Behind the Rankings | What Defines a Top 3D Rendering Company
I have been in the industry since 2009. I know what great works look like. Besides having a creative eye trained for 15 years, I also relied on some metrics to determine the best of the best in the 3D Rendering Industry. The metrics are:
- Years in the business– When a company witnessed the evolution and revolutions of the industry since 1995, you know that experience matters a lot compared to the ones that have landed in the business only for five years.
- Clientele– Big brands prefer to let the best people handle their projects. One way to assess a 3D rendering company is by looking at the caliber of its clientele they are serving.
- Innovation – Staying ahead in the industry requires constant innovation. A company that consistently introduces new techniques, tools, or approaches to 3D rendering demonstrates its commitment to progress and adaptation. This not only enhances the quality of work but also sets trends that others may follow.
- Client reviews and testimonials
- Founders profile – I got to meet many founders in the industry at D2 Conference . There you can learn how founders like Matthew Banister (Dbox) and many others think about the 3D Rendering services they offer. When you see industry leaders heading a company, you understand why certain 3D rendering companies have thrived.
- Projects they worked on– The scale of projects a company handles indicates its capabilities. Experience working with iconic architecture and successfully managing large projects shows it has the resources, skills, and experience for complex challenges, reflecting technical proficiency and coordination under pressure. Diverse projects build a versatile 3D Rendering Portfolio, showcasing adaptability across industries.
- Awards– Awards are a great indicator of a company standing out from the rest. I looked into the companies receiving high-value awards in the industry.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into my list of the top 3D rendering companies in the world.
1. NEOSCAPE
- Headquarters: Boston, MA
- Team Size: 51-200
- Founders: Rob MacLeod, Nils Norgren
- Founded: 1995
Architectural Design and Design Visualization, Skyscrapers, Luxury, Branding
Neoscape won six Indigo Design Awards for projects like 88 Wareham and 3WTC, including a gold in Mobile App design.
Notable Projects
2. DBox
- Headquarters: USA and UK
- Team Size: 51-200
- Founders: Matthew Bannister
- Founded: 1996
Architectural visualization and branding
Received several awards for their innovative approach to architectural visualization and branding, including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity award.
Notable Projects
3. Hayes Davidson
- Headquarters: United Kingdom
- Founder: Alan Davidson
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 1989
Architectural visualization, Planning, and Illustration
Recognized with the Architectural Visualization Award from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for their exceptional work in visualizing architectural projects.
Notable Projects
4. Brick Visual
- Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary
- Founder: András Káldos
- Team Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2012
Animations, Architectural visualizations, 2D & 3D floor plans, VR solutions, Architectural movies
Notable Projects
5. Mir
- Headquarters: Norway
- Founders: Mats Andersen and Trond Greve
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2000
Architectural Visualisation, CGI for printed media, Animation, and Virtual reality and augmented reality
Received several awards for their innovative approach to architectural visualization and branding, including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity award.
Notable Projects
6. Luxigon
- Headquarters: France, USA and Italy
- Founder: Eric de Broche des Combes
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 1604
Architectural visualization, Graphic design, and architecture competition
They participated in the "Wireframes: The Visualization of Architecture" exhibition at the A+D Museum in Los Angeles, showcasing their unique, artistic approach to architectural visualization.
Notable Projects
7. The Boundary
- Headquarters: London, England
- Founders: Henry Goss and Peter Guthrie
- Team Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2014
Architectural Visualisation, CGI for printed media, Animation, and Virtual reality and augmented reality
The Boundary, a London-based architectural visualization studio, has earned multiple awards, including the CGarchitect 3D Awards, Architectural 3D Awards, and Architizer A+ Awards, recognizing their excellence and innovation in architectural rendering.
Notable Projects
8. Berga & Gonzalez
- Headquarters: Barcelona, SpainTeam Size: 11-50Founders: Alberto Berga and Javier GonzalezFounded: 2003
Real Estate Marketing, Architectural Design and Visualization
Received several awards for their innovative approach to architectural visualization and branding, including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity award.
Notable Projects
9. CGRendering
- Founded: 2002
- Headquarters: Manalapan, NJ
- Team Size: 11-50
- Owner: Slava Priborkin
Architectural visualization and branding
Received several awards for their innovative approach to architectural visualization and branding, including the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity award.
Notable Projects
10. PixelFlakes
- Headquarters: London, England
- Founders: Matthew Reid
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2011
Architectural CGI, multimedia design, and web design
In 2022, they received the "Best Architectural Visualization Award" from Buildner. They also earned "Site of the Day" from Awwwards and "Website of the Day" from CSS Design Awards.
Notable Projects
More Leading 3D Rendering Companies
7CGI
- Headquarters: USA and Bangladesh
- Founder: Abdullah Al Baki
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2015
- Specialty: Affordable Architectural Visualization and 3D product rendering
- Why They Stand Out: Known for delivering high-quality renders at competitive prices, 7CGI caters to North American and European clients, offering fast turnaround times and a broad range of services.
- Notable Projects: 7CGI has delivered 3D renderings for clients across various industries. They created stunning catalog visuals for Graham & Green in the UK, focusing on lifelike furniture renders. For Braverman Jewelry, they captured intricate details in photorealistic images, perfect for high-quality marketing. In the Fuller Ave House Renovation project, they brought residential designs to life with detailed, realistic renderings. These projects highlight 7CGI’s skill in both 3D product Rendering and architectural visualization. You can explore more on their completed projects page.
Beauty and the Bit
- Headquarters: Madrid, Spain
- Founder: Victor Bonafonte
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2012
- Specialty: Conceptual Architectural Visualizations and Art Direction
- Why They Stand Out: Beauty and the Bit is known for its creative approach to architectural visualization, blending artistic concepts with storytelling to produce visually striking renders.
- Notable Projects: Beauty and The Bit works with the most notable architecture firms worldwide. They collaborated with V2S Architectes, Tenderboost, KHR Architecture and many more world-renowned companies.
Flood (formerly FloodSlicer)
- Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
- Founder: Daniel Flood
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2000
- Specialty: Real Estate and Urban Development Visualization
- Why They Stand Out: Floodslicer specializes in large-scale urban and architectural visualizations. They work extensively with architects and city planners.
- Notable Projects: In Sydney, they captured Poly Australia’s modern design with Grimshaw architects, while in Melbourne, they showcased a luxury residential project with Gurner TM and Elenberg Fraser. Their work with Dubai World Trade Centre highlighted a dynamic vision for Dubai’s business district.
Pinnacle Visions
- Headquarters: New York, USA
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2005
- Specialty: High-quality residential and Commercial Rendering
- Why They Stand Out: Pinnacle Visions is known for its photorealistic renderings that capture intricate details, making each visualization appear lifelike. Their expertise spans both residential and commercial projects.
- Notable Projects: Pinnacle Visions successfully completed the project of PODIA Tower in Egypt’s New Capital and did Alamein Towers animations for New Alamein. These projects reflect their expertise in architectural visuals.
Wax
- Headquarters: Paris, France
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2010
- Specialty: Creative Architectural and Product Visualization
- Why They Stand Out: Wax takes a creative, design-focused approach to both architectural and product visualization.
- Notable Projects: WAX has created standout visuals for top brands. For Nike House of Innovation, they captured the brand’s energy with bold, interactive visuals. Their work for Bang & Olufsen highlights a tech-inspired aesthetic, while for Maison Francis Kurkdjian, they conveyed luxury and elegance.
Tiltpixel
- Headquarters: Houston, USA
- Founding Partner: Corey Harper
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2013
- Specialty: Architectural Visualization, VR, and Interactive Experiences
- Why They Stand Out: Tilpixel experts in integrating VR and interactive experiences within their architectural visualizations. They offer an excellent experience for clients, making their renderings highly engaging for real estate marketing.
- Notable Projects: Post Office Square in Boston and Capital Tower in Houston are among their standout projects, showcasing their skill in delivering high-quality visualizations.
Somewhere | from Uniform
- Headquarters: Manchester, UK
- Founder: Nick Bentley
- Team Size: 51-200
- Founded: 2015
- Specialty: Architectural and Interior Visualization with a Brand Focus
- Why They Stand Out: Somewhere by Uniform combines branding with visualization, crafting visuals that showcase the architecture and brand identity of the space.
- Notable Projects: Notable Projects: For Liverpool Vision, they helped revitalize Liverpool’s image, while in Peninsula Place and Upper Riverside for Knight Dragon in London, they used CGI, film, and virtual tours to showcase landmark spaces. On Ramhan Island with Eagle Hills, they captured luxury and natural beauty.
Fat for Studio
- Headquarters: London, UK
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2012
- Specialty: Conceptual and Artistic Visualization
- Why They Stand Out: Fat for Studio focuses on the artistic aspects of architectural visualization, delivering bold, conceptual visuals.
- Notable Projects: Fat for Studio has created architectural visuals for high-profile European projects. They collaborated with architects and developers who seek unique and art-driven renderings.
Transparent House
- Headquarters: San Francisco, USA
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2004
- Specialty: High-End Architectural Visualization and 3D Product Experiences
- Why They Stand Out: Their expertise spans from luxury real estate projects to detailed 3D product visuals.
- Notable Projects: Transparent House has produced outstanding visuals for top brands. For OnePlus N20, they crafted a futuristic video highlighting the phone’s design. In partnership with HP, they created campaign images showcasing HP’s tech products in detailed. For the Dallas North End project with Hart Howerton, they captured the vibrancy of this urban hub with their rendering.
Steelblue
- Headquarters: San Francisco, USA
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2010
- Specialty: Architectural Visualization and Urban Planning
- Why They Stand Out: Steelblue specializes in high-quality architectural renderings, animations, and interactive experiences. They work for large-scale real estate development companies.
- Notable Projects: Steelblue worked for Big Green in San Francisco, and they partnered with Build Inc. to showcase shoreline redevelopment at India Basin. Their work on Transit Alley brought a mixed-use skyscraper to life for Hines and Pelli Clarke Pelli, highlighting its fit in the city’s skyline. In Sacramento Valley Station, they collaborated with Perkins&Will to create a sustainable, people-centered transit hub in Sacramento.
Arqui9
- Headquarters: London, UK
- Founder: Pedro F.
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2011
- Specialty: Cinematic Architectural Visualization
- Why They Stand Out: Arqui9 is well known for its cinematic style in architectural visualization. Their work is defined by powerful visuals that capture dramatic lighting and composition.
- Notable Projects: Arqui9 has delivered striking visuals for major projects worldwide. For Massachusetts General Hospital with NBBJ, they emphasized modernity. In Neom with AEDAS, they showcased Saudi Arabia’s futuristic architecture. Their work with Gensler in Austin captures sleekness, while their visuals for Bugatti Tower in Dubai highlight luxury and sophistication.
Kilograph
- Headquarters: USA
- Founder: Keely Colcleugh
- Team Size: 11-50
- Founded: 2009
- Specialty: Architectural Visualization, Video Production, Animation, Filming, and Green Screen
- Why They Stand Out: Kilograph specializes in creating unique, visually engaging narratives around real estate developments and urban projects. They integrate 3D rendering, branding, and animation.
- Notable Projects: Kilograph’s standout projects include visualizing the LA Aerial Rapid Transit system, which connects Union Station to Dodger Stadium. For Radford Studios, they illustrated a modernized campus with new facilities for Hackman Capital Partners. Kilograph also partnered with Foster + Partners to visualize the California High-Speed Rail.