ISSUE 9 /

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 /

Much of this year has been dedicated to continuous learning. While learning is an ongoing process, its intensity has noticeably increased in 2025. To navigate the demands of our work and personal lives, we've had to prioritise creating more time and structure.

This has involved clearly defining our goals, outlining a structured approach to achieving them, and carefully planning our daily activities. While unforeseen challenges inevitably arise, a solid foundation allows us to quickly return to our preferred routine, minimizing frustration and resistance.

Our cornerstone is our daily planner. By carefully listing our tasks and consistently adhering to this plan, we experience a profound sense of accomplishment. Don't underestimate the power of a well-structured to-do list in enhancing focus and driving success.

CGI

In the world of CGI, D5’s latest update came with some handy phasing animation tools, that simplifies dynamic animations for your visualisations. You can easily create step-by-step animations for construction, assembly, and landscape evolution. Templates and an intuitive interface streamline object sequencing and animation control. Integration with most AEC design software it ensures seamless workflow.

Architecture

In the world of Architecture, Kawakawa House, nestled on Auckland's coast, celebrates nature. Designed by Herbst Architects, it's an ode to the Tasman Sea and surrounding pōhutukawa trees. The home seamlessly integrates with its environment, featuring low windows, elevated views, and a material palette of spotted gum, black steel, and dark-stained timber. The central courtyard provides a sheltered outdoor space, while the design emphasises flow and connection to the surrounding landscape. We love the shower door detail, see if you spot it!

Design

In the world of Design, Japanese designer Kazuhiro Yamanaka created the Pizza Box Lamp, a unique floor lamp made from 100% recycled polyester. Packaged in a pizza box, the lamp unfolds to stand freely without any support. Inspired by Ingo Maurer's Lampampe, it features a crinkled design for strength and a gentle LED glow, something so simple and satisfying about this lamp.

Technology

In the world of Technology, Flint has developed compostable paper batteries using water-based electrolytes and cellulose. These flexible, rechargeable batteries can be recycled or composted. They are flame-resistant, operate in extreme temperatures, and lack harmful chemicals like lithium. Flint plans to scale production using existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes for potential use in various applications, from consumer electronics to space technology. Feels like steps in the right direction with progress like this.

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.…🧐 

Think everyone can relate to this, so I thought it was worth a share. We all get to that point of feeling that all we’re doing is….doing! Cal Newport reflects on this subject of slow productivity.

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.