Hello, First Post. Keep your heads up!

[JDillon]

Hello All,

 

While I have been doing renderings for almost 10 years now, this is my first post. Just wanted to say Greetings from Clearwater, Florida!

 

Also, I have read a lot of posts regarding the economic slowdown and yeah, it hurts. Remember this, we are a constantly evolving industry. The tools that we all use in our everyday workload were just coming on the market 15 years ago (I was still in college partying my *** off). Revit and Sketch Up are amazing tools, get used to that. There will be better tools in the future.

 

It is up to us as an industry to provide a better alternative. There will be an increased need for high quality work in the near future. Right now it's slow but get ready, do what you can do to make it until things pick up. If you look back 50, 25, 10, 5 years there has been a massive increase in visual communications (particularly in architecture).

 

The clear delineation in an artistic format is a necessity that drives our industry. When I see architects using Sketch Up, sure it bothers me a little, but I'm not trying to compete with that anymore. It has actually freed me up to concentrate on my core business, that being renderings. Besides, Sketch Up makes really bad renderings...the people will demand higher quality work once they used to Sketch Up. Especially if their competition shows up with gleaming renderings.

 

Feel free to vent in this thread, but keep your head up!

 

Thank You,

 

Jason Dillon

[BillyElNino]

I don't think its worthwhile comparing the effects of Architects doing some rendering and modelling in-house with the general global economic slowdown, particularly in the construction industry.

 

With some existing projects being put on hold and new projects being shelved it could be a lean time for those of us who provide this periphery service* but a bit of economic Darwinism is always helpful in sorting the wheat from the chaff.

 

*I reject the view that we provide an essential part of the design and construction process, its merely (nice) icing on the cake.

[JDillon]

Hello Billy the Kid,

 

I agree that economic Darwinism is part of the process and what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

 

I do feel we offer an amazing and very important sales tool. The only reason why someone would spend the money on a rendering is because they understand the importance of sales and communication.

 

My point wasn't comparing the "global" economic slowdown with architects doing Sketch Up renderings. I was emphasizing the need for evolution in our industry.

 

Thank You,

 

Jason Dillon

[BrianG]

Hi Jason,

 

The quality of renderings is going to continue to go up and up with less and less effort. As little as five years ago an artist's ability in lighting a scene made a huge impact on final quality. Global illumination hasn't replaced an artist's eye but it sure has helped fill the gap.

 

I appreciate your zest for the industry Jason and I share it as a 14 year veteran. I think our future evolution will need to be founded on innovation as storytellers and our abilities to share a client's vision.

 

Thanks,

 

Brian Gerry