In this industry, it is all about cooperation. It is the mutual collaboration that turns different kinds of complex data into a fantastic 3D rendering or an animation. Without our clients’ valuable feedbacks, these renderings and animations won’t be so charming.

From day one, we hope that a project will proceed smoothly and all the feedback received from our clients are easy to understand and to follow. In order to achieve that, we hope that two parties will use the most efficient method to communicate. Only after fully understanding the design can we present it in its full splendor. However, the fact is that we still find it difficult to deal with some ambiguous feedback and often waste lots of time making sense of it. Thus, an effective way of communication can’t be too essential for AIMIR to offer the perfect architectural visualization service and save our clients’ time. It will not only benefit the quality of the architectural visualization service but also save both two parties’ time and energy. But how to do that? AIMIR will list a few tips for our clients.

#1 Use typing instead of handwriting.

Some clients tend to write down the comments. But sometimes it is very difficult for us to get the right information from it because of the illegible scribble. In that case, we have to spend a lot of time on doublechecking the comments with the client again and again to avoid any misunderstanding. That is truly a time-killer.

#2 Use reference images whenever possible.

“A picture is worth a thousand words”. There are some clients would like to use some big words to make comments. For example, “The façade should be glazed and the door is needed to be painted light red”. In this situation, we often feel confused about the “light red” and the “glazed”. Which kind of light red and what level of brightness of the façade do the client actually need? To eliminate the confusion, we will have to have further communication with them, which wastes both parties’ time. What’s more, our clients may use some adjectives to describe something. I can still remember when one of our clients give us such a comment, “Update the architecture to be more interesting.”. At that moment, an old saying came to my mind: there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes. The fact is that different people have different tastes.

How to conquer this kind of issue? Using the reference image to make comments is the best and easiest way. AIMIR has a large number of reference images, which will meet our clients’ needs. Using those the pictures to let us know what ambiance, color tone or texture you really want.

#3 Make your comments well positioned.

You can number them or mark them by using the arrows. No matter what ways you choose, you’d better make the comments in the right places. In this way, the signature? you make will help us modify the exactly right place where you want to do so.

#4 Don’t forget to include the original images you use in your markups.

Maybe you have already added the thumbnails to the PDF where you make comments. It is good. But it will be better for you to include the original images in the package you send to us, especially for the reference images of textures. It is because we can be misled by the unclear low-resolution thumbnails. Sending us the original file will prevent us from misunderstanding the types of textures that you want, and also, will save both parties’ time.

#5 Be specific when you have to use words only

Though the better way is using the referent pictures, sometimes you might not be able to find any applicable references and have to describe it in words. In this case, we will appreciate if you can try to be clear and give us enough details to eliminate the predictable misunderstandings.

#6 Always comment on the latest drafts

We have encountered this awkward situation many times. After we have completed the changes our clients mentioned last time and sent them the latest model draft, they just ignore them but add new comments on the older drafts. At that time, we can easily get confused and have no idea about where we should change. Of course, this situation may result from a small mistake. But it will make the simple thing into the complex one.

#7 Speak with one voice when giving comments

More ideas are not always good. If our clients hold different ideas inside their company and their clients also have different ideas, we have no idea about which idea we should follow and in which way we should make the renderings or animation. For instance, architects would like to present the building in a specific way and give us some comments. Later, their boss informs us that the style and the tone of the rendering or animation need to be changed because he doesn’t like the former one. What’s worse, then their clients say that this is not what they want. Finally, they need to get back to us for another round of change. To be honest, it is a disaster for us. All the efforts we have devoted will be in vain. Actually, it is a lose-lose solution, which not only wastes our time and energy but also our clients’ money because repetitive changes may generate an extra cost.

Thus, it would nice if our clients can reach a consensus inside their company and then tell us about their opinion. It will ensure that our work is effective and efficient.

#8 Understand the focus of each phase

We proceed renderings process in an orderly way and step by step. For example, we focus on correcting models & view angles at the modeling phase. Then we focus on improving texture & materials at the rendering phase, and people, plants, etc. at post-work phase.

It’s wise to follow this rule when giving feedback. For instance, It could be very confusing and interruptive if you keep commenting on materials and people when we are just at the modeling phase and such work has not been done yet.

#9 When you have to update the 3D model, send the changed part in a separate layer

For example, when you need to update the ceiling geometries, please do send us the new ceiling model separately or in a separate layer rather than send us the whole model. Due to the different software we use and different tweaks and treatments we do to the model, we cannot simply use the new model. And it will be very frustrating and time-consuming if we have to figure out where has been changed and where has not. So, to make things easy, please do send us the updated part separately.

In a word, the best comments would be clear, comprehensible, specific, and concise. AIMIR hope that all of our clients can learn from this passage and improve the way of giving feedback and make the cooperation proceed smoothly.