During a research project, I developed a photorealistic visualization of "The Zone" a real life community space, leveraging my experience with Unity's High Definition Render Pipeline and driven by the increasing adoption of interactive post-bid visualizations in the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. As mentioned in the Unity section of this Portfolio, the exposure to Non-gaming creative to Unity was growing and wanted to further showcase how Unity can be used in an effective way for interactive and aspirational Marketing experiences.
Creative Vision and Technical Execution
This interactive demo was designed to demonstrate how non-gaming creative professionals could craft engaging experiences with simple interactions. From an artistic perspective, I sought to push the boundaries of my skills and accuracy, exploring the possibilities of artistry within heavy constraints.
Through the use of real-life photo references, I was able to meticulously recreate "The Zone" with precision, thereby showcasing theoretical opportunities for further customization.
I started by adopting the standard workflow of a professional in the AEC industry, I used Autodesk Revit to establish the foundation of the model, leveraging Building Information Modelling (BIM) data to ensure accuracy. This approach was designed to showcase a seamless workflow and highlight the potential benefits for AEC professionals. Although BIM Data is lost during the export, the geometry remained accurate.
Autodesk Revit Screenshot
Autodesk Revit Screenshot
I would model furniture elements and apply textures using Adobe Substance Painter, combining photorealistic and custom textures to achieve a high level of detail and realism. Given the small-scale scenario used, topology based performance impacts were not considered a significant concern.
As previously mentioned, attention to detail was one of my top priorities, with every element meticulously crafted, from the stitching on furniture upholstery to the subtle height maps and decals used to achieve a soft, realistic appearance on the carpet. Despite the time-consuming nature of this process, I aimed to demonstrate the level of detail that is typically expected in high-quality, industry standard 2D renderings.
I added simple material swapping functions to enable easy changes to furniture colors, wall patterns, and carpet textures, as well as day-to-night cycles. This array set could be expanded based on customization needs, offering potential client greater flexibility and control
The main goal was to showcase the advantages of real-time 3D rendering, which enables a fully immersive and interactive experience in 3D space, while also eliminating the need for time-consuming offline baking or pre-rendering processes that were already well-established in the AEC industry. Sharing this interactive experience with a client can create a captivating moment, fostering a deeper connection and understanding of the space, ultimately leading to a more effective pitch and a stronger likelihood of securing a successful outcome.
Alongside this interactive demonstration, I developed a research paper that dives into the techniques showcased and explores how the industry can harness these benefits if given sufficient exposure to its potential.