Today Filter Foundry unveiled the next phase of its new platform for creatives with a much anticipated code release, that now takes the product from Beta 2 to Final Beta and officially ready for the creative world to experience and populate with custom Portfolios or PADS as they call it) and Studios (also known as e-learning sessions where some can even make money).

The next big code push will happen sometime in late February and will introduce the full-fledged “WorkZone” experience where creatives can intuitively find work on a global scale. The details of the release is under wraps for now but there are some amazing unique features that should make finding work for anyone in the creative industry a dream come true as well as allow job hunters and employers to find top notch designers from various creative fields.

But the biggest news of the day is the official Autodesk MUDBOX 2011 competition kick-off. For more information, check out the contest detail and prizes page. Anyone in design (not just 3d artists) can now partake in an e-learning session hosted by world renowned Wayne Robson in “The Studio”

Over the next 10 weeks Wayne will focus on all the cool tools and amazing software features for beginners as well as some advanced features to help creatives take part in the competition. The idea is that artists who don’t know how to use the software can learn from Wayne and even post questions online in the MUDBOX session. Then apply their creativity to what they have learned with a  FREE trial download offered by Autodesk

Throughout the competition users can upload their MUDBOX experimental art, so the community can rate and vote to decide a winner, who will end up walking away with a brand new 16GB Wi-Fi iPad.

So if you think you have what it takes to impress with creative skills. This could very well be one of the coolest contests you can try to compete in.

Ready, steady, go….