Interview – Sergey Timoshenko from ParaART

We had the priviledge of talking to Sergey Timoshenko from ParaART, CTO, Creative Director and Co-founder of ParaART Design Studio. ParaART specialises in providing high quality design services including CAD modelling, rendering, animation and graphic and web design for a whole host of local and international clients including names like Dodge, Silverado, Canon, Casio and the list goes on. In this critical interview Sergey explains some of the main services ParaART provides, their design process and the reasons behind their success. To find out more information about ParaART please check out their website at http://www.paraart.com/

Hi Sergey, could you tell me a little bit more about yourself and your role at ParaART?

Hi! Yes, sure. I started learning 3D modeling in 1996. If my memory doesn’t fail me it was 3D studio 4 then. My dream was to learn how to make 3D graphics of such quality as used for Pixar and Dreamworks cartoons and I did my best to self-educate and improve my skills and knowledge in 3D modeling and graphics. After some time of freelancing I was invited to work for a small design studio, where amongst a number of 3D projects I also had to improve my skills and assimilate new experience in the fields of web-design and html coding, flash animation and flash programming. Those days were full of new undertakings and self-perfection for me as a specialist. And now remembering that time and myself, who have been always thirsty for new knowledge, I as CTO, Creative Director and Co-founder of ParaART Design Studio always try to hire young specialists who have fresh minds and spirits and are ready to innovate and learn something new. While coordinating work of our creative team I do my best to bring that freshness, innovation and uniqueness to every of our creative projects, starting from simple 3D modeling and web design and up to huge creative solutions made for worldwide known brands.

What kind of products does ParaART develop and also what services do you provide to your customers?

ParaART offers a variety of professional services, primarily related to providing our customers with efficient solutions in 3D modeling, 3D graphics and animation, web-design and web-development. We also have strong branch in Flash game development. Among our services we also offer full cycle of 3D cartoon production starting from storyboards creation, 3D characters design and up to modeling, texturing, rigging, animating, and rendering. We also provide our customers with the high quality 3D prototyping and manufacturing.

Does ParaART manufacture products as well or build prototypes of design solutions?

Our major specialization is to fulfill versatile projects for our customers but we also have our own or participate in joint projects. One of them is www.humster3d.com , it has been recently established and is now on the stage of improvements and update. ParaART is also proud of having had and opportunity to accomplish non-profit projects for charitable purposes.

Could you tell me about some recent products ParaART has developed?

Almost all of ParaART’s projects are very interesting and challenging and the most recent and remarkable ones are projects for Canon and a row of online games.

What would you say is ParaART’s point of difference?

I think that one of our main differences is that we are for 100% devoted to our customer and do everything we can for his/her satisfaction. We have very strong customer service and as our statistics show 95% of our clients come back to us with more projects. And more than 70% become our long-term customers. I think these figures are rather good evidence for the quality of our work.

That’s an amazing statistic, not many companies can boast that. Do you have any general advice for students who are studying design or programming at high school/college or university? What skills should they develop and learn to be competitive?

The best thing here is to work hard and struggle for new knowledge and expertise. You also must love what you do! If you have these two points you’ll definitely achieve success.

Do you offer internships or accept work experience students at ParaART? And if so what advice would you have for them in developing their portfolios and CVs?

Yes, we offer internships and currently we have several people in staff who have come to us as interns and now they are established specialists and I’m very proud of them. I think that the best that young people could do is to absorb as much experience in the field they’ve chosen as they can, whether it is 3D modeling and animation, or webdesign, or flash animation and programming or something else.

At ParaART you provide whole range of services from CAD and rendering to graphic and website design. Are there any designers or developers that work in multiple areas at ParaART or are all the positions very specialised? Is there much multidisciplinary work and collaboration in the design process?

ParaART team is divided into three departments: design, 3D and programming. Our specialists are highly tailored and all of them work as a single strong team.

As CTO of ParaART how has technology transformed and shaped how you do design and develop products? What are some of the main challenges in managing technology? Is computer program interoperability a big issue?

Technologies and techniques are changing very fast, design styles are also floating and changing quickly, so the main goal for me as CTO is to track those changes and make my team meet the newest requirements in design, 3D modelling and animation etc.

Are you finding work is getting busy again post-financial crisis in your industry? Do you find people are generally optimistic or pessimistic about the economy growing again?

I’m very proud to say that ParaART has successfully overcome and even progressed during this financial crisis. Certainly it was not very easy and took us a lot of efforts but we were very optimistic and hardworking and the results showed themselves.

Do you have any final thoughts or plugs you would like to make for the Embody 3D readers?

Please be optimistic, hardworking and eager to learn and you’ll have success in all your beginnings!

Thanks Sergey for that sound advice, I am sure our younger readers will take it to heart. Remember to check out ParaART at: www.paraart.com

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