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

Arch Viz Artist
9 Aug 202317:51

TLDRThomas and Casper, co-founders of Vivid Vision, an architectural visualization studio, invite viewers on a tour of their unique workspace in Poland. The company, which started in a small rented room, has grown to a team of 22 skilled professionals. They emphasize a horizontal structure where each employee is responsible for projects from start to finish, fostering a sense of ownership and learning. Vivid Vision is known for its storytelling approach, focusing on greenery and atmospheric visuals rather than photorealism. They discuss the importance of coherence in storytelling, the use of AI in their workflow for efficiency, and their process of creating images and animations for various clients, including architectural competitions and real estate agencies. The studio's commitment to artistic growth and fun is evident in their monthly 'image of the month' competition, which encourages team members to share and critique each other's work.

Takeaways

  • 🏢 Vivid Vision is an architectural visualization studio founded by two architecture students and has grown into a company of 22 talented individuals.
  • 📈 The company started in a small rented room and has now moved to a renovated historic building, showcasing their commitment to their craft.
  • 👥 Vivid Vision maintains a horizontal structure with three partners and 19 employees, emphasizing responsibility for projects from start to finish.
  • 🌿 Their work emphasizes storytelling, the importance of greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations rather than photorealism.
  • 🏗 They have a strong background in architectural competitions, which has shaped their style and approach to projects.
  • 📈 Vivid Vision's process involves five stages, from initial white clay renderings to final high-resolution images, with a focus on client choice and artistic freedom.
  • 🎨 They use a variety of software including 3ds Max, Corona, and Forest Pack, and have adopted AI solutions like Topaz and stable diffusion to enhance their workflow.
  • 📹 In addition to still images, Vivid Vision also creates VR tours, animations, and other visual tools for real estate agencies and developers.
  • 💡 They emphasize the importance of communication with clients, encouraging 3D artists to use their artistic license and provide input on project views.
  • ⏱️ Vivid Vision has optimized their workflow to be efficient, using presets and custom scripts to speed up the process without sacrificing creativity.
  • 🌟 The studio fosters a sense of community and fun, with monthly competitions and meetings to discuss and analyze their work.

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, who run an architectural visualization studio called Baby Division.

  • How did the 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 since grown into a prospering company of 22 talented individuals.

  • What is unique about the company structure of Vivid Vision?

    -Vivid Vision has a standard horizontal structure with three partners and 19 employees. What's unique is that despite the growing size, they maintain the idea that everyone is responsible for the project from start to finish, which is enjoyed by the employees.

  • 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.

  • How does Vivid Vision approach architectural competitions?

    -Vivid Vision approaches architectural competitions by focusing on storytelling, often emphasizing community aspects, ecology, and activities rather than just the architecture itself, as these are the factors that city authorities tend to care about more.

  • What is the process Vivid Vision uses for creating a great story in their visualizations?

    -To create a great story, Vivid Vision ensures it is coherent, asking questions about the time of day, the type of day, and the crowd level to make it believable and engaging. They also focus on composition and atmospheric perspective to make the images stand out.

  • How does Vivid Vision's approach to photorealism differ from other studios?

    -Vivid Vision does not pursue photorealism. Instead, they use an atmospheric approach to highlight the strengths of the architectural concept, which can also help to downplay underdeveloped parts of a project in competitions.

  • What is the typical workflow process at Vivid Vision?

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

  • How does Vivid Vision use AI in their work?

    -Vivid Vision uses AI for upscaling frames, denoising, and making adjustments to renders. They also use AI for creating natural parts of images and for applying client comments more efficiently.

  • What types of projects does Vivid Vision typically work on?

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

  • What 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, and various add-ons and scripts for rendering management. They also use Photoshop and After Effects for post-production.

  • 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 among the staff for the best visual of the month. This provides an opportunity for team members to discuss their work, give feedback, and share knowledge.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Studio Tour Introduction

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 studio was established six years ago by two architecture students in a small rented room and has since grown into a successful company of 22 individuals. The office is located in a historic building in Fratsworth, Poland, and has been renovated by the team. Vivid Vision operates with a horizontal structure and emphasizes a comprehensive responsibility for projects from start to finish among its employees. The studio's work is characterized by storytelling, greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations. They discuss the importance of these elements in architectural competitions and their process of creating a coherent and strong story for their visualizations.

05:02

🌿 Greenery and Client Relations

The second paragraph focuses on the importance of greenery in their projects and how their clients often seek out their expertise in this area. The studio's process is outlined in five stages, from initial white clay renderings to final image delivery. The emphasis is on client choice and artistic control, allowing for flexibility in light and mood options. The role of a 3D artist is discussed, highlighting the importance of artistic license and client communication. The studio's versatility is showcased through their work on architectural competitions, commercial projects, VR tours, and animations. The use of technology and software in their workflow is also discussed, with an emphasis on efficiency and consistency.

10:03

🚀 Workflow and AI Solutions

The third paragraph delves into the studio's workflow and the role of AI in their process. They discuss the use of 3ds Max and Corona for rendering, along with other industry-standard tools and custom scripts to manage rendering and streamline their process. The integration of AI solutions, particularly Topaz and stable diffusion, is highlighted for their ability to upscale images, improve rendering efficiency, and assist with client feedback. The studio's approach to using AI as a tool rather than a threat is emphasized, and specific examples of how AI has been beneficial in their workflow are provided.

15:06

📈 Studio Culture and Monthly Review

The final paragraph touches on the studio culture at Vivid Vision, which fosters both artistic growth and a sense of fun. They have a monthly tradition called 'Image of the Month,' which encourages internal competition and provides an opportunity for team members to discuss and analyze their work. The paragraph concludes with an invitation for viewers to enjoy the tour of their office and share their feedback in the video comments.

Mindmap

Keywords

Architectural Visualization

Architectural visualization is the process of creating digital representations of architectural designs to convey the form and function of a proposed building or space. In the video, Vivid Vision is an architectural visualization studio that specializes in creating images and animations that help clients visualize their projects. This is evident when they discuss their work with architectural competitions and their focus on storytelling and greenery in their visualizations.

Storytelling

Storytelling in the context of architectural visualization refers to the art of creating a narrative around a design to engage viewers and convey the intended use and atmosphere of a space. The studio emphasizes the importance of storytelling as a trademark quality, as it helps to highlight the community aspects and activities that are often central to architectural competitions, as mentioned in the script.

Greenery

Greenery is a key element in the studio's visualizations, representing the incorporation of natural elements and landscapes into architectural designs. The script mentions that the studio's work often focuses on the space between buildings and the activities within, with an emphasis on ecology and community involvement, such as people taking care of greenery in courtyards.

Atmospheric Approach

An atmospheric approach in architectural visualization involves creating images that evoke a certain mood or feeling rather than focusing solely on photorealism. The studio discusses their preference for an atmospheric approach to highlight the strengths of a concept and to create a more engaging and memorable visual experience for viewers.

Composition

Composition in visual arts, including architectural visualization, refers to the arrangement of elements within an image to create a coherent and aesthetically pleasing whole. The script mentions the importance of building a good readable composition and using techniques like thumbnail checks to ensure clarity and impact in their visualizations.

Atmospheric Perspective

Atmospheric perspective is a technique used in visual arts to create a sense of depth by gradually reducing the contrast and saturation of colors as elements recede into the distance. The studio uses atmospheric perspective to enhance the realism and depth of their visualizations, as discussed in the context of their work with volumetric materials and scattering effects.

AI Solutions

AI solutions refer to the use of artificial intelligence tools and algorithms to assist in the creation and optimization of visual content. The studio discusses their use of AI for tasks such as upscaling images, denoising, and generating natural elements like greenery. This helps to improve efficiency and allows the artists to focus on more creative aspects of their work.

3D Artist

A 3D artist is a professional who creates three-dimensional models and animations using specialized software. In the video, the role of a 3D artist is discussed in the context of artistic license and the importance of providing clients with options and maintaining communication to ensure the final product meets their expectations.

Post-Production

Post-production in architectural visualization involves the editing and enhancement of rendered images or animations to achieve the desired final look. The studio mentions using post-production to simplify color schemes and make adjustments based on client feedback, which is crucial for refining the visual narrative of a project.

Software Pipeline

A software pipeline refers to the sequence of software tools and processes used to create a final product, in this case, architectural visualizations. The script lists several software tools such as 3ds Max, Corona, and Adobe Photoshop that are used at different stages of the studio's workflow to create high-quality visuals.

Client Communication

Client communication is the process of interacting with clients to understand their needs, provide feedback, and ensure that the final product aligns with their vision. The video emphasizes the importance of client communication in guiding the artistic direction and achieving client satisfaction, as well as the role of the artist in suggesting creative views and ideas.

Highlights

Vivid Vision is an architectural visualization studio founded by two architecture students six years ago.

The studio has grown from a 16 square meter rented room to a company of 22 talented individuals.

They moved to their current office in a historic building in Poland, which they renovated themselves.

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

The studio's work initially focused on architectural competitions in Poland, which helped shape their approach and style.

Three key qualities of Vivid Vision's work are storytelling, the importance of greenery, and an atmospheric approach to visualizations.

The studio often collaborates with landscape designers and urbanists, focusing on the space between buildings and community activities.

Vivid Vision's process involves five stages, from initial white clay renderings to final high-resolution images with client feedback.

The studio uses AI solutions, such as Topaz, for upscaling frames and denoising, significantly improving efficiency.

Vivid Vision's workflow is streamlined with the use of 3ds Max, Corona, and custom scripts for rendering management.

The studio emphasizes the importance of communication with clients, offering artistic license and exploring various views for a project.

In addition to still images, Vivid Vision also creates VR tours, animations, and other visual tools for real estate agencies and developers.

The studio has adopted a versatile approach, providing a wide range of visual content to meet different client needs.

Vivid Vision uses AI not as a threat but as a tool to enhance their work, particularly in post-production and adjusting client feedback.

The studio has integrated stable diffusion into their daily workflow for adjustments and quick client response.

Vivid Vision holds monthly meetings to discuss and analyze their work, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and feedback.

The studio's environment supports artistic growth and maintains a sense of fun, with traditions like 'Image of the Month' competitions.