ISSUE 15 /

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 /

Try and do something that costs you nothing but lightens the load of life. It could be something simple, or something that’s a small stepping stone to something bigger. Try to find something that’s on your mind, but you haven’t yet implemented.

For me, it’s something very simple, I always think about saying thank you to the bus driver, but for some reason I feel uncomfortable on London buses doing it. I sometimes hear people and think, ‘I should do that’. It seems that in the city, everyone is very much heads down, keep to themselves, which to me is a shame. It creates a cold atmosphere, and that feeds into the surrounding spaces.

So this week, each bus driver will get a nice warm ‘Thank you’ as I step off, who knows, it might spark someone else on the bus to do the same!

CGI

In the world of CGI, the archviz industry's obsession with photorealism, is concerning. While photorealism was once a technical hurdle outsourced to specialists, user-friendly software and powerful hardware now make it easily achievable. Ironically, our perception of "realistic" evolves, much like video game graphics. This focus on photorealism risks neglecting crucial elements like composition and originality, which truly engage viewers, unlike the nitpicking of professionals on minor realism discrepancies. It's time for archviz to prioritise impactful storytelling over mere photorealism.

Architecture

In the world of Architecture, North London's Woodbury Residence, designed by Of Architecture for an octogenarian owner, intertwines 20th-century design with modernist influences from Lutyens and Aalto, inspired by her late architect husband. Its raw interiors echo a workshop feel, while details like an oak screen nod to his work. The design, functional yet beautiful, reflects the client's youthful spirit and treasured memories.

Design

In the world of Design, Danish green-tech Mater unveils its debut Terra lighting collection, crafted from their innovative Matek™ waste material. Designed by OEO Studio, the minimalist pendant, wall, and portable lamps utilise up to 303g of e-waste and coffee shell waste. This project expands Matek™'s application beyond furniture, showcasing clever design that integrates components within a simple conical form, embodying circular design principles.

Technology

In the world of Technology, The Belden Brick Company introduces Luminescent, iridescent glazed bricks designed to dynamically shift appearance with daylight from dawn to dusk. Ideal for interior and exterior use, these Clay Coated bricks offer architects a unique, transforming facade. Available in four colors and six sizes, Luminescent provides visual depth and adapts to varying regional lighting conditions, enhancing building aesthetics with a three-sided application for easy corner use.

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.…🧐 

It's beautiful to see this original architecture brought back to life. Such a shame that the palace burnt down, imagine it would be quite the wonder if it were still standing today…

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

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