3D ARCHITECTURAL WALKTHROUGH: 5 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN ORDERING A CG ANIMATION OF A PROJECT

The advent of 3D architectural walkthrough brought a fundamental shift to the industry. It completely transformed the process of presenting architecture designs. Those in the profession know the struggle of explaining the expected result of a few-million dollar real estate project at the mock-up stage. Not to label it near-impossible but definitely not an easy thing to do. Enter 3D walkthrough!

Architectural 3D videos show future designs in photoreal quality and motion, lightening the burden of the decision-making process for a viewer. They eliminate the need to rely on the client’s imagination as it is possible to actually ‘walk them through’ the real estate before it’s built. What’s more, 3D architectural walkthrough animation can serve as effective marketing content. Which makes 3D videos an indispensable tool for every architect, developer, or realtor.

However, the creation of an animated walkthrough is quite a complex process. It cannot be completed in a couple of days. Also, 3D animation is definitely not in the list of the cheapest CGI products. Hence, the wiggle room for errors is limited from the very beginning. Inaccuracies or misunderstandings between a CGI studio and a client at the ordering stage can result in excessive corrections, missed deadlines, as well as unforeseen spending. While if everything is done right, the client gets a perfect CG asset right on time and without any hassle. For this, it is needed to avoid 5 common pitfalls. Which exactly? Let’s go through our list of top 5 most commonly made errors while ordering a 3D walkthrough!

An informed decision-making process in choosing a professional CGI company is the only way to go. Ignoring this step usually leads to costly and time-consuming redo. There are a few important guidelines that help architects narrow down the list and choose architectural walkthrough wizards. Due diligence starts with a request for a professional portfolio. Obtaining reviews from former clients, a list of brands a firm has worked with, examining and exploring case studies are also a must. These measures help to quickly gain a clearer picture of a particular CGI company.      

Then, it’s wise to take a closer look at how they operate at every stage of the architectural rendering process. Few indicators: a professional company is always upfront about their fees, timing, the equipment they use, etc. The best 3D architectural visualisation companies offer access to the CRM system, where their clients can monitor and take part in all the stages of work. On top of that, if there’s also a mention of timeliness guarantee as well as a guarantee for the quality of work, it’s a jackpot!

All in all, successful partnerships and the right decisions are almost always based on facts and thorough research. Hence, carefully collected and analyzed data can help to pick a reliable CGI provider that’ll create a high-end 3D architectural walkthrough.

The service of creating a 3D walkthrough presentation has a reputation for being pricey. So, many potential clients tend to look for contractors who charge less than others. But choosing a CGI design studio based on pricing above all else is a mistake. And it is equally bothersome regarding both – the lowest and the highest prices. The best suggestion here is to find out what determines the cost of a picture-perfect 3D architectural walkthrough.  

Having a clear understanding of multiple project stages, as well as time, talent, education, and dedication it takes to produce attention-grabbing 3D videos will eliminate most of the price-adjacent questions. It takes a team of professionals a lot of effort to create just a minute-long high-quality professional CG animation. And it is well worth the wait and the price. Moreover, let’s be honest, presenting poorly-made CG visuals to the tech-savvy crowds that can spot cheap digital products a mile away is not the best marketing tactic. So, it is wise to choose a contractor not by price but by the quality of work.

People are more likely to remember any fact if it is wrapped in a story. That is why storytelling is used in presenting products, services, and even architecture projects. And a compelling story calls for a detailed well-thought-through scenario. That is because, in addition to just showing the building, a professionally made 3D architectural walkthrough must give prospects clear reasons why they should buy or invest in presented real estate. A 3D video should resonate with the target audience, showing them solutions to their problems and challenges. Though, extra care while crafting a scenario is a must. Even the slightest inaccuracy can result in creating a story that doesn’t appeal to the target audience. 

Let’s say the client’s aim is to a market modern residential complex to a family-oriented crowd. In this case, a 3D animation should include contextual elements that help to reach this goal. These can be children coming home from a nearby school, happy couples holding hands, family cars parked near the building, and so on. And 3D artists that work on a 3D animation must know that these elements are preferable. Otherwise, they might depict figures of businessmen in suits, or a group of party people driving a cabriolet. Which will not convey the right message to the audience. The devil is in the details, so a good scenario for a CG architectural walkthrough must specify each of them clearly.

This is where everything can go wrong: poorly written briefs are a breeding ground for multiple errors. Project managers and 3D artists need detailed information to see exactly what was envisioned for the walkthrough. Plus, specific requirements for a digital animation help to give architects a clear idea of the project timeline. A professional brief should include every detail that can be described as helpful. Here is what a professionally written brief of a 3D walkthrough project should include.  

1. the desired length of the 3D walkthrough;
2. the purpose of use. It can be a marketing campaign, a presentation, etc;
3. the type of video — interior, exterior, or mixed. Additional information should be submitted for the exterior or mixed options. It should explain the surroundings in detail, include landscape preferences, pictures or plans of the surrounding territory. It is also vital to specify the desired time of the day and weather to be shown in CG footage;  
4. in-depth information on the building itself. This includes the structure’s function, drawings of the building, list of materials to be used for construction;
5. the desired camera path;
6. information on the secondary objects;
7. soundtrack preferences;
8. budget requirements.

A detailed design brief will help the CGI team to lay out the plan for the walkthrough, explain what should be expected and when, and, of course, produce a photorealistic 3D video. Furthermore, one well-written design brief will serve as a valuable template for all future 3D architectural walkthrough projects.

Yet another important aspect to avoid errors: keeping fingers on the pulse by providing and receiving feedback. It helps to avoid more than a few issues along the way.  A professional CGI project team is usually available 24/7, has a clear checking schedule for the set project milestones, and offers Skype meetings to check-in and evaluate the progress. This reassures the team that they have a full grasp of the clients’ expectations. 

If a client managed to avoid Mistake#1 and has a professional СGI company working on their side, they should take advantage of communicating in CRM. Giving straightforward feedback while working on a 3D architectural walkthrough is a sure way to properly deal with any corrections and never miss a deadline.

We hope this article will help our readers to avoid major mistakes while ordering a CG animation of a project. To get a perfect CG video, it is needed to research the contractors properly and choose them by quality and professionalism instead of by pricing. It is also a must to create a detailed brief, paying special attention to the scenario of a future CG walkthrough. And, finally, a client of a 3D animation studio should monitor the working progress closely and give feedback regularly. 

Need a stunning 3D photorealistic walkthrough of your architectural design? Contact our 3D animation company and get the result that exceeds your expectations!