Meet Anna, a Freelance 3D Visualization Artist With an International Client Base

Anna Nutsubidze has always had an eye for design, both in her personal and professional life. Some of her favorite hobbies include photography, gardening, and traveling. Anna’s passion for aesthetically pleasing visuals has helped her find success as an architectural designer, interior designer, and 3D visualization artist.

Based in Tbilisi, Georgia, Anna received a bachelor’s degree in architecture and design from Georgia Technical University and has also studied in the United States, Italy, Russia, and Poland. Rather than following a traditional career path at an architecture firm, Anna has expanded her skill set to specialize in 3D modeling, rendering, and animation and has a thriving freelance business.

‍

The path from architecture to 3D modeling

During her time as an architecture student at Georgian Technical University, Anna discovered that she enjoys the creative process of interior design and 3D modeling more than technical planning, which is a common focus area for architecture students. Because of her lifelong photography hobby, Anna is passionate about bringing visuals to life for clients, such as creating 3D renders of a client’s home—including interior design details such as furniture and other materials.

Alongside her architecture degree, Anna also completed 3D rendering immersion courses to learn more about the creative side of architecture and design. While she started her career in a full-time, architectural planning role, Anna soon realized that based on her interests and diverse skill set, she prefers the creative and design process.

Growing an international client base while maintaining work-life balance

While finishing her degree and working at an architecture firm, Anna started searching online for remote work options that better align with her 3D modeling, rendering, and interior design skills. She initially created an Upwork profile in 2018. Her first client owned a building company in India and Anna worked on 3D visualizations to showcase the client’s houses for vendors. Based on her first project, Anna was immediately excited about the opportunity to work with international clients.

“Through Upwork, I have a lot of opportunities to share my culture and learn from others,” said Anna. “Upwork gives me the chance to work on projects and connect with people from all over the world, which I’ve enjoyed since I spent time studying abroad. The platform is also very convenient and user-friendly. I haven’t faced any major challenges in my five years of using the platform and the Upwork support team is always helpful when needed.”

Another benefit of freelancing that Anna appreciates is the flexibility to choose where and when she works. Working from home enables her to set up a comfortable work environment and gives her the chance to work when creativity strikes—which can sometimes be early in the morning, late at night, or over the weekend, rather than exclusively during traditional nine-to-five office hours.

When Anna first created an Upwork profile, building a steady client base took some time. She initially started small to secure projects and receive ratings and reviews on her profile and has since increased her rates over time. Over the years, Anna has invested in her computer and software relevant to her client projects, which has helped her drive efficiencies and continue to grow her client base.

Design and 3D modeling project examples

Through Upwork, Anna has the opportunity to build long-term relationships with clients, many of whom reach out to her multiple times each year to partner on new projects. Based on her diverse background and experience, Anna works on a wide range of projects, including architectural design, 3D rendering and modeling, animated videos, and picking out furniture and other design elements for architecture projects.

Some of Anna’s project examples include:

• Cabin developer. Anna recently worked with an entrepreneur who plans to build small cabins, rustic cabins in fields, the forest, and other natural settings. She partnered with the developer to imagine what the designed cabins will look like in different settings and landscapes. Anna created 3D images to help promote the cabins on social media and in other marketing materials, with the goal of encouraging individuals to buy or rent the cabins.
• Local apartment renovation. A client reached out to Anna on Upwork about an apartment renovation near her home in Tbilisi, Georgia. Anna partnered with her husband on this project to complete the design and renovation from start to finish—including design, 3D renders, selecting materials, completing construction, and selecting furniture and other home goods—while the client was out of the country. Anna oversaw design and communication with the client in their temporary Dubai location while her husband handled the construction and financial aspects of the project.
• Breast pump manufacturer. In addition to projects in the architectural space, Anna has experience working on 3D product renders. One of her long-term clients is a breast pump manufacturer. During the conceptual design phase, Anna developed 3D renders of the breast pump for marketing purposes. She has also created animated product videos and additional renders for other products during the two-year working relationship.

Anna also offers architectural design and 3D modeling consultations through Project Catalog™, which enables clients to book a direct meeting to discuss ideas and goals and receive expert advice.

How freelancing is mutually beneficial to professionals and clients

Anna highlighted how the Upwork Talent Marketplace™ makes it easy for freelancers to find work and clients to find professionals with the skills they need. While Anna initially searched for jobs and pursued clients for the most part, clients now reach out to her based on the skills, portfolio samples, and work history on her Upwork profile.

As Anna shared, engaging freelancers is also quicker and more cost-effective than bringing in talent from an agency or other larger company. “In my experience, I’ve had clients that didn’t like the results of working with a larger company on similar projects,” said Anna. “Large companies are often expensive to work with and have certain limitations. As a freelancer, I don’t have limitations with my creative process or the number of rounds needed to ensure a project has the best possible outcome. I take the time to talk through design options and decisions with clients, which is beneficial to both sides.”

Helping others find success with freelancing

Anna is eager to share her expertise and help others find success with freelancing. As an example, she used to study with several Ukrainian students through her 3D modeling immersion courses. Since the war in Ukraine started in early 2022, Anna has communicated with Ukrainians remotely to help them create accounts and find projects on Upwork. She explains how the platform works, how to create a successful profile, and how to find clients. When appropriate, Anna also refers Ukrainian freelancers directly to her clients.  

Prior to the global pandemic, Anna also attended local in-person huddles in Tbilisi to exchange ideas and tips with fellow Upwork freelancers and is hopeful the meet-ups will pick back up again in the near future.

Anna shared advice to help aspiring freelancers find success on Upwork. “Be persistent, put yourself out there, and share the most important information without overcrowding your profile,” she said. “Add relevant keywords so potential clients can find your profile. Create a professional portfolio, even if this means adding personal projects to showcase your skills before you have client work to highlight. For 3D modeling, projects may include renders, designs, or other visualizations of a house or apartment.”

Reach out for expert support on your design and 3D modeling projects

Looking ahead, Anna is focused on strengthening her existing skills, learning more about animation, identifying new ways to upskill, and continuing to grow her international client base.

Anna is a Top Rated freelancer on Upwork, with more than 80 clients to date and a 100% job success score. Her education and background in architecture offer her a unique perspective on 3D modeling, rendering, and animation projects.

If you’re looking for expert support on your design and 3D modeling projects, learn more by taking a look at Anna’s Upwork profile, booking a consultation, or inviting her to apply to one of your jobs.