Is this type of texture mapping from UV space to 3D space the reason why we often see distorted patterns on some complicated mesh? I wonder is it because we don't have any other ways to represent textures in 3D space, or because we don't have a good way to create texture in 3D space directly.

How exactly does an artist create a texture map for a 3D model? Are there tools that they might use to create the model that would generate the texture map and geometry separately for use in something like a game?

i have the same two questions raised by @ethanyanjiali and @tgale. would someone from the teaching team mind to explain? thanks!