Asset Creation and Management from Coursera

Welcome to Asset Creation and Management, the first course in the Unity Certified 3D Artist Specialization from Unity Technologies. The courses in this series will help you prepare for the Unity Certified 3D Artist exam, the professional certification for entry- to mid-level Unity artists. 3D artists are critical to the Unity development pipeline. They are a bridge between the programmers writing the application code and the designers or art directors who define the application’s aesthetics and style. In these courses, you will be challenged to complete realistic art implementation tasks in Unity that are aligned to the topics covered on the exam. Throughout this first course, you will be tasked with completing the asset setup for a Kitchen Configurator application - an app that lets users view a realistic rendering of a kitchen and swap out objects and materials to customize the design. The first steps will find you importing assets into a Unity project, troubleshooting common import issues, and tweaking the materials. Finally, you’ll create and organize Prefabs in a way that will work with the application code. By the end of the course, you’ll have a clean and organized Unity project that is ready for the next stage: lighting. This is an intermediate course, intended for people who are ready for their first paying roles as Unity 3D artists, or enthusiasts who would like to verify their skills against a professional standard. To succeed, you should have at least 1-2 years of experience implementing 3D art in Unity. You should be proficient at importing assets into Unity from Digital Content Creation (DCC) tools, prototyping scenes, working with lighting, and adding particles and effects. You should also have a basic understanding of 2D asset management, animation, and working with scripts. You should have experience in the full product development lifecycle, and understand multi-platform development, including for XR (AR and VR) platforms.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops a strong foundation for understanding the role of 3D artists in the Unity development pipeline

Taught by Unity Technologies, a recognized leader in the field of 3D development

Prepares learners for the Unity Certified 3D Artist exam, an industry-recognized certification

Focuses on practical, hands-on implementation tasks that align with real-world industry demands

Reviews summary

Asset creation and management

Asset Creation and Management has earned a generally positive rating from students. Students say the course is a good overview of basics and helps to prepare for the Unity 3D Artist exam. Common insights include: learning how to import assets into Unity, working with lighting, the full product development lifecycle, and multi-platform development. Many learners report back that the learning path was good for both enthusiasts who would like to verify their skills against a professional standard and for those ready for their first paying roles as Unity 3D artists.

Uses practical application.

"the exercise will help you in learning while working"

Good for overview of basics.

"The course is lovely and covers the basics."

"great course"

Helps you prepare for the Unity 3D Artist exam.

"It helped a lot to prepare for the exam"

Lack of Spanish subtitles.

"sería mucho mejor si los vídeos ofrecieran de manera paralela la opción de subtitulos al español"

Some fonts too small in videos; some questions not answered in forums.

"The fonts were too small in the videos."

"Questions are rarely answered in the forums."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Asset Creation and Management with these activities:

Follow tutorials on object organization and Prefab creation

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Completing tutorials will help you develop a deeper understanding of essential 3D asset management techniques.

Browse courses on Prefabs

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Identify tutorials that cover object organization and Prefab creation for Unity
Follow the tutorials step-by-step
Apply the techniques learned in your own Unity projects

Join or organize a study group focused on 3D asset management

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Engaging with other students through a study group can provide valuable insights, support, and motivation to enhance your learning.

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Identify or create a study group focused on 3D asset management
Attend regular study sessions
Discuss concepts, share resources, and provide support to each other

Create and share a tutorial on a specific Prefab creation technique

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Creating and sharing a tutorial not only solidifies your understanding of Prefab creation but also helps others learn

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Choose a specific Prefab creation technique
Create a step-by-step tutorial
Share the tutorial on a platform like YouTube, Medium, or Unity Forums

Show all three activities

Career center

Learners who complete Asset Creation and Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

3D Modeler

3D Modelers create 3D models for use in video games, movies, and other media. The Asset Creation and Management course can help build a strong foundation in this field by teaching the basics of importing, organizing, and managing assets in Unity. The course also covers topics such as creating and optimizing materials, which can be valuable for 3D Modelers looking to create realistic and visually appealing models.

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Technical Artist

Technical Artists combine programming and art to improve games by creating tools and optimizing content. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a helpful stepping stone by building a foundation for the technical components of this role. The course covers topics such as importing assets, troubleshooting import issues, and working with materials. This knowledge can help Technical Artists create and manage assets efficiently, ensuring that games are visually appealing and perform well.

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Effects Artist

Effects Artists create the visual effects that are used in games. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a useful resource for Effects Artists who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Effects Artists create realistic and visually appealing effects for games.

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Character Artist

Character Artists create the characters that appear in games. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a useful resource for Character Artists who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Character Artists create realistic and visually appealing characters for games.

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Texture Artist

Texture Artists create the textures that are applied to 3D models in games. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a useful resource for Texture Artists who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Texture Artists create realistic and visually appealing textures for games.

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Environment Artist

Environment Artists create the environments in which games take place. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a useful resource for Environment Artists who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Environment Artists create realistic and immersive environments for games.

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Lighting Artist

Lighting Artists create the lighting that illuminates the environments in games. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a useful resource for Lighting Artists who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Lighting Artists create realistic and immersive lighting for games.

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Animator

Animators create the animations that bring characters and objects to life in games. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a useful resource for Animators who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Animators create realistic and visually appealing animations for games.

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UI Artist

UI Artists create the user interface (UI) elements that players interact with in games. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a useful resource for UI Artists who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help UI Artists create intuitive and visually appealing UIs for games.

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Game Designer

Game Designers create the overall concept and design for video games. The Asset Creation and Management course can be a useful resource for Game Designers who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Game Designers create games that are visually appealing and perform well.

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Concept Artist

Concept Artists create the initial concepts and designs for games. While the Asset Creation and Management course is less directly relevant to this role, it may still be helpful for Concept Artists who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Concept Artists create realistic and visually appealing designs for games.

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Art Director

Art Directors oversee the artistic vision for games. While the Asset Creation and Management course is less directly relevant to this role, it may still be helpful for Art Directors who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Art Directors make informed decisions about the art style and direction of games.

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Game Producer

Game Producers oversee the development of games. While the Asset Creation and Management course is less directly relevant to this role, it may still be helpful for Game Producers who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Game Producers understand the challenges and opportunities involved in creating games.

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Technical Lead

Technical Leads oversee the technical aspects of game development. While the Asset Creation and Management course is less directly relevant to this role, it may still be helpful for Technical Leads who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Technical Leads make informed decisions about the technology and tools used in games.

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Creative Director

Creative Directors oversee the overall creative vision for games. While the Asset Creation and Management course is less directly relevant to this role, it may still be helpful for Creative Directors who want to learn more about the technical aspects of game development. The course covers topics such as importing and optimizing assets, working with materials, and creating Prefabs. This knowledge can help Creative Directors understand the challenges and opportunities involved in creating games.

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