It’s hard to predict which 3D models customers will be looking for in the coming days, months, or even years; however, there are a few indicators CG artists can use that may provide inspiration that may even prepare your portfolio for expected jumps in areas of interest.
Let’s use the recent milestone marking 100 years since the sinking of the Titanic. As the actual date approached, internet searches related to the word “Titanic” skyrocketed; an increase in similar searches within the TurboSquid catalog were also identified.
So how do you “predict” a possible trend?
By keeping your eyes open for major events (like the upcoming Olympic games in London), entertainment industry announcements, or even medical breakthroughs; you may be on the front end of a trend. Anything that appears to be on the cusp of launch that you can provide a resource for, may also be a good source of inspiration, including major construction projects (especially those that may change a city’s skyline).
Riding similar waves of search success are movies that are heading for production or a theater near you . Look at the impact that the upcoming Avengers, Iron Man 3 or the latest installment in the Spiderman series have had on the search engines.
Using tools like Google Insights for Search (picture above) provides the data associated with worldwide search volume. Combine this information with TurboSquid reports like Top Site Searches (available to SquidGuild artists) and you can use this valuable information to inspire your next digital creation while anticipating the possible demands of customers.