Believing that everyone could be a 3D creator, the team at Sketchfab started out in 2012 creating technology to help people publish, share and discover 3D content online and in VR. Now, proudly supporting a community over 800,000 creators: artists, designers, architects, schools, museums, and many more, Sketchfab is one of the world’s largest platforms for 3D viewing, exporting and even editing.
We chatted with Paul Chambers, Artist Evangelist at Sketchfab to learn more about the inner workings of the team.
What does an Artist Evangelist do?
I identify talented artists who have yet to discover Sketchfab and demonstrate to them why it’s a terrific platform to help them promote their work. Every day I scan many portfolios and forums!
We pride ourselves in getting to know each team member individually
Where is the team at Sketchfab based?
Sketchfab was founded in Paris and continues to operate both in Paris and New York City. We are also proud of the fact that we support a number of team members who work remotely around the world and work hard to ensure these folks get plenty of face-time with their colleagues and regular site visits.
What departments make up that team?
Our 3D technology and Web teams comprise our Paris office. New York City leads our business initiatives in community, communications, evangelism and business development.
We care about how things are done and try to remain humble. But above all else, we care about people, and we have fun!
How do you maintain effective communication?
Slack is our weapon of choice for daily communication but we of course host several video conferences a week between teams and team members. We pride ourselves in getting to know each team member individually and every week host one-on-one chats between team members from different departments. The better everyone knows each other, the better we are as a company. We’re also proud of our annual team event bringing together team members from around the world under one roof for a week to have fun, get to know each other, and discuss strategies for the year ahead.
What’s the company culture like?
We’re a growing team of 25 people who value creativity, passion, caring and craziness. We’re explorers. We are geeks, we’re ambitious and perseverant, collaborative and attentive. We care about how things are done and try to remain humble. But above all else, we care about people, and we have fun!
Don’t wait around for your dream job to come to you. Prove that you have what it takes by making it happen yourself and the career will come.
How are new technologies pitched and developed internally?
As with all great ideas, they can and should come from any team member. We run weekly prototypes to test ideas before they make it into production. Some of these are also housed at labs.sketchfab.com. We also regularly speak with our most active community members and survey larger groups. And we’re always listening. If you’re a Sketchfab user who requests a feature, we monitor all requests and when enough requests coalesce around an idea, that gives us a strong sense of where we should prioritize resources.
When do you know you’ve created something amazing?
When we hear “Wow.” I’m pleased to say it’s something we hear on a regular basis. It’s very exciting, for example, to stand alongside a Sketchfab community member the first time they see their own work in VR, or when someone realizes that they can launch into VR directly from a Tweet. Those moments make us so proud.
Related Link: Sketchfab for Students
How do you think Sketchfab viewer enhances someone’s portfolio/chances of getting recognised?
Thankfully we don’t have to think, we know. We’re regularly contacted by artists who tell us when the ability to see their work in 3D has landed them a job. There are so many talented artists out there, it’s important that your portfolio stands out. Moving beyond flat images or video into interactive 3D makes a strong case for making a big impression in a portfolio submission or interview.
### What skills do you need to work at Sketchfab?Passion is the number one skill. We have team members who have strong 3D industry experiences. For others, it’s the first time they’ve worked with such technology. But in all cases, candidates have come to their first day at Sketchfab enthralled with the possibilities of real-time 3D, VR, and AR.
What have you seen change at Sketchfab since you’ve been there?
So much changes every day. Incremental updates and improvements come literally daily so it’s important to keep up. But one things for sure, our platform is better than it was yesterday and will be better again tomorrow.
What advice do you have for students at the start of their career?
Entrepreneurialism. We live in a world now where so much is possible from your laptop. There’s nothing stopping you from making a movie, recording a song, building a world in VR and so much more. Don’t wait around for your dream job to come to you. Prove that you have what it takes by making it happen yourself and the career will come.