Hi Deckard112,

I suspect that the advent of inexpensive computers and software have impacted the illustration field a bit like phones and photo software have impacted photography: few people value photographers anymore. A standard career in design may be similarly devalued, however...something to chew on for a bit: consider what your key strength is, what makes your approach different from the next person's. Rather than thinking about "what" you're modeling, perhaps consider "how" you're presenting it and in so doing, differentiating yourself from others. Design and illustration is about communication. There are a good many people out there with ideas that they have a hard time communicating, maybe you can develop the skill to listen and understand, and from there illustrate their ideas. Maybe as you do this you also develop the skill to give feedback on their ideas. You become something more than just an artist/illustrator/draftsperson and become a valued collaborator. It doesn't happen overnight, and you don't learn it in school, but it will differentiate what you have to offer from the rest of the pack.

My own background is in IT rather than 3D design so I don't have a personal experience to offer as an example, but I do have a successful career as a consultant based upon listening and offering solid advice in the technical fields.

--Larry