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

Arch Viz Artist
9 Aug 202317:51

TLDRIn this studio tour, Thomas and Casper, co-founders of Baby Division, an architectural visualization studio, take us on a tour of their office, Vivid Vision. Founded by two architecture students, the company has grown to include 22 talented individuals. They emphasize a horizontal structure where everyone is responsible for projects from start to finish, allowing for a diverse learning experience. Their work focuses on storytelling, greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations. They discuss their process, which includes stages from initial white clay renderings to final images, and how they involve clients in the creative process. The studio also explores the use of AI in their workflow, particularly for greenery and post-production adjustments, and how it can be a powerful tool for efficiency and creativity. They also touch on the importance of communication and artistic license in their projects, and the variety of visual content they provide, including still images, VR tours, and animations. The video concludes with a look at their monthly 'image of the month' competition, which fosters a sense of community and growth within the studio.

Takeaways

  • 🎓 Vivid Vision was founded by two architecture students and has grown into a company of 22 talented individuals, starting from a small rented room to a renovated historic office in Poland.
  • 👥 The company has a horizontal structure with three partners and 19 employees, where everyone is responsible for projects from start to finish, which is a source of job satisfaction.
  • 🏆 Their work in architectural competitions in Poland helped shape their approach and style, focusing on storytelling, greenery, and an atmospheric approach rather than photorealism.
  • 🌿 They emphasize the importance of greenery in their projects, often prioritizing it over architecture, and have seen an increase in clients valuing this aspect in their portfolio.
  • 📈 Their process involves five stages, from initial white clay renderings to final images, allowing clients to have control and providing artistic freedom for different lighting options.
  • 💡 Communication is key; 3D artists should use their artistic license to propose views and ideas to clients, potentially influencing their decisions.
  • 🖥 They use a variety of software including 3ds Max, Corona, Forest Pack, and custom scripts to streamline their workflow and maintain a consistent pipeline.
  • 🚀 AI is being integrated into their workflow to improve efficiency, using tools like Topaz for upscaling and denoising frames, and stable diffusion for quick adjustments and client feedback implementations.
  • 🌐 They provide a range of visual content beyond still images, including VR tours, animations, and interactive tools for real estate agencies and developers.
  • 🎨 Post-production is crucial, utilizing Photoshop and After Effects to finalize images and animations, often using presets to speed up the process while focusing on creative aspects.
  • 🤝 Vivid Vision fosters a sense of community and fun, with monthly competitions and reviews among the team to share knowledge and provide feedback.

Q & A

  • Who are the co-founders of Vivid Vision and what type of studio do they run?

    -The co-founders of Vivid Vision are Thomas and Casper, and they run an architectural visualization studio.

  • How did Vivid Vision start and how has it grown since its inception?

    -Vivid Vision was founded by two architecture student friends six years ago, starting in a rented 16 square meter room. It has now grown into a prospering company of 22 talented individuals.

  • 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 keeps tasks varied and engaging for the employees.

  • What are the three key qualities or traits that Vivid Vision focuses on in their work?

    -The three key qualities that Vivid Vision focuses on are storytelling, the importance of greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations.

  • How does Vivid Vision approach architectural competitions?

    -Vivid Vision approaches architectural competitions by focusing on storytelling and considering factors like community aspects and ecology, which are often prioritized by city authorities over architecture itself.

  • What is the process Vivid Vision uses to build a great story in their visualizations?

    -To build a great story, Vivid Vision ensures coherence by considering the setting, such as public spaces, and imagining activities that could occur there. They also consider the time of day and whether it's a working day or a special occasion to make the story strong and coherent.

  • Why does Vivid Vision not pursue photorealism in their visualizations?

    -Vivid Vision does not pursue photorealism because it allows them to highlight the strengths of the architectural concept, especially in competitions where projects might be underdeveloped. It also helps to create a more atmospheric and storytelling-heavy approach.

  • How has the use of AI in the field of architectural visualization changed Vivid Vision's workflow?

    -AI has been integrated into Vivid Vision's workflow to speed up processes such as upscaling frames, denoising, and making adjustments to renders. They use AI solutions like Topaz and stable diffusion to optimize their animation workflow and make quick adjustments based on client feedback.

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

    -The workflow process at Vivid Vision is divided into five stages: initial white clay renderings, art direction, full resolution image creation with post-production, client feedback, and final delivery of the image.

  • How does Vivid Vision maintain consistency between their still images and animations?

    -Vivid Vision maintains consistency by using the same rendering engine, Corona, for both still images and animations. This approach allows them to reuse assets and ensures a cohesive look between different types of visual content.

  • What types of software does Vivid Vision use in their standard pipeline?

    -Vivid Vision uses 3ds Max with Corona as a rendering engine, Forest Pack for greenery, Rayfire for rendering management, and custom scripts for optimization. For post-production, they use Photoshop and After Effects.

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

    -Vivid Vision fosters a sense of community through monthly meetings called 'Image of the Month,' which is a competition among the office for the best visual. This encourages discussion, feedback, and appreciation of each other's work.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Studio Introduction and Company History

Thomas and Casper, co-founders of Baby Division, an architectural visualization studio, invite viewers on 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 studio is located in a renovated historic building in Poland. They emphasize a horizontal organizational structure where each employee is responsible for the project from start to finish. Their work initially focused on architectural competitions, which helped shape their unique storytelling style, with a focus on greenery and atmospheric visuals rather than photorealism. The studio's workflow involves stages from initial white clay renderings to final images, allowing clients to have a say in the creative process.

05:02

🌿 Greenery and Architectural Visualization

The studio's work often involves landscape architects and emphasizes greenery in their projects. They have evolved their techniques, moving from full 3D rendering to using tools like Forest Pack and post-production for greenery. The studio also utilizes AI for greenery, which has significantly improved efficiency. Their process includes five stages, from initial renderings to final images, and they prioritize client input while maintaining artistic freedom. The studio also works on a variety of projects, including still images, VR tours, and animations, using a consistent rendering engine for all types of work to ensure coherence between different visual outputs.

10:03

🖥️ Software and Workflow Efficiency

The studio uses a standard pipeline with 3ds Max and Corona as the rendering engine, along with other industry-standard tools like Forest Pack. They have developed custom scripts and presets to streamline their workflow, focusing on creative aspects like lighting, mood, and storytelling. AI solutions, particularly Topaz, are used for upscaling frames, denoising, and other efficiency improvements. The studio also uses stable diffusion for making adjustments to renders, which can save significant time compared to re-rendering in 3D. They emphasize the importance of workflow efficiency and how AI is seen as a tool rather than a threat to the industry.

15:06

📈 AI and Creative Workflow Insights

The studio has integrated AI into their workflow, using it as a tool to enhance their creative process. They find that AI solutions like stable diffusion are particularly useful for adjusting natural parts of images and making quick client-requested changes. The studio also holds monthly 'image of the month' competitions, which serve as opportunities for team members to discuss and analyze their work. The studio environment fosters both artistic growth and a sense of fun, aiming to provide a positive and collaborative atmosphere for its employees.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Architectural Visualization

Architectural visualization is the art of creating digital representations of proposed architectural designs. It helps architects and developers communicate their ideas to clients and stakeholders by providing a visual context for the project. In the video, the studio Vivid Vision specializes in this field, creating images and animations that showcase architectural projects in a compelling and realistic manner.

💡Storytelling

Storytelling in the context of architectural visualization involves creating a narrative around the design to make it more engaging and relatable. It's about highlighting the human aspect and the activities that will take place within the built environment. The video emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a trademark of Vivid Vision's work, where they focus on community aspects, ecology, and the atmosphere to make their visualizations more impactful.

💡Greenery

Greenery refers to the incorporation of plants and natural elements into architectural designs. It is a key quality that Vivid Vision emphasizes in their work, reflecting a growing trend in architecture for sustainable and eco-friendly designs. The studio often works with landscape designers and showcases the importance of green spaces in their visualizations, as seen in their projects where greenery plays a central role.

💡Atmospheric Approach

An atmospheric approach in architectural visualization focuses on creating a mood or feeling rather than achieving photorealism. This approach can help highlight the emotional impact of a space and can be used to downplay certain design elements that are still under development. Vivid Vision uses this technique to create images that are not just realistic but also evoke a certain ambiance.

💡Architectural Competitions

Architectural competitions are events where architects and designers submit proposals for new buildings or spaces, often judged by city authorities or industry professionals. These competitions are mentioned in the video as a significant part of Vivid Vision's early work and a key factor in their growth and development of their unique style.

💡Coherent Story

A coherent story in architectural visualization is a consistent narrative that ties together the various elements of the design. It helps to create a more convincing and memorable presentation. In the video, the studio discusses the importance of considering factors like time of day, the day of the week, and the activities taking place to build a coherent story that strengthens the overall impact of their visualizations.

💡Photorealism

Photorealism in architectural visualization is the creation of images that closely resemble photographs, with a high level of detail and realism. However, Vivid Vision chooses to focus on an atmospheric approach rather than photorealism, using techniques like composition and atmospheric perspective to highlight the strengths of their designs.

💡AI Solutions

AI solutions refer to the use of artificial intelligence in the creation and enhancement of architectural visualizations. In the video, Vivid Vision discusses using AI tools like Topaz Labs' software for upscaling images and denoising rendered frames, which significantly improves efficiency and quality without compromising on the human touch needed for high-quality work.

💡3D Artist

A 3D artist is a professional who creates three-dimensional models and animations, often for use in architectural visualization, video games, or film. The video emphasizes the role of a 3D artist at Vivid Vision, where they are encouraged to use their artistic license to propose creative views and solutions that enhance the client's project.

💡Post-Production

Post-production in the context of architectural visualization involves editing and enhancing rendered images or animations after they have been initially created. This can include tasks like color correction, adding special effects, or compositing different elements together. Vivid Vision uses post-production to refine their images, often simplifying color schemes and using atmospheric perspective to create a more cohesive final product.

💡Workflow Efficiency

Workflow efficiency refers to optimizing the steps and processes involved in creating architectural visualizations to save time and improve the quality of the end product. The video discusses how Vivid Vision uses presets, custom scripts, and AI solutions to streamline their workflow, allowing them to focus on the creative aspects of their work and deliver high-quality results more quickly.

Highlights

Vivid Vision is an architectural visualization studio co-founded by Thomas and Casper, which started in a 16 square meter room and has grown into a company of 22 talented individuals.

The company moved to a historic building in Poland and renovated the office themselves, resulting in exceptional design.

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

The studio's trademark qualities include storytelling, the importance of greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations.

Vivid Vision's early work in architectural competitions in Poland helped shape their growth and style.

The studio focuses on the importance of community aspects and ecology in architectural competitions, which often differ from the sole focus on architecture.

Vivid Vision's process involves five stages, starting with simple white clay renderings to providing the client with full resolution images.

The studio uses AI solutions like Topaz for upscaling frames and denoising, significantly improving efficiency in their workflow.

Vivid Vision's workflow also includes using 3ds Max and Corona for rendering, Forest Pack for greenery, and custom scripts for rendering management.

The studio emphasizes the importance of communication with clients, offering artistic license and exploring different views beyond the client's initial requests.

Vivid Vision provides a variety of visual content, including VR tours, colored floor plans, and animations, to cater to different client needs.

The studio has adopted AI as a tool to enhance their work, using it for adjustments and optimizations in their rendering process.

Vivid Vision uses stable diffusion for quick adjustments and modifications in their images, streamlining their workflow and client feedback process.

The studio conducts monthly 'Image of the Month' competitions, fostering a sense of fun and camaraderie among the team while also promoting artistic growth.

Vivid Vision's approach to AI is to use it as a tool for enhancing creativity and efficiency, rather than viewing it as a threat to their industry.

The studio's use of AI solutions has led to significant time and efficiency savings, allowing them to focus on more creative aspects of their work.

Vivid Vision's workflow is designed to be efficient and streamlined, with a focus on providing clients with a sense of control while maintaining artistic freedom.