Preserving the Craft of Hand-drawn 3D Rendering in an AI-Driven World
In the last couple of years, I've noticed something almost instantly when I see certain interior images—they are AI-generated renderings. They stand out to me like a flashing neon sign, and it’s not because they look bad, in fact, that’s the irony.
For decades, architects and designers have been chasing this holy grail of photorealism, perfecting their skills with software after software, finding the most efficient ways to build 3D models and painstakingly edit those renders to make them as lifelike as possible. Needless to say that I have been in those shoes throughout my whole Interior Design career, and for years I’ve seen countless hours invested in this process, from modeling to rendering to post-editing, all in pursuit of the perfect visual.
Fast forward to now? It’s gotten as simple as typing a prompt and clicking a button.
Companies jumping on the AI bandwagon seem to have forgotten what made their work valuable in the first place. There’s an artistry—a certain authenticity—that comes from putting in the hard work, using real talent and skill to craft an image. I must admit that AI, with all its speed and ease, strips away that essence, sadly.
Speaking from experience, often times, easier rarely means better. What happened to the artistry? The talent? The hard work? Sure, AI can produce incredibly realistic renderings, but there’s also no soul behind it, no true creative process. It’s accessible to anyone now, even those who don’t have the proper training, nor the experience, nor the authenticity that comes from genuinely working through the design process, which is, usually, more messy than glam.
More than ever, creating a 3D render isn’t about skill—it’s about automation. And while technology has its place, I believe we’re losing something valuable: the art of visualizing itself. There’s a certain magic in the process—the meticulous planning, the pencil strokes, the ability to breathe life into a space with intention. When we hand over that craft to a machine, we’re not just speeding up the process, we’re stripping away the human touch.
Perhaps it’s time to ask ourselves: What is design without the designer’s hand? In the rush to make things faster, have we lost sight of what makes the final creation truly worth admiring?
