Pia Maffei is co-owner of Applied IDEAS, Inc. and is recognized as one of the world's leading instructors for 3ds Max. She is an award winning Autodesk University speaker and one of only two people authorized in North America as a "Certification Evaluator" for 3ds Max.

Over the years she has written and contributed to numerous books on 3ds Max and has delivered specialized training courses at the Game Developer Conference and Siggraph. She also routinely trains artists at Electronic Arts, Boeing, and for the U.S. Military in both fundamental and advanced 3D design concepts.

Pia began her 3D graphics career in 1991 using the first DOS version of 3D Studio for video and multimedia productions. Over the years she has developed an impressive training portfolio that includes videotapes, CDs, DVDs, and books. She has also produced much of the highly respected 3ds Max courseware published by Autodesk Media and Entertainment.

Most recently she developed the successful Autodesk Animation Academy (A3D) for both 3ds Max and Maya, an extensive six part Scientific Visualization curriculum for secondary and post-secondary schools. She also conceived and developed Autodesk's world-class Instructor Certification program.

Pia's broad scope in 3D training and education ranges from teaching entry level hobbyists of all ages to certifying other trainers of the highest caliber in accredited schools across the country. This breadth gives her a unique expertise and insight into understanding the needs of the 3D student and user, and how to effectively train and educate them.

Pia's Blog