Hi, I’m Leah Kopke.

In 2018, I graduated from University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design. After years of working as an industrial designer designing everything from turntables to retail fixtures, I began to rethink what being a 3D designer meant to me. After 3D modeling for many years and rendering, I felt like I had just scratched the surface of what was possible. I learned how to rig and animate products and characters. I took online courses though School of Motion to learn 3D motion graphics.

In May of 2021, I resigned from my job to start Leah Kopke 3D Design, LLC to begin freelancing fulltime. I've gained experience doing sales, and marketing for my own business. I have started a YouTube channel and started coaching others learning Cinema 4D. Freelancing has given me the ability to reshape and grow my career.  

I feel fortunate in my career. Every day I start work at my desk; I feel gratitude.

  • I started freelancing full time in May of 2021.

  • I’ve been 3D modeling and rendering since 2014.

  • I work in Cinema 4D, Redshift, ZBrush, Substance 3D Painter, After Effects, Photoshop and Illustrator for 3D motion graphics. In have Insydium’s Fused package of plugins for Cinema 4D.

  • The first step to any great project begins with listening to my client and learning about their brand. If your company has a design team, I’m flexible and adapt to your company’s process. However if I’m the only designer working on a project, the next step would be to conduct research and assemble mood boards as a design reference. If not already provided storyboards, I’d begin storyboarding. Once the storyboards are approved, I’d begin 3D modeling, lighting, and texturing the scenes for the animation. Rigging and animation are next steps, followed by rendering using a render farm. Final compositing and editing are done in After Effects. My design process in Cinema 4D can be seen on my YouTube channel, Ambient 3D Animations.

  • Every great project begins with us talking so I can learn about your goals and brand. Once I know what is expected for the project, I’ll send an estimate containing the estimated time a project will take and the total cost of a project. I have a day rate and charge for using a render farm. Once the estimate is approved, you can be book me for the number of days you need me for the project. For short projects, I’ll send an invoice once the project is done. Longer term projects will have checkpoints at which I’m paid. I can be paid by check or online.