modelador

Modelador is a term in Portuguese that designates a person who creates models or a tool used to shape materials. Derived from the verb modelar and the agent suffix -dor, the word has several senses depending on the domain.

In crafts and design, a modelador is someone who builds physical scale models, often for architecture, industrial design, film, or theater. The work may involve materials such as clay, wax, wood, foam, or plastic. These models, or maquetes, help visualize form, dimensions, and spatial relationships before production. In sculpture, a modelador shapes figures in clay or wax as studies for larger works, or for casting processes.

In digital fields, the term describes a person who constructs digital models or the software used for this purpose. A modelador 3D or modeller uses computer graphics to create three-dimensional objects for games, animation, product visualization, or virtual reality. In data management, modelador de dados refers to a specialist who designs and implements data models, databases, and schemas, enabling organized data storage and retrieval.

Regional usage varies; in Portugal and Brazil, modelador is common, while some contexts prefer modelista, maqueta maquetista, or modelador de dados for precision roles.

See also: modelagem, modelagem 3D, maquete, maquetista, modelador de dados.