The Botanical Designs 3D Challenge has officially wrapped up, and we are buzzing from the results! Seeing the digital gardens you’ve grown - from hyper-realistic forest assets to imaginative, alien flora - has been a highlight for our team. The sheer variety and technical depth you brought to the table really shows what a talented crowd we have here.
As you know, we extended the deadline to February to ensure more entries reached the 100% CGTrader Standard. We really wanted to push everyone on this because it's a proven fact: assets that pass our quality check sell better. By ensuring your models included both .glb and .fbx formats and met those technical benchmarks, you’ve created professional, engine-ready assets that are much more attractive to buyers. The extra effort clearly paid off, and the final submissions are truly top-tier.
1st Place: AthosArantes ($600). A beautiful botanical art. This entry stood out for its flawless PBR material work and a level of realism that feels like it was plucked straight from a high-end cinematic forest.
2nd Place: 8BitSandwich ($400). A stunning example of technical precision and repetition. This collection of gourds perfectly balanced optimization with beautiful aesthetic appeal, making it an ideal asset for professional 3D environments.
3rd Place: hdpoly ($300). This bonsai entry captured our imagination with its clean presentation and strong attention to the finer details of plant structure and miniature staging.
4th Place: Polygonal-Miniatures ($200). A versatile and well-structured organic model that hit the 100% Standard perfectly, showing great care in the complex textures of weathered wood.
5th Place: veeanimation ($100). A delightful addition to the challenge that brought a fantastic sense of personality and solid technical execution to these stylized vegetable characters.
Community Favorite: marlis ($200). Chosen by you! This realistic indoor plant setup earned the most hearts from the community, proving just how much its craftsmanship resonated with your peers.
To everyone who participated: thank you for stepping up to the challenge. We saw so many of you refining your models, navigating technical hurdles, and ensuring your PBR textures were spot on. That growth mindset is exactly what makes a successful 3D artist. By meeting these high standards, you’ve not only entered a contest but also created high-value assets that will serve you well in your CGTrader stores.
We’re incredibly proud of the work you’ve shared. Keep that momentum going!
Check out our current live challenges here to see where you can take your skills next.
Congratulations again to our winners - keep creating and keep growing!
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