In visualization, entourage is a part of the post-process where we populate the space with people in order to convey scale and, more importantly, bring experience and connection into an image. It helps remove the unknown and allows viewers to picture themselves or their clients utilizing a space. The catch is that you get only one chance—one frame—to do so. For this reason, entourage is one of the most vital elements in visualization; it can either elevate your design or make it fail.

We have all heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” This phrase is usually in reference to a photograph and these “thousand words” come from the energy and experience that an image conveys. Similarly, in visualization, every detail is a word and they all come together to create a story. I often say that you can wear the architecture hat during the process of designing the space but the moment you want to share a visual of your design, you have to put on the storyteller hat. That image should promote not only the quality of the design but also highlight the concept behind the design. What has led to your design and what experience do you want to convey to the people using the space?

Each component of entourage communicates a few of those "thousand words.”

• Positioning - Where are people standing or moving? If they are moving, what are they moving toward?

• Shadows - Your lighting will set the mood and making sure your shadows, created both by structures and people in the image, fit the lighting without being a distraction is a delicate art.

• Diversity - Are the individuals included representative of the population in the area? What about those most likely to use the space? Should pets or other animals be included?

• Culture - Are people wearing sports jerseys or business attire? Are there families, couples, or friend groups visible or is the space intended primarily for adult individuals?

• Hierarchy - Who is in the foreground and who is in the background? Are we unwittingly highlighting a particular demographic group where we intend to be more inclusive?

This month, the X-Identity team came together and took some time to really think about what we are producing; what message are we trying to convey, and are we happy with it? I believe that ownership of our work coupled with a healthy ego is the best thing that each of us can have when we come to the studio and I want each member of our team to feel proud of their own contributions. As a result, we are always in a process of learning, growing, and challenging ourselves to increase the quality of our work.

In our reflection, we took time to consider all that entourage can convey in a rendering or animation, and how substantially it can elevate our visuals. When we look at top-quality rendering work, it’s abundantly clear that entourage is much more than just an afterthought. Entourage is something that holds so much weight in the final visual product, and we are resolving to give it the attention and consideration it deserves in the X-Identity studio. Each of its elements, along with so many other details, are what come together to create that thousand-word story we want to tell.

Entourage is just the first in a series of topics that we’ll be exploring as a studio in the coming months. Alongside our own learning, we are developing a curriculum that will allow us to offer the same learning opportunities to others via X-Academy. (We’ll keep you posted here and on our social media with more on X-Academy soon!)