Having prior knowledge and experience in 3d-graphics or visual effects can give you ahead start when embarking on an education within that field. However, experience shows that it is common that those students that have worked with 3d-graphics on a hobby level are stuck in a certain way of working. They have developed methods and workflows that are suitable under hobby-like circumstances, which means that they  have worked in isolation, on a single computer and often without any specific deadlines or time restraints. However, work life is seldom this structured. Instead it is complex and disordered, and requires constant new learning (Bruno et al, 2017).

This is a qualitative study where students from a three year program are interviewed regarding their process of going from a hobbyist to a professional, if any. The results are compared with the concept of the Deliberate Professional, as described by Trede and Jacksson (Trede et al, 2019) The results of this pilot study suggests that the students to a large extent still are in the “hobbyist”-mindset, and have a low insight in the different requirements of beingin the workplace. However, some mentions of constant learning, and the importance of knowledge outside of specific 3d-technology. Some implications for the program isto focus and emphazise what it means to be a professional, and not only expose the students to work-like projects, but also have more occasions for reflection excercises, as described by Bruno and Dell’avarsana (Bruno et al, 2017).