We all have had poor experiences when purchasing a product or appointing a service. Sometimes, these bad experiences become a definition of a particular industry, thus creating misconceptions about it. They are numerous in the architectural visualization industry, and we are here to debunk some of them.

Not everything you see or read is true. Before hiring an architect, make sure you are comfortable with them. The architectural visualization industry is fast-growing, so you should clear the confusion to enjoy the whole experience. Most of the misconceptions you will see below are a product of outdated past experiences that have nothing to do with the present-day visualization industry.

Without further ado, let’s see some of the most common misconceptions about working with architectural visualization professionals.

1. There’s no flexibility

Since more and more people hire architects, you may assume they don’t have enough time to dedicate fully to you or your project. They already have too many tasks on their daily plate, so why would they focus on your project?

The truth is that everything is a priority in the architectural visualization business, and each project gets equal attention.

That implies that every architect should be flexible and fulfill the wishes of their clients. If you change your mind mid-project, you can freely consult with your architect, and they will undoubtedly work wonders. These people want to create something unique for you, so you are their priority. Whatever you wish for will come true because architects are highly flexible.

If you need to set a tight deadline or want to change something in your visualization, there is no need to worry. This industry is flexible, so the misconception above has proven to be false. However, you should set some reasonable requests when hiring an architect; they aren’t almighty.

2. It isn’t easy to find architectural visualization professionals

Have you ever thought of building a new project but changed your mind when you had to look for an architect? Many assume that architectural professionals are very busy and don’t have time to start new projects. In the real world, that is not the case; many professionals worldwide will be happy to work with you.

We understand that this misconception came into existence due to the lack of professionals in the past. Since architectural visualization is a relatively new industry, you may think that there aren’t many people who excel at their job.

However, in the past several years, more and more people have mastered architectural visualization; you will be able to find a professional for your needs in no time.

Before you jump to the conclusion and say there aren’t enough architects, you should research the market and see for yourself. There are over 140,000 architects in the US alone, with many more to come, and one of them will surely be able to work on your project.

3. They will work on your architectural project

You may have seen movies where, on a construction site, a person is holding a large piece of paper and dictating what others will do. Architectural visualization professionals have been presented as people who actually work on architectural projects physically when, in reality, that is not the case.

Architects are not engineers; they are there to visualize your project and precisely measure all the elements. They will not build the structure for you; you need someone else to do that job.

Architectural visualization professionals have been misrepresented through various movies, shows, and media – you shouldn’t expect them to do the physical work because it isn’t their part of the job.

All you can expect from someone working in the architectural visualization industry is a digital or a physical image of your future project. The primary purpose of hiring a professional in this field is to create precise measurements and visualize your building. Expect nothing more or less.

4. Communication requires knowing CGI terminology

When hiring an architectural visualization professional, you expect them to know all these professional terms in computer-generated imagery. You may expect them to use words and phrases from this terminology. Thus, you may be wondering whether you should know this terminology to understand the process of creating your project.

Architectural visualization professionals know that you aren’t an expert in this field and won’t expect you to know CGI terminology. Moreover, they will explain every step in the creation process to you in the most common language. You don’t need to research CGI terminology or be an expert in the field; you can understand your architect’s work without it.

This misconception may also come from social media and movies since architects are presented as people who only talk in “code.” This way of expressing themselves isn’t for their customers to comprehend; it is for their fellow professionals to understand their visualization processes.

Therefore, you can establish excellent communication even if you don’t know CGI terminology.

5. 3D visualizers can’t convey your ideas accurately

Some think 3D architectural visualization is only about seeing how elements fit within a larger unit. Most people don’t expect 3D visualizations to be realistic or represent an object accurately.

Meanwhile, architectural visualization professionals aim to present objects as realistically as possible, giving you the most precise image of your future project.

Before you think that 3D visualizations aren’t accurate, precise, and realistic, you should remember that technological tools are more advanced than in the past. Nowadays, all these fast programs and systems allow us to visualize an object with the most intricate details. Whatever wishes you have for your project, 3D visualizers will be able to deliver them to you thanks to some advanced systems.

The misconception that a professional visualizer cannot convey your ideas accurately comes from poorer visualization programs in the past. That may have been true at some point, but nowadays, it is undeniably not the case.

6. Visualization is all about spectacular images

When you look at some of the most inspiring visualization projects, you may think they are just some nice-looking images of objects. However, there is a whole science behind creating these images.

What you’re looking at aren’t merely images; there are calculations and rules for creating them with the utmost precision and accuracy. Thus, visualization is not just about pictures but also precision.

Yes, architectural visualizations are visually pleasing, but that is not the only purpose of creating them. The primary goal is to provide the construction team with precise measurements, materials, and other essential architectural elements. To get a project as close to the visualization as possible, an architectural visualization professional must elaborate on all the steps and use real-life materials.

Next time you look at an architectural visualization, remember that it isn’t just about a pretty picture. It is about precision, realism, atmosphere, and many other aspects. The image you’re seeing is as realistic as the physical project will be. Thus, these images are also about science and precision.

7. When choosing a service provider, you should only look at their portfolio

In the architectural visualization industry, it’s essential to follow someone’s work to know who to hire. When you need a professional architect, you should follow their work to see whether their ideas fit your project. Some people skip this step and choose whoever has the best portfolio; in these cases, they might not be pleased with the result.

Architectural visualization is a form of art that has its ups and downs. Looking at one’s portfolio only when choosing a service provider may not turn out well.

Instead, you should follow someone’s work for more extended periods. Tracking one’s progress and work may influence your decision since you will be able to see whether a visualizer can do what you have set your mind to and achieve your goal.

Think of it like this: you find a movie director you like, so you watch all of their movies. Once you do so, you realize they aren’t your cup of tea. The same happens with professional architects. You cannot make an objective decision based on only one project.

8. Visualizations are extremely expensive

Many think visualizations are a form of luxury and that they are expensive to create. Although some visualizers have extraordinary prices that may have higher price tags, that is not always the case.

In the past, visualizations were a luxury because you couldn’t find many people who were experts in this field. However, as the competition grew, the prices dropped, and you can find some reasonable prices nowadays.

That doesn’t exclude the fact that some pricier options are on the market. Everyone sets their prices according to their quality of work. How much you will spend will determine what project quality you will get

However, we cannot say that visualizations are extremely expensive; they’re not a luxury anymore, and many people can afford these services.

You may be able to find architects with lower pricing options, but we advise you to research first. Looking at their portfolio and reading their clients’ reviews will help you decide whether their pricing options are reasonable for what they offer.

9. They take a long time

Another misconception that came into existence due to past experiences is that architectural visualizations take a long time to complete.

However, with various modeling and rendering tools and platforms came much faster visualizations. Your requirements will determine how long it will take to complete your professional visualization, but we assure you it won’t be long.

One of the essential things affecting the time it takes to complete a project is the development of GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) visualizations. These visualizations take less time to complete than traditional CPU (Central Processing Unit) visualizations. Computers can process data much more quickly than in the past, thus boosting the whole process.

The time it takes to complete your project will depend on whether a visualizer works alone or in a larger company. If it’s a one-person job, finishing all the details, corrections, and other elements to make your visualization perfect may take more time.

10. Your architects will lose work because of outsourced visualization

Some people fear that their architects won’t be able to keep up with outsourced visualizations that come from other architects or companies.

When that is the case, architectural visualization professionals will ensure to take excellent care of outsourced projects and keep them intact. Moreover, most architects will save an original copy of the outsourced visualization in case something goes missing.

When you entrust someone else to upgrade the existing visualization, you may fear that everything will go to waste if they get their hands on the project. However, professional architects know how to handle these cases carefully and keep projects impeccable. There is no need to worry if you hand your outsourced visualization to another professional.

People in the architectural visualization industry cherish each other’s work and wouldn’t want anything unpleasant to happen to it. Everyone knows how demanding it is to create a visualization, so they will do everything in their power not to lose an outsourced visualization project. Your ideas and existing visualizations will be safe in the hands of professionals.

Conclusion

Every industry has some misconceptions and negative comments. Some things you can see about specific sectors may be accurate, but you shouldn’t trust everything you see, hear, or read.

That is why we have presented some of the most common misconceptions you can encounter about the architectural visualization industry and its professionals.

Before you jump to conclusions, you should explore the market and see whether what you’ve heard is true. Some misconceptions came to be in the past, but many things have changed.

The architectural visualization industry is full of misconceptions since it is relatively new, but it is an industry that keeps on giving despite these negative comments.