Rediscovering an Old Passion

Rediscovering an Old Passion: The Joy of 3D Modeling for The Drift

Sometimes, life takes unexpected turns that lead us back to passions we once left behind. Recently, I experienced this firsthand as I dusted off an old skill: 3D modeling. It’s been many years since I last worked with 3D software—secondary school, to be exact—but designing the 3D player dashboard for The Drift has rekindled a fire I forgot was still burning inside me.

Stepping Back Into a Familiar World

When I first opened up the 3D modeling program, it was like stepping into a time machine. The interface looked both familiar and completely foreign. I remembered the basics—rotating objects, adjusting vertices—but the muscle memory wasn’t quite there. At first, it was frustrating. I made mistakes, had to backtrack, and spent way too much time undoing actions I barely understood. But amidst the frustration, I felt a spark of joy.

It’s easy to forget how immersive certain creative processes can be. 3D modeling isn’t just technical—it’s sculpting, designing, and imagining. Every object you create begins as a simple shape, but with time and attention, it transforms into something functional, something beautiful, something that serves a purpose in a larger design. For The Drift, that purpose was creating a player dashboard that not only holds game markers but also adds to the overall experience of the game itself.

Rekindling a Lost Passion

I hadn’t realized how much I missed 3D modeling until I was knee-deep in polygons and meshes, tweaking every detail to get the dashboard just right. And that’s the beauty of rediscovering an old passion—you fall in love with it all over again, almost as if it’s the first time. There’s something deeply rewarding about returning to something you used to enjoy and finding that it still excites you, perhaps even more than it did before.

For me, this process wasn’t just about creating a game component. It was about reigniting that creative spark, the one that makes hours pass without notice, that leaves you feeling fulfilled at the end of a session. The kind of work that doesn’t feel like work at all.

Committing to Growth

Now that I’ve had a taste of 3D modeling again, I’m committed to diving deeper into this world. There’s so much I still have to learn—new techniques, more advanced software, tricks to make designs more efficient and creative. But that’s part of the excitement. Rediscovering this passion isn’t just about picking up where I left off; it’s about pushing myself to new limits, exploring new possibilities, and finding new ways to bring The Drift to life.

If you’ve ever left behind a hobby or passion, I encourage you to revisit it. You might just find that the joy you felt all those years ago is still there, waiting for you to pick it up again.

For me, 3D modeling is back on the table, and this time, I’m here to stay.