ISSUE 12 /

A PLACE TO LEARN, DISCOVER &
EXPLORE THE EVER CHANGING WORLD
WE DESIGN IN!

✍️ Henry Cheney 

We’re here to keep you inspired and informed, with a special focus on the intersection of four key areas:

Why these four? Because together, they define the future of creativity. At HBC Visual, our love for CGI has driven us to explore its transformative power across industries, and the rapid rise of AI is rewriting the rules of design.

Yet, we remain grounded in the timeless principles of creativity: the artist behind the tool will always matter.

MENTAL MUSINGS /

The sun has been shining, and the days are getting longer. The working day now has a bookend of daylight instead of darkness, finally!

The rabbit hole of YouTube has been a source of inspiration lately. Fueling creative curiosity across different subjects that interest us: vibrant art, striking photography, dramatic cinematography, minimalist design. However, instead of just doom scrolling and watching, we’ve been analysing, watching interviews with the artists, trying to understand more about the artist, and what got them to where they are now. The business of creativity is an interesting one, and in lots of ways, it’s different to conventional business. Key takeaways from what I’ve watched:

• Often, it began with a simple act of passion, a love for the craft that drove them forward

• They never planned for it to be anything more than a passion project

• They adapted not because they had to, but because they wanted to

• They learn how to fail, and fail a lot

Stay true to what you love, find that passion, and don’t be scared of failure.

CGI

In the world of CGI, D5’s it feels like only a matter of weeks since D5 had a release, but this next one is big. Realtime path tracing! Along with some other great updates, this is release is helping to elevate images and videos to another level.

Architecture

In the world of Architecture, we came across a beautiful project by Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP ‘Library in the Earth’ is a subterranean library designed to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings. The structure, concealed beneath a restored valley, features earthen finishes and a drop-shaped courtyard. Unique elements like a pinhole skylight give a viewer a sense of the sky's expression. The architecture symbolises community and harmony with nature, creating a tranquil space for reading and reflection

Design

In the world of Design, Korean carpenter Chanhyeok Kim's Unsleepy Series, featuring chairs and stools, reimagines furniture with coffee grounds and architectural materials. Using "Coffee Dough," a coffee waste composite, Kim molds pieces with textures like "Meju," emphasizing natural cracks from drying. The series evolves through structural shifts, exploring new forms and functions. This innovative approach pushes sustainable materiality, transforming coffee waste into ceramic-like furniture with unique textures and forms.

Technology

In the world of Technology, Xiaomi has unveiled a modular magnetic lens that turns a phone into a digital camera. As someone who’s just got the bug for using a physical camera over a mobile phone, part of the joy is with the tactile feel of holding a lens. This looks like a step in the direction for customising your device to do more. No news on the production timeline, but I wonder if this will be something that catches on, or quietly slips away.

Doodle

Instead of relying on AI-generated images, we invite you to doodle! Sketching isn’t just for fun—it’s a way to unlock creativity and explore new ideas. Each issue, we’ll feature one doodle, and soon, we’d love to showcase your creations.

🎨 Grab a pen, unleash your imagination, and get doodling! 🎨

If you found something inspiring here, share this newsletter with a friend!

Stay curious, stay creative.

In every issue, we’ll surprise you with something new and exciting. From quirky discoveries to essential tools, our bonus content will keep you inspired and informed. So, make sure to check back each issue for your dose of unexpected delight.…🧐 

Sometimes you need to give yourself the freedom to smile and laugh. I stumbled upon this video the other day. It just goes to show that you can suppress and restrict people, but laughter and smiles can warm their souls.

AUTHOR /

Henry Cheney is the founder of HBC Visual, a visualisation company supporting designers, architects and developers to bring their projects to life.

We value your feedback

And we’d love to hear from you—feedback and ideas are always welcome. Take a moment to let us know how we can make this newsletter even better.