Window Shopping: Hunter Boots

For this third assignment we were tasked with designing a store front display in NYC to advertise a specific product. I decided on advertising a pair of boots from the company Hunter. I chose these boots because I think their logo and shoes are a very recognizable brand. I first went into Rhinoceros and developed a 3D model. From there I imported my model into 3DSMax and added materials and developed renderings. I then took these renderings into PhotoShop to add more detail to my final image.

Process Photos In Rhino & 3DSMax

Describe your conceptual design approach as well as how it evolved as the project progressed.
When I was started the design process I knew I wanted to have an important lighting fixture. When I decided on the Hunter boots I wanted to incorporate water as they are mostly used for rain boots. I wanted to have a splash effect where the boots were set, showing how they repel the water. Forming the splash seemed to be too complicated for my current rhino skill set, so I created a wave of water instead. I wanted this wave to go right up to the glass giving the visual you could look under the water. The boots are still placed in a way as to show they are repelling the water and creating the wave.
What resources were most effective in assisting you in developing your modeling skills? Your design configuration? How much was content was leveraged from 210?
I was able to use the skills I learned in 210 to build this model. I used the loft tool to create the wave and the background bit map to trace half a tear drop then used the revolve tool to create a full shape.
Discuss the limitations of the software and what challenges it presented in the development of you design.
I don't think the software is organized in an intelligent way, my experience with the interface was that it was very hard to use. Also when I was experimenting with materials the ones that had a more complex material quality like the marble's, and limestone's, didn't look as natural as i would've liked. I also had trouble with the water quality, I wanted a more blue look but I actually do like the aesthetic of the more colorless version.
What other applications do you see the software being appropriate for outside of the applications presented for this project? Use your imagination.
I think this software would be useful when designing a product and you're wanting a really realistic rendered image.
How was the timeline for this project? Too fast paced or about right? (please note that this is a typical pace for a project of this type in practice)
I think this project was too complex for the timeline given. This may be the typical pace for a project in practice, but when I'm in practice that will (hopefully) be my only job. I had to accomplish this project in 5 days when I work 5 days a week for 8 hrs a day. I think I would've really enjoyed this project more too if I had had more time for designing. I felt pressured just to settle with a design in order to move forward.
How fluid are you becoming in getting various software to communicate across platforms?