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How Builders & Developers Can Pivot and Prosper in these Pandemic Times

By Blog
Hey it's Lisa

Behind the Creativity: Blog 17

Some people don’t like change. Change is how we grow. We learn to adapt and that brings resiliency. Be it business matters or anything in life…if left alone, things tend to stagnate, lose their momentum and falter. In response to this health crisis, there have already been interesting business changes eg. in cities like Manhattan, some restaurants have morphed into bougie-bodegas where they’ll start selling produce, basic pantry items to make up for a loss in dine-in capacity. Airlines are giving up the middle seat. Grocery stores have already adapted by introducing counter shields. Curb-side, pick-up was already a thing but now it’s THE THING. Many retail stores have since followed suit. Outside of healthcare facilities, face masks are becoming a fashion statement–no different than a scarf. Resale realtors are doing business differently, offering virtual tours of a home in lieu of an Open House. All this change…in a matter of weeks!

 

Most of the time, the future arrives surreptitiously, without much fanfare, there may be an ad or a press release about a ‘new and improved’ something or other and then the newness just gets woven into our daily day. Usually, evolution starts in businesses first and then trickles to consumerism. Things are different this time since the economy has come to a screeching halt.

 

Covid-19 may have been the catalyst that encouraged some new home builders to offer some semblance of virtual service: a video conference sales call, an online brochure, a video about the project, downloadable price lists. These are all great digital assets for virtual viewing…but, let’s face it, they don’t do much to accentuate the user’s experience—it’s not the same as if the homebuyer had visited and experienced the digital elements–at a sales centre.

 

On the other hand, digitally-forward-thinking home builders, who are decidedly more proactive and committed in their use of modern technology, have embraced the virtual sales centre software LiveSite™ and are now virtually experiencing business as usual. 

 

Interestingly, this new normal of builders wanting to offer their homebuyers a true, virtual experience…has actually just been a day-in-the-life, best-practise at NEEZO Studios. We didn’t expect a health crisis to give us such loud exposure. We understand that there are home buyers out there that still need to buy a home. It’s a nice feeling to know we’re helping new home builders continue to do business.

 

This pesky pandemic may have just made virtual sales centre software like LiveSite™ the prescriptive medicine for marketing and sales executives who want to secure the health of their spring and fall market. 

 

We’ve been educating the real estate marketing industry about all things virtual, on the daily. Sometimes prospective clients get it and adopt it right away. Other times they’re more passive and pass on the concept, thinking it’s not something their homebuyers will use. Or they think all this interactivity and virtual sales centre stuff is a fad.

 

Nope. It’s not a fad. Virtual sales centres are not going away. The COVID-19 quarantine may have highlighted a builder’s need for a virtual sales centre, but it’s hard to imagine not offering these conveniences to your audience in a post-COVID world. In fact, I’d argue what will go away…is having crowds of homebuyers congregating at a sales centre, waiting for hours to get in, just to obtain priority preview pricing…something that can easily be handled online. But I get it, they want the photo opp for social media buzz.

 

I’ve sat in meeting 20 and 10 years ago, where businesses and marketing executives pondered:
  • “Hmmm…do you think we should buy a website domain for our company?
  • “Do you think our audiences care if we’re on social media platforms.” 
  • “Should we explore CRM software to keep in touch with homebuyers for our site launches?”  
You get my point. These are all now…tools of the trade.

 

This is what evolution looks like. There will always be early adopters and late-to-the-party laggards who want to see how something is working for everyone else–before jumping in.
Play Video
What makes LiveSite™ uber-exceptional is that it allows new home builders and developers to offer homebuyers the exact same user experience—as if the homebuyer had visited the sales centre. 

 

LiveSite™’s software application offers an omni-channel approach, providing the same look and feel across multiple platforms, accessible on: desktop, laptop, tablet, as well as on iOS and Android mobile devices.

 

10 Thoughtful Ways To Connect With Homebuyers–While Social Distancing

 

The road ahead may be bumpy but, we can’t go back to the way things were. Businesses will naturally want to take precautions, to minimize jeopardizing their way of doing business. Going forward, post-pandemic, there is an amazing opportunity to continue to promote your projects, while serving your homebuyers. While, I can’t speak for every industry, I understand real estate marketing and I can share a few recommendations for new home builders & developers:

 

  1. Continue to connect with your audience but pay attention to how they’d like that to be engaged with (gathering herds of people for a priority preview…those days are gone).
  2. Monitor your website and pay attention to where your traffic is coming from. What time of day are homebuyers visiting your sales site? Send out our eblasts around that time.
  3. Reveal pricing early. There’s no point nurturing an email campaign for months only to find out the homebuyer/subscriber can’t afford your starting price.
  4. Offer incentives to help instil confidence in their buying decision. Buyers are worried about losing their job (think about insurance program incentives that protects them against that). Introduce Rent To Own Programs. Offer special thank you incentives to frontline, healthcare workers.
  5. Start doing live-videos on social and webinar presentations.
  6. Don’t stop advertising. Just advertise smarter. You can promote your site on social media for free.
  7. Add a ‘book a virtual appointment’ button on your website’s contact section (next to all your social media icons), have a calendar pop-up with pre-selected dates/times. 
  8. Add a chat bot to your project’s site page. Answer questions as soon as they pop-up.
  9. Offer floorplans that provide multi-generational living (2 families paying a mortgage are better than one).
  10. Incorporate LiveSite™’s virtual sales centre software. Statistics have shown that homebuyers aren’t shopping for a home during the work day, they’re likely online after your sales centre is closed. Why not extend your sales centre experience—virtually, so that its accessible 24/7/365.
LiveSite™ ‘s state-of-the-art virtual sales centre took the visual marketing industry by storm when it launched earlier this year.  Our talented team of developers tweaked and tinkered with the software application for the past 7 years, evolving it into the indispensable sales tool it is today. Each year, (no different than mobile companies unveiling their latest version), LiveSite™ will continue to evolve, featuring new bells and whistles to satiate client and consumers demand. NEEZO’s mission for LiveSite™ is to always strive to exceed client and end-users’ expectations, by offering a virtually unforgettable user experience.
 
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May 12, 2020
Love5

Is Your Presentation Centre Boring?

By Blog
Hey it's Lisa

Behind the Creativity: Blog 16

It’s my 4 month anniversary working at NEEZO Studios and I thought I’d share some thoughts on the “architectural visualization” industry.
Before working at NEEZO, I worked for various real estate marketing agencies and recall how the staff always wished we had a client budget that would allow us to create a state-of-the-art interactive sales centre.
You know…the kind of presentation centre that makes you feel like you’re walking into the future.
Today’s sales centres are all about open spaces (similar to the homes they sell), featuring: sleek, interactive touch screens, displaying gorgeous, photorealistic 3D renderings (like the ones NEEZO Studios created below) and at the centre of it all, an impressive scale model (as per the image at the top of the page, also created by NEEZO Studios). All of these elements work together harmoniously almost like a visual dialogue, to promote the project and convey the builder/developer’s story.
  • NEEZO Studios_PineTest_DiningRoom
  • NEEZO Studios_PineTest_KLD
  • NEEZO Studios_PineTest_LivingRoom
  • NEEZO Studios_PineTest_Bedroom
  • NEEZO Studios_PineTest_Bathroom2
  • NEEZO Studios_PineTest_Dining Room
NEEZO Studios created a series of uber-photo-realistic, 3D renderings featuring the designs of Jane Lockhart for Klein Estates by Lindvest.
NEEZO made sure to echo Jane Lockhart’s fine eye and high-design-aesthetic by paying extremely close attention to the details she and the builder specified for this luxurious Kleinburg neighbourhood. Renderings like these make a statement in a sales centre, setting the tone for the vibe of the lifestyle in one of these exquisite Lindvest homes.
These days, on-trend sales centres have said goodbye to printing, over-sized floorplan-wall displays, that clutter up wall space and become obsolete when a particular floorplan is sold out. NEEZO’s modern sales centres make floorplans an interactive, user experience, viewed on your choice of a: touch screen TV, desktop computer, tablet or smart phone.
Play Video
NEEZO recently launched their proprietary real estate software LiveSite™ allowing homebuyers to search by:
  • available inventory
  • floor/storey of their choice
  • number of bedrooms
  • square footage
  • compass orientation
  • time of day & all 4 seasons
  • floor plans
  • comparing floor plans side-by-side
  • building amenities
  • neighbourhood amenities
  • features & finishes and more…
Play Video
LiveSite™ also provides sales staff access to real-time, back-end analytics regarding the sales inventory, complete with reports and charts. Clients can also choose to hide or reveal certain floorplans until they’re ready to be released.
Once you’ve experienced NEEZO’s LiveSite™ software in action, you’ll never want to go back to static wall displays.
The Costs To Going Interactive
When the interactive sales centre trend began, the costs of even renting touch screen technology used to be a deal breaker, but just as the price of laser-thin TVs has come down with technological advancements, so too have the costs of other interactive services. Buying computers, software and video equipment is more manageable, as such, the cost-savings get translated to our clients. As well, the software used to render images is faster, so you don’t have to pay for the time it takes to manage the rendering of an image.
I remember launching static sales centres the old fashioned way, we would easily spend between $75-150K+ to merchandise a sales centre. NEEZO’s modern sales centres are way more impressive and cost much less than the conventional/static route.
In the static sales centre format when you have a floor plan change or a floor plan sells out, it can take weeks to:
  • receive the replacement blackline file
  • prepare the creative
  • go to print
  • arrange for installation of the wall display
  • reprint the corresponding handouts
Not only is it an annoying hiccup, it’s costly. I feel your pain…I know…I’ve lived it, many times over. With NEEZO’s interactive services, floorplans can get updated in mere seconds. No lead time. No downtime. No need for reprinting, re-installing and adding more garbage to the landfill (or equally as bad, hoarding outdated wall displays in the model home’s basement…you know who you are). 😉
Today, budgeting for an interactive sales centre is definitely on par with the conventional, static sales office, in fact it’s preferred. At NEEZO Studios we often hear our builder, architect and developer clients say they enjoy the ROI an interactive sales centre offers. It’s infinitely more engaging, effective and convenient:
  • you’re saving on printing and reprinting wall displays + saving on installations
  • you don’t need as many sales admin staff doing paperwork
  • it expedites the buying process substantially and provides real-time sales reports
  • homebuyers enjoy digitally navigating through the buying journey, feeling more in-control of their investment.
Interactive Is Smart
Not only is the smart technology being embraced by builders and developers but consumers are expecting a digital user experience. Statistics show homebuyers begin their home buying search online (above and beyond any other advertising method). Why not meet them where they are:
  • 99% of Millennials (20-39) used the internet to search for a new home
  • 90% of GenX (40-49) used the internet to search for a new home
  • 85% of Boomers (50-65) used the internet to search for a new home
  • 70% of Retired Generation (66+) used the internet to search for a new home
Source:Pew Research
 A Positive User Experience = Confident Buyers (and word of mouth)
Practical, budgetary stuff aside, interactive sales centres help promote a low rise or high rise project. Homebuyers will always be smiling and excited when in an immersive experience.
Whether it’s encouraging homebuyers to pick their features & finishes via an online e-design centre or walking through a seemingly invisible model suite; Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are going to become more and more a part of the homebuyers’ journey to finding their perfect home. After experiencing the interactivity, homebuyers often bring friends and family to have their same user experience.
What’s the difference between Virtual Reality (VR) & Augmented Reality (AR)?
I often used to confuse VR and AR and would use the terms interchangeably, ‘til I became a NEEZOnian and got schooled. So, in case you’re wondering, here’s how we explain it:
Virtual Reality (VR):
VR completely covers and replaces your field of vision, wearing a headset to take you on an immersive experience, blocking out real world surroundings. See sample below of what NEEZO Studios storyboarded and created for Sifton Properties.
Play Video
Augmented Reality (AR)
Augmented Reality (AR) as the first word implies–adds digital elements to a live, physical view, via a touchscreen, tablet or phone. AR effects bring viewers into an immersion experience–in a limited area—right before their eyes (no head set required). Check out the video below to experience a recent AR project NEEZO did for Sifton Properties.
Play Video
In a nutshell, remember this:
  • VR (virtually) replaces your vision,
  • AR adds to (or augments) your vision.
What Happens when AR and VR combine?
…now that you’ve got the definitions of AR/VR straight…there’s also Mixed Reality (MR), which combines all three: VR, AR interacting in the real world. It’s a field that’s evolving…think about the location-based Pokéman Go craze a few years back.  
Maybe MR won’t be as relevant in a sales centre, but I can certainly see it being aligned with site signage where a viewer looking at site signage through a mobile app or headset would see something that isn’t there with the naked eye. Imagine taking a group of investors on a construction tour of a dirt-site and having your guests experience your vision for the project, right before them with the aid of MR. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a 3D application is priceless in that type of environment!
There have been so many advancement in the 3D space in the past decade, I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring. One thing’s for sure, NEEZO Studios will continue to be at the forefront of the architectural visualization industry in North America…making sales centres great again! 🙂
If you’re looking for sale centre inspo, please reach out.
In our real estate marketing division, we provide services to builders who want to launch a project/sales centre and for architects and developers looking to convey a master plan to the city hall and the community-at-large. We’re also happy to collaborate with marketing agencies and pre-construction real estate agencies.
 
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March 31, 2020
Love4

How To Virtually Sell New Homes During a Pandemic

By Blog
Hey it's Chloé

Behind the Creativity: Blog 15

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is something that has developed rapidly. Our everyday lifestyles were quickly put on hold and many things still remain unknown about how to deal with this outbreak. One very large and important industry that is being affected by the virus is the real estate industry. Many builders and developers that were planning on selling homes, high rises, etc. in the Spring/Summer as well as building new developments in the upcoming months, are being put on pause until there’s more information regarding how to stop the virus outbreak. As a result, many potential buyers might be hesitant to visit a sales center knowing that they’d rather stay in self-quarantine in order to protect themselves from potentially being susceptible to the virus.
With that in mind, it is undeniable that virtual marketing is the way to go – not only because technology is always evolving, but also because people can view potential properties all from their own devices and in their own homes. 
Livesite™, NEEZO Studios’ real-time real estate sales software, is the perfect example of having your sales center at your fingertips. Since the outbreak, many clients around North America have been requesting to have Livesite™ for their projects because it offers everything you’d want to showcase in your sales centre: cinematic animation, browse live product inventory, area amenities, stunningly detailed 3D site plans, compare 2D/3D floor plans, and so much more (see image above for a few of the features that are available in Livesite™).
Virtual Marketing is a route that many builders/developers are gravitating toward, especially during this Pandemic, because it allows for flexibility, creativity, and it is without a doubt the safest way for your message to be brought to potential buyers without anyone needing to leave the confines of their own home. 
Livesite™ offers all of that and more!
Its feature set encompasses everything your project needs to shine. No matter if you’re selling detached homes, a high rise, or even townhomes, Livesite™ can be customized to your project’s needs. It even includes brand integration, meaning Livesite’s user interface is tailored to match your branding, from logo to color palette, all the way down to fonts. So for your buyers, it’ll be as if they’re really at your sales center. 
If you’d like to experience one of our Livesite™ applications, check out the demo below that NEEZO Studios created for DR Horton – Santorini Townhomes .
In summation, COVID-19 is a very serious and unfortunate situation that is affecting the economy, our everyday lives, and the health and safety of everyone. It’s very difficult to see a bright side in a situation such as the outbreak, but we need to work with what we have in order to keep things going as closely to how they would have progressed without the virus. This includes using new and innovative ways to get your message out there. Using virtual marketing is an innovative means of reaching your potential buyers, on their terms, while keeping your brand front and centre.
If you’d like to get a quote for a Livesite™ application or any of our other services, reach out to us at: info@neezostudios.com 
 
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March 24, 2020
Love12

Why 3D renderings are beneficial when selling real estate

By Blog
Hey it's Chloé

Behind the Creativity: Blog 14

It’s undeniable that the marketing strategy for anything you may be selling can make or break how it is perceived by the potential buyers. No matter what the product may be, the way it is portrayed says a lot about what the buyer can expect. Same rule applies to real estate marketing and even more so. This is because it is very difficult for someone who doesn’t have an architectural design background to look at a black and white elevation and envision what it will actually look like in real life. This is where NEEZO Studios comes in to help! For example, the image attached above effectively shows a rough sketch compared to the rendering that we conceptually created based off of the sketch. This example and many others prove just exactly why renderings supply an effective sales tool.
EXTERIOR RENDERINGS
 
The first factor that captures the interest of a potential buyer is certainly the exterior of the development followed by the community that it is situated in. Since this is such an important factor in just sparking their interest to potentially check out the development on the inside and put in more effort, exterior renderings are super important. Having an exterior rendering of the upcoming development gives potential buyers the ability to envision what is yet to be built even if it’s not currently there. We created this stunning rendering for Mizrahi Developments’ upcoming project in Toronto called The One.
INTERIOR RENDERINGS
 
Although the exterior of the development/the overall community is very important for a potential buyer, a lot of their interest also undeniably comes from how the interior looks. Whether it be the furniture, paint colours, room layout, etc, many of these factors are detrimental to really selling and allowing the buyer to see themselves living there. That’s why interior renderings are super helpful when it comes to the buyer being able to envision themselves in a place that they are soon to call home…it’s hard to envision it any other way.
The renderings that you can see here are actually from NEEZO Studios’ Lindvest Klein Estates project where we created a 3 minute animation, stunning interior renderings, filmed interviews, and shot drone footage. Fun fact, these renderings all incorporate custom furniture and designs requested by our client which truly allowed each room to be brought to life exactly the way it will look like. Having said that, if you wanted to create interior renderings but don’t necessarily have any custom requests, there are thousands of options for you to choose from and we can definitely help out with that!
Check out the animation that the above interiors are from:
THE NEEZO TOUCH
Perfecting our look since NEEZO Studios was established in 2005, our renderings are often mistaken for real images. We focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere in every rendering that we create in order to inspire potential buyers and help them feel at home long before anything is even built.
 
If you’d like to get a quote on this type of work, reach out to us at: info@NEEZOStudios.com
 
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March 3, 2020
Love10

NEEZO Studios wins silver at The Nationals 2020

By Blog
Hey it's Chloé

Behind the Creativity: Blog 13

NEEZO Studios is honored to have won a Silver award for Best Computer Generated Sales Tool at The Nationals, NAHB’s largest and most prestigious award show, which happened in January 2020 in Las Vegas. As referenced in past blog posts, NEEZO Studios has created the renderings and animations for the Property Brothers™ show since its inception in 2011 (and a few of their other show concepts – Brother Vs. Brother, Brothers Take on New Orleans, and Property Brothers at Home – Drew’s Honeymoon House). 
Just last year, when their new show Forever Home was announced, NEEZO Studios was also given the awesome opportunity to create the renderings and animations for that show as well.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE PROJECT THAT WON
 
This time around, NEEZO Studios won the silver award for our 3D animations and renderings that are featured on the Property Brothers’ newest show, Forever Home. Producing the renderings and animations for these shows does take a lot of work and effort, so it’s undoubtedly a great feeling when your work is recognized by your industry peers.
Feel free to check out this link to view the project/video that won Silver:
ALL ABOUT THE NIGHT

 

There’s no doubt that Vegas is a pretty great place to host an award show. Not only is it fun and things are always happening in Vegas, but what better way to connect and catch-up with colleagues and clients as well as have the opportunity to meet new people who are all who are all interested in honing their skills, upping their game and appreciating the hard work that goes into qualifying for these award shows.
Overall, it was a memorable night and a great way to start off the new year!
Let’s just say that for this trip, what happened in Vegas isn’t staying in Vegas, rather, it’s going to be showcased on our ‘great wall of awards’. Huge thanks to NAHB for this award!
 
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February 25, 2020
Love7

A YEAR IN REVIEW

By Blog
Hey it's Chloé

Behind the Creativity: Blog 12

Chloé Maalouf – Account Manager 
Happy New Year everyone! I cannot believe it’s already 2020. Looking back at 2019, a lot of very memorable and exciting things happened here at NEEZO Studios. With that said, there are a few occasions that specifically stick out in my mind…so let’s discuss them 🙂

OFFICIALLY LAUNCHING NEEZO STUDIOS’ NEW BRAND, LIVESITE™

What better way to end 2019 and start off the new year than by NEEZO Studios officially introducing its newest brand, Livesite™?
Livesite™ combines award winning expertise in real-time technology with a deep understanding of the real estate sales process to create impactful and memorable sales experiences powered by live data.
Livesite’s feature set encompasses everything your project needs to shine. A few features that are included in this one of a kind application are: 3D area amenities, unit search, day/night/seasons cycle, building amenities, 3D site plan, and much more! 
After spending a few years really mastering Livesite™ not only as a product, but as a brand, it’s honestly very exciting to see just how far we’ve come.
( Learn more about Livesite™ here: https://www.neezostudios.com/livesite )

AWARDS

In 2019, NEEZO Studios won a whopping 21 awards! It’s undoubtedly a great feeling when all of the hard work put into creating a project is recognized. I’ve listed all of the different awards that we won, as well as the links for you to check out some of the work that won. 

Hermes Creative Awards

NEEZO Studios won 8 platinum Hermes Creative Awards in 2019. The projects that won are: Avery Dennison car wrap visualizer, Westgate residences animation, Jaguar Land Rover animation, Canada Story of Us (TV), Where To I Do? (TV), Nature Walk Virtual Reality, Elgin East animation, and Allegro interactive application (Livesite™). 

Muse Creative Awards

NEEZO Studios won 5 Muse Creative Awards in 2019. The projects that won are listed here: Platinum – Avery Dennison car wrap visualizer, Platinum –Westgate residences animation, Platinum –Jaguar Land Rover animation , Gold – West 5 Virtual Reality, Silver – West 5 Augmented Reality.

AVA Digital Awards

NEEZO Studios won 6 AVA Digital Awards in 2019. The projects that won are listed here: Platinum –Elgin East animation, Platinum –West 5 Virtual Reality, Platinum – Demo Reel, Gold –Westgate residences animation, Gold- Avery Dennison car wrap visualizer.

2019 TAB Star Awards

NEEZO Studios won Best Promotional Video for our Westgate residences animation during the 2019 TAB Star Awards. 

The Nationals 2019

NEEZO Studios won a silver for our Allegro interactive application (Livesite™) at NAHB’s “The Nationals”, one of the industry’s most coveted award shows.
 

SEASON PREMIERE OF PROPERTY BROTHERS FOREVER HOME

NEEZO Studios has been creating the 3D rendering/animation flythroughs for every episode of The Property Brothers™ since it first aired way back in 2011. Our 3D fly throughs are played in the episode when Jonathan and Drew Scott, a.k.a The Property Brothers™, describe how the home will look after the renovations are complete. While they are describing this process to the homebuyers/homeowners, our 3D work plays in the episode in order to give the viewer a more clear understanding of how Jonathan and Drew are going to transform the home.
We’ve always been excited about creating these flythroughs not only for the original Property Brothers™ show, but also for their other show concepts, Brother Vs. Brother, Brothers Take on New Orleans, and Property Brothers at Home – Drew’s Honeymoon House.
In 2019, however, the series premiere of Property Brothers Forever Home officially aired on HGTV. We’re super stoked to be working alongside the brothers and their entire production team to create the 3D animations and renderings for another one of their shows! If you haven’t yet watched a Forever Home episode, you definitely should. And when you do make sure to keep an eye out to spot our work throughout the episode!

WHERE TO I DO? – SEASON 2 PREMIERE

It’s always a cool feeling to see our work on TV and while we’ve worked on and are still working on creating 3D animations and renderings for many shows (including The Property Brothers™), one very unique show that NEEZO Studios created the 3D animations for is GustoTV’s Where To I Do?, a show that takes couples who are planning their dream wedding to consider many stunning venues. 
2019 was a great year and I’m so excited to see what 2020 has in store.
If there’s anything you’d like to see featured in a future post, drop me a line cmaalouf@ neezostudios.com
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Thanks for checking out this weeks’ blog post!
I’ll be back  with a super cool new update 😀 
January 17, 2020
Love8

Winning a Star Award at the 2019 Texas Association of Builders Award Show

By Blog
Hey it's Chloé

Behind the Creativity: Blog 11

Hi everyone! Long time no talk. As I’m sure most of you can attest to, the summer season is a very busy time for a lot of people. Other than it being the common season to go on vacations and the season where projects are being planned and worked on for the fall, it’s also award season for many award shows. With that being said and as you can tell by the image above, NEEZO Studios was very honoured to be awarded a Star Award for Best Promotional Video at the 2019 Texas Association of Builders (TAB) award show. If you’d like to know more about which one of our projects won, as well as my experience at the 2019 TAB Star Awards, then keep on reading:)
 
ALL ABOUT THE NIGHT…
 
Getting to attend the award show alongside NEEZO’s EVP/my Mom was and always is an awesome experience. It’s always a great feeling to know that the hard work that you’re putting into your projects is being recognized not only nationally, but internationally as well. Fun fact: The NEEZO Studios project that won the Star Award was our Westgate Tuscaloosa animation which is being built right beside the University of Alabama. Feel free to check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YX_esA5uHA
 
Nevermind it being NEEZO Studios’ first time at the TAB award show + winning a Star Award, it was also my first time in Texas, so without a doubt I was excited for what the night held. The Texas Association of Builders held the award show and their annual Sunbelt trade show at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Dallas, which by the way is a very cool place. The award show itself was well hosted and planned out. In addition, Aline and I met tons of nice people during the show and afterwards which was also really fun.
 
Overall, it was definitely a trip to remember. On behalf of NEEZO Studios, we want to thank the TAB Star Awards for the award and for a great experience. We were excited to bring the beautiful trophy back to the studio and we look forward to attending future TAB Star Awards.
 
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Thanks for checking out this weeks’ blog post!
I’ll be back next week with a super cool new update 😀 
August 27, 2019
Love5

How to Use Animation in Reality TV

By Blog
Play Video

Hey it's Chloé

Behind the Creativity: Blog 10

By: Aline Maalouf
The world of animation is changing and evolving at a rapid pace — bringing photorealistic imagery to the small screen and the big screen — animation that is rendered with such detail, you can imagine the exact sensation of the water, feel the heat of the sunshine and experience the wilderness. Just look at the difference between the first Toy Story film, released in 1995, up to Toy Story 3’s release in 2010.
Over 15 years, there is a complete world of difference — we progressed from 2D to 3D, the colors are poignant, we visualize changes from shadows and lightness and the sequences move much more quickly. The third film was a major feat for a studio, and now either years later, the technology there is already on the cusp of being old news.
Technology is advancing faster than it can be implemented — and it isn’t just the Pixar’s and Disney’s of the world who have to stay ahead of the curve with each sequence released. Boutique companies are under just as much pressure to continually push the envelope on what’s possible in the animation space, while still delivering top results to clients within the sometimes demanding time constraints of film and television.
Working in reality TV presents its own set of challenges in comparison to a fully animated program. To start, you need to seamlessly combine real-life interaction with animation — often showcasing what is there against what could be there. As animation continues to evolve, integrating with emerging technology, such as virtual reality, augmented reality and immersive platforms, understanding how users interact with the platform and how to best engage the audience will be crucial.
Here are four ways using animation can enhance a reality TV program:

 

Showcasing a World of Possibilities
With the introduction of 3D animation, we are able to create imagery so realistic that it is often hard to define what is “real” and what is virtually designed. The real anchor of hyper-realistic animation is the ability to add and play with light and shadows. Layers of light allow us to see reflection, to experience a room from a new angle and to challenge viewers to experience the room in both the daylight and at nighttime.
For example, within our work on Gusto TV’s Where To I Do, couples must select their perfect wedding venue — often viewing a blank space and trying to envision their theme inside it. Using animation, those spaces are brought to life in full, rich color, from dawn to the glaring midday sun to dusk and midnight — no additional film crew time required.

 

Speeds up Production Process
Gone are the days where studios are spending large budgets resetting room after room to showcase before-and-after options, particularly when it comes to renovation shows. It’s time-consuming and laborious. Working with an animation studio allows producers to showcase a renovated room three different ways, and the audience develops an early feel for the space without the need to see it physically set up.
It’s faster (with the right tools and technology to match TV timelines), allows more flexibility and eliminates the need to build costly sets for one-time use. Even outside of reality TV, the use of greenroom space, green stages and GCI technology allows a flexibility to filming that didn’t necessarily exist two decades ago.

 

Makes Viewers Part of the Program
If animation is done well, it should make the viewers feel more invested in the program — as if they are part of this experience. Animation should not break what is happening in reality. In order to make this happen, it is essential to have up-to-date software and hardware that bridges the gap between the vision and what is actually accomplished within each scene.
Software and hardware go hand-in-hand in creating high-quality animations. If the software is up to date and not the hardware, the work will be compromised as the rendering process will not be able to support the full project scope. One ripple in the wave of animation and the viewer is reminded that what they’re seeing doesn’t really exist.

 

Opens Doors to Immersive Experiences
Although we have scratched the surface of what’s possible when it comes to virtual reality, augmented reality and generating immersive experiences for viewers from the comfort of their living rooms, I anticipate there will be a wave of growth in this space over the next five years. Our studio is already building some of these capabilities into our current projects. Overall, studios and production companies are looking for new ways to engage an audience that is exposed to hours of content a day.
Rather than just simply viewing the animation of a wedding venue, viewers will be able to click through the space — guiding their own passage from point A to point B. They become the host of their own journey.
Programs of all genres are dazzling their audiences with the future of animation and reality TV is right there with it.
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Thanks for checking out this weeks’ blog post!
I’ll be back next week with a super cool new update 😀 
June 4, 2019
Love4

NEEZO Studios Wins 6 AVA Digital Awards + 1 Silver at The Nationals!

By Blog
Hey it's Chloé

Behind the Creativity: Blog 9

What an awesome way to start off the 2019 award season with  7 wins!
 
AVA DIGITAL AWARDS
I’m so excited to announce that NEEZO Studios has recently won 4 Platinum and 2 Gold 2019 AVA Digital Awards?
 
* Our Platinum winning projects are:
 
Animation – Jaguar and Land Rover
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh1uX1rPoYE)
 
Special Effects/Animation – The Westgate Residences
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YX_esA5uHA)
 
Animation – Elgin East
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrbaX6VagsA)
 
Augmented or Virtual Reality – West 5 Nature Walk (VR Experience)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gui_v1sfALI)
 
* Our Gold winning projects are:
 
Interactive Brand Experience – Avery Dennison Car Wrap Visualizer
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5NxgAsetWA)
 
NEEZO Studios Demo Reel
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9CN8ujwixo)
 
A lot of hard work and creativity between the team was put into completing all of the above projects, so to win as many awards as we did for them is such a great feeling for everyone who had a part in bringing these projects to life.
Each of these projects, as well as the demo reel, allowed NEEZO’s creativity to shine and show how diverse our studio’s work can really be. Be it animations, virtual reality, and even interactive configurators, we do it all.
 
THE NATIONALS
As our cherry on the top for the start of 2019’s award season, NEEZO also won a Silver award at NAHB’s 2019 “The Nationals”.  The project which won Silver was NEEZO Studios Geranium 3D Interactive Application.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LdZYRqzdAo)
 
OVERALL
 
There’s always an immense amount of pride and joy that comes with winning an award, but the fact that we won 7  in the first 3 months of 2019 is a completely different level and I’m so proud of that accomplishment.
 
A big thank you goes out to our amazing team at the studio who help put together our magic and to Marvin and Aline, who work hand-in-hand to lead NEEZO. Everything we do is a team effort, so here’s to everyone that’s a part of our team!
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Thanks for checking out this weeks’ blog post!
I’ll be back with a super cool new update 😀 
March 26, 2019
Love5

Customization For An Immersive Consumer Experience

By Blog
Hey it's Chloé

Behind the Creativity: Blog 8

Imagine yourself in an empty space with nothing on the walls, floor or ceiling, just a blank slate– where do you start? Most would begin by picturing the paint colour on the walls, the furniture to add in and what the end result would look like, but what if you could see the finished room with a computer and a few clicks of a mouse?

 

OVERVIEW

 

Whenever we decide to create new renderings, animations or interactive programs, we do so with the consumer in mind, asking questions like: “What will the designer need to show?”, “How will the viewer see it?”, “How will a developer use it?” and “What can we do to make the experience seamless, easy and useful?”. Today’s landscape sees an increasing demand to create customized experiences, for everything from designing every detail of a home to creating a brand-new look for a car.

 

At NEEZO Studios, we’ve created configurators – interactive programs that give users the opportunity for product customization – as a fully 3D experience. These easy-to-use tools were made to not only help manufacturers and retailers create unique pieces, but also for builders, interior designers and renovators to develop fully realized spaces collaboratively with purchasers.

 

The NEEZO-designed configurator software previews a variety of styles in different conditions – from how shingles will look mid-afternoon on a sunny day to car finishes at twilight in the countryside – so that users can see their vision come to life in 3D, through cinematic style views. We’ve adapted the software for many uses, including integrating car wrap technology like with our most recent project with Avery Dennison.

 

Now imagine yourself back in that empty, blank, canvas space with the same task, but instead of being able to use a computer, you can see (and easily switch out) design elements, fixtures, flooring, lighting & more. Given time, virtual reality technology transmitted through a device placed over your eyes, will allow the configurator program to become a fully immersive experience. Prospective owners could build their homes from the foundation to the rooftop shingles, test drive their customized car before purchasing, or assemble a new piece of furniture from start to finish. This technology would turn the customization process into an entirely interactive adventure.

 

MY EXPERIENCE WITH VIRTUAL REALITY / AUGMENTED REALITY

 

The future of technology is already upon us. Things have developed tremendously in the last two decades and they’ll only get more advanced hence why VR and AR becoming more prominently used.

 

The first Virtual Reality (VR) application that I tried out was of a new house. The cool thing about it was not only the fact that I was able to look around the outside of the property, I was also able to go inside the house and rearrange things however I pleased. VR applications can really be helpful when deciding whether or not to buy a house or an apartment. Potential buyers can view their potential future homes/apartments without even having to be there in person. Check out our official Home Customizer demo : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsRXOk5_Y4w

 

The first Augmented Reality (AR) application that I tried out was of a car, but get this, I was able to place the car and see it in reality in whichever location I was standing in without it actually being there. That’s the magic of AR. By looking through a special tablet that’s been configured to be able to locate where I was standing and then drop the car was a really cool experience. Check out our official Car Visualizer Demo : https://vimeo.com/145645609

 

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Thanks for checking out this weeks’ blog post!
I’ll be back next week with a super cool new update 😀 
January 22, 2019
Love2