling, exterior renders, environment visualization and animation.
Before going freelance, I worked at my father's offices for a few years, but I found the job to be too time-consuming and ultimately unfulfilling. Being able to manage my own time fits my personality and lifestyle much better.
Describe your profile as a 3D artist!
Actually, I hardly consider myself a 3D artist. While 3D artists create three-dimensional models and visual effects to match specific briefs, I just do 3D visualizations, renderings and animations. But regardless of the task at hand, my main goal is always to create soulful works, with my own personal signature.
I'm also very interested in VFX and game development and plan on learning the respective skill sets in the future.
What can you tell us about the current state of the CG industry and community in Iran?
For the last 25 to 30 years, Iran's CG industry has steadily grown into a more established, prosperous and influential sector. In fact, today, a majority of people in the field of architecture work in CGI. And because of the excellent training available now, CG artists and the quality of their work continue to improve day to day. Another contributing factor to this progress is found in various improvements for home businesses and freelancers.
