14 Years Old But 3D Company Consider Themselves A New Startup

BLACKROCK, Ireland - Oct. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- With the setting of new goals, establishment of new 3D departments and the addition of new members of the design team, 3rd Dimension's Business Development Officer interviewed CEO Nicholas Polley to find out all about the new plans and objectives and how the company has weathered the recessionary Tornado over the past 5 years.

MS: This is probably the only opportunity I will ever get to grill my boss and you did say to ask you anything right?
NP: I sure did, just don’t expect me to answer everything! …..Only joking, fire away.

MS: So after joining the company only a couple of months back it has been a steep learning curve for me especially with all the new services we are introducing into the business. The 3D industry is extremely interesting and I suspect I will continue learning for sometime yet.

Tell me how you entered into the World of 3D?

NP: I graduated from Bolton Street DIT in Building Services Engineering back in 1998 (I think) and began work in Jones Engineering after a ‘relief’ summer in the states.  I didn’t last long with the company though as an opportunity arose to start work in a 3D visualisation company, which at the time was a very new industry, and to be honest was far more appealing to me than designing HVAC and lighting etc. That said my studies have proved invaluable throughout the 14 years of 3rd Dimension.

I was given an amazing opportunity by Peter Cunningham of Archimedia Studios but fortunately and unfortunately I had a burning desire to setup and develop my own business and thats exactly what I did in 2000.  It was a bitter sweet time as I was going into direct competition with the person who thought me a lot but it was something I had to do.  Since then its gone from startup to boom to recession to rebirth….. its been one helluva ride so far!

MS:  You mention rebirth, and it is clear from the new 3D departments that have been setup, that 3rd Dimension are developing and expanding. Why do you describe it as a rebirth?

NP: The past 5 years have been a rough ride for pretty much every single profession across the world. However the architectural industry, here in Ireland and indeed across Europe, has been severly hit.  Because our client base was predominently architects and construction professionals we were hit very badly. As I say to anyone who asks me what it was like, I tell them it was as if a switch was flipped and all worked completely ceased. If I am honest, we were probably quite naive and thought that we would return to normal after a year or two….unfortunately I could not have been further from the truth on that one!

So why do I describe now being a rebirth for the company?  Let me explain why.

For the past 14 years our core services have revolved around Architectural Visualisation.  Yes we have tried various different things over the past 5 years to boost business but apart from our innovative concept of Virtual Shopfronts (www.virtualshopfronts.ie) the vast majority of  other ideas fell to the wayside or simply didn’t generate sustainable business.  If I’m being honest we probably never took the big risk of looking outside our comfort zone because, like many other companies and businesses, we were too busy surviving one of the worst recessions.

However at the start of this summer I made a very conscious decision that it was time for 3rd Dimension to take that step outside it’s comfort zone and leave the recession behind once and for all. Following much planning, research, talking with other industry professionals and with members of staff, we have now implemented plans, goals, objectives and strategies to become a complete 3D Design Bureau which sees the introduction of a number of new 3D departments offering new and exciting 3D services and deliverables.  We see now as a watershed moment for 3rd Dimension and the vision is to develop a sustainable business that will be even more successful than it was during the boom years.

Our core business of Architectural Visualisation is now just one of our six 3D departments which also include BIM, Photogrammetry, Product Visualisation, 3D Printing and 3D Graphics. The beauty about all the 3D departments is that they are all interlinked with one another. So our BIM department, which includes the following services – Laser Scan-to-BIM, CAD-toBIM, FF&E-toBIM, Building Components-to-BIM and BIM 3D Visualisation, has direct correlation with our Architectural Visualisation and 3D Printing departments.

MS: Obviously I am well aware of the new 3D departments and going into detail about each one in this interview would take too much time but when can people expect to get information about all of them.
NP: Well first off it’s important to note that all our new 3D departments are fully up and running with the exception the 3D Printing department as we are still researching options on the 3D printer side of things. However half that department, and the most important part of it, the 3D modelling for 3D printing, is up and running.

MS: Is there one piece of advise that has stuck with you through the years?
NP: There are a few in fact.

1) There is always a solution to a problem – Thought to me in college and something we very much adhere to in 3rd Dimension.

2) Always surround yourself with talent – Something I have always done over the years in business. The company would not have been so succesful without the design team behind it.

3) Always involve and engage your staff in decisions and ideas.

4) Always listen to your wife

5) Have a proper work life balance – thought to me by my wife
I have always been able to switch off from work and this is very important. Exercise is a big part in my life and helps relieve stress which was plentyful over the past 5 years! Now with a new baby in our life, our first, its very important to see the bigger picture.

MS: OK so finally congratulations on the birth of baby Christian. Has he changed your outlook on business?
NP: It hasn’t changed my outlook as I have always been very driven. It has however thought me to be even more effecient with my time, something that dimished dramatically 8 weeks ago. But I would change it for the world.

MS: One last question. What project are you most proud of over the years?
NP: That’s a toughy as there have been a few. however I would have to say that the latest project we are working on is probably going to top the pile. It is a very prestigious project in New York which has pushed the boundaries of our skills and expertise and made us produce work that is outside our comfort zone and different to our usual style. The project is almost complete and the work that has been done so far looks amazing. We don’t have permission to relase details of the project until next week but we can’t wait to do so.

MS: Thanks a million
NP: No problem, now get back to some real work