Vivid Vision - Storytelling, AI & Much More | Studio Tour #4 by Chaos

In this studio tour by Chaos, Thomas and Casper, co-founders of Baby Division, an architectural visualization studio, share their journey from a small rented room to a thriving company housed in a renovated historic building in Poland. Vivid Vision, the studio they founded, is known for its storytelling, emphasis on greenery, and atmospheric approach to visualizations. The company's process is client-focused, offering various options for views and lighting, and they use AI solutions to streamline their workflow, particularly for greenery and post-production adjustments. They also provide a range of visual content for real estate agencies, including VR tours and animations, and use a standard software pipeline with 3ds Max, Corona, and post-production tools like Photoshop and After Effects. The studio culture encourages artistic growth and fun, with monthly competitions and discussions to share knowledge and improve their craft.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Vivid Vision is an architectural visualization studio founded by two architecture students, which has grown into a company of 22 talented individuals.
• 🏢 The company moved to a historic building in Poland, renovating the office space themselves to create an exceptional working environment.
• 👥 Vivid Vision maintains a horizontal structure with three partners and 19 employees, where everyone is responsible for projects from start to finish.
• 🌿 The studio's work is characterized by storytelling, the importance of greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations rather than photorealism.
• 🏆 They have found success in architectural competitions, focusing on community aspects, ecology, and activities, which often take precedence over the architecture itself.
• 📈 Their process involves five stages, starting with simple renderings and culminating in final images, with a focus on client choice and artistic freedom.
• 🤖 AI is increasingly being used in their workflow, particularly for greenery and post-production, to enhance efficiency and quality.
• 🛠️ They use a standard pipeline with 3ds Max, Corona, and Forest Pack, along with custom scripts to streamline their rendering and post-production process.
• 📊 The studio offers a variety of visual content, including still images, VR tours, and animations, to cater to the needs of real estate agencies and developers.
• 💡 Communication is key; 3D artists should use their artistic license to suggest alternative views and provide clients with their professional opinions on the project.
• 🌟 Vivid Vision encourages a fun and collaborative work environment, with monthly competitions and discussions to share knowledge and improve as a team.

Q & A

Who are the co-founders of Vivid Vision and what is their professional background?

The co-founders of Vivid Vision are Thomas and Casper, who are both architecture students and have transformed their company from a small rented room to a prospering business with 22 talented individuals.

How did Vivid Vision start and how has it grown over the years?

Vivid Vision was founded by two architecture student friends six years ago, starting in a rented 16 square meter room. It has grown into a company of 22 talented individuals and moved to a historic building in the epic part of Fratsworth, Poland a year ago.

What is unique about Vivid Vision's company structure?

Vivid Vision has a standard horizontal structure with three partners and 19 employees. What's unique is that everyone is responsible for the project from start to finish, which leads to employees enjoying a variety of tasks and learning opportunities.

What are the three key qualities or trademarks of Vivid Vision's work?

The three key qualities of Vivid Vision's work are storytelling, the importance of greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations, which is not strictly photorealistic but focuses on creating a strong narrative and mood.

How does Vivid Vision approach architectural competitions?

Vivid Vision approaches architectural competitions by focusing on storytelling, greenery, and community aspects, as these are often the factors that city authorities prioritize over pure architectural design.

What role does storytelling play in Vivid Vision's visualization process?

Storytelling is a central part of Vivid Vision's visualization process. It helps to create coherent and strong images by considering factors such as the time of day, the activities taking place, and the overall mood, which are crucial for making the visuals engaging and relatable.

How does Vivid Vision use AI in their workflow?

Vivid Vision uses AI, particularly Topaz and stable diffusion, for various purposes such as upscaling frames, denoising, and making adjustments to renders. They also use AI to generate images quickly when there's not enough time for full 3D rendering, especially for natural parts of the images.

What is the typical process that Vivid Vision follows for their projects?

Vivid Vision's process is divided into five stages: initial white clay renderings, art direction, full resolution image creation, post-production, and final image delivery. They focus on offering the client options and maintaining artistic license while ensuring the client has control over their project.

What types of projects does Vivid Vision usually work on?

Apart from architectural competitions, Vivid Vision works on commercial projects for real estate agencies and developers. They provide a range of visual content including still images, VR tours, colored floor plans, 3D rendered floor plans, and animations.

What software does Vivid Vision use for their rendering and post-production?

Vivid Vision uses a standard pipeline with 3ds Max and Corona as the rendering engine. They also use Forest Pack for greenery, various add-ons and scripts for rendering management, and Adobe Photoshop and After Effects for post-production.

How does Vivid Vision maintain efficiency and speed in their workflow?

Vivid Vision maintains efficiency by using presets for common elements, custom scripts, and AI solutions to speed up the process of creating visuals. They also focus on delivering high-resolution, finalized images to clients to minimize the number of comments and revisions.

How does Vivid Vision foster a sense of community and artistic growth among its employees?

Vivid Vision holds monthly meetings called 'Image of the Month,' which is a competition for the best visual of each month. This tradition allows team members to discuss their work, provide feedback, and learn from each other, fostering a sense of community and artistic growth.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Studio Introduction and Company History

The video script introduces Thomas and Casper, co-founders of Baby Division, an architectural visualization studio. They extend an invitation to viewers for a tour of their studio. Vivid Vision, the company, was founded by two architecture students six years ago and has since grown into a successful company with 22 employees. The office is located in a historic building in Fratsworth, Poland, and has been renovated by the team. The company has a flat organizational structure with three partners and 19 employees, emphasizing responsibility for projects from start to finish. They discuss their success in architectural competitions and their focus on storytelling, greenery, and atmospheric visualizations in their work.

05:02

🌿 Greenery and Architectural Visualization Techniques

The paragraph discusses the company's focus on greenery in their projects, often collaborating with landscape architects. They have evolved their techniques over time, moving from full 3D renderings to a combination of 3D and post-production tools, including AI for greenery. The process involves five stages, from initial white clay renderings to final images, with a focus on client choice and artistic freedom. The company also provides a variety of visual content for real estate agencies, including VR tours, floor plans, and animations, which are becoming increasingly in demand.

10:03

🖥️ Software and Workflow in Architectural Visualization

The script outlines the software and tools used in the company's workflow, including 3ds Max, Corona as a rendering engine, and Forest Pack for greenery. They also use various add-ons and scripts for rendering management. The company has developed a system of presets to speed up the process without compromising creativity, focusing on aspects like lighting, mood, and storytelling. AI solutions are increasingly integrated into their workflow, particularly for upscaling, denoising, and adjustments in rendering, which has significantly improved efficiency and output quality.

15:06

📈 AI and Its Impact on Architectural Visualization

The final paragraph addresses the role of AI in the industry, with the company viewing it as a tool rather than a threat. They use AI for various tasks such as image adjustments and client feedback implementation, finding it particularly useful for natural elements in their renders. The company also discusses its internal practices, including monthly meetings to review and critique the best visuals, fostering a sense of community and continuous improvement. They emphasize the importance of a fun and supportive work environment for artistic growth and collaboration.

Keywords

Architectural Visualization

Architectural visualization is the process of creating digital representations of architectural designs to convey a realistic impression of the project. In the video, Vivid Vision, an architectural visualization studio, showcases its work and emphasizes the importance of storytelling and greenery in their visualizations, which is central to their creative approach.

Storytelling

Storytelling in the context of architectural visualization refers to the art of creating a narrative around a design to make it more engaging and relatable. The studio uses storytelling to highlight aspects such as community activities, ecology, and the use of recycled materials, which are often central to the projects they visualize.

Greenery

Greenery is a key element in the studio's work, reflecting an increasing client focus on ecological aspects of design. The studio emphasizes the importance of incorporating green spaces and natural elements into their visualizations, which not only meets client expectations but also contributes to a more sustainable and appealing design narrative.

Atmospheric Approach

An atmospheric approach in visualization involves creating a mood or feeling through the use of lighting, color, and composition. The studio mentions that their images are not purely photorealistic but instead aim to evoke a certain atmosphere, which can help highlight the strengths of a design concept.

Architectural Competitions

Architectural competitions are events where designers submit proposals for new buildings or spaces, often judged by city authorities or industry professionals. The studio has successfully participated in such competitions, which have helped shape their style and approach to visualization, focusing on aspects beyond just the architecture itself.

AI Solutions

AI solutions refer to the use of artificial intelligence in the creative process, such as in image upscaling, denoising, and generating natural elements like greenery. The studio discusses how they have integrated AI tools like Topaz Labs' software into their workflow to improve efficiency and enhance the quality of their visualizations.

3D Artist

A 3D artist is a professional who creates three-dimensional models and animations for various applications, including architectural visualization. The role involves artistic license and the ability to interpret and enhance a client's vision. The studio emphasizes the importance of communication and offering clients different artistic options to achieve the best results.

Rendering Engine

A rendering engine is software used to generate two-dimensional images from 3D models by applying lighting, textures, and other effects. The studio uses Corona as their rendering engine for both still images and animations, which helps maintain consistency across their work.

Post-Production

Post-production involves editing and enhancing visual content after the initial rendering or filming process. The studio uses tools like Photoshop and After Effects to refine their images, simplify color schemes, and create a more coherent and impactful final product.

VR Tours

VR tours are virtual reality experiences that allow users to explore and interact with a 3D model of a space. The studio offers VR tours as part of their services, providing clients with an immersive way to experience and market their designs.

Project Management

Project management involves organizing, planning, and overseeing the production process to ensure efficient delivery. The studio uses custom scripts and project management tools to streamline their workflow, manage rendering tasks, and maintain a high level of productivity.

Highlights

Vivid Vision was founded by two architecture students and has grown into a company of 22 talented individuals.

The company moved to a historic building in Poland after starting in a 16 square meter room.

Vivid Vision has a horizontal structure with three partners and 19 employees, emphasizing responsibility for projects from start to finish.

The studio's work focuses on storytelling, greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations.

They have found success in architectural competitions, which has shaped their style and approach.

The importance of community aspects and ecology is often prioritized over architecture in competitions.

Vivid Vision uses a coherent story to build strong and standout visualizations.

The studio avoids photorealism, using composition and atmospheric perspective to highlight architectural strengths.

They utilize AI for greenery in their projects, streamlining their process and focusing on natural elements.

The workflow is divided into five stages, from initial renderings to final client approval.

Vivid Vision leaves artistic choices to the client, providing control and variety in lighting options.

The studio uses 3ds Max and Corona for rendering, maintaining consistency across still images and animations.

AI solutions like Topaz are used for upscaling and denoising, significantly improving efficiency.

Vivid Vision has integrated AI into their workflow, using it as a tool for adjustments and client feedback.

The studio uses a standard pipeline with custom scripts to manage rendering and maintain an extensive library of presets.

AI is seen as a tool for the future of the industry, with the potential to change and optimize workflows.

Vivid Vision holds monthly competitions to foster a sense of fun and encourage discussion and feedback among colleagues.

The studio provides a supportive environment for artistic growth and maintains a strong company culture.