How GenAI is Transforming Design Teams’ Visualizations

As someone leading digital transformation, I’ve been very keen on AI advancements and have leveraged many different types, with one of the most common being LLMs such as ChatGPT. Over the last year or so, I have seen firsthand how Generative AI (GenAI) is changing how design teams visualize and communicate ideas as it becomes more easily accessible for people with the likes of Midjourny, Dall-E, Canva, Stable Diffusion and integrated tools for 3D modelling such as #Veras by EvolveLAB .

But to truly embrace AI, you need to realise that it’s not just a new tool—it’s a whole new way of thinking about design, creativity, and collaboration. The integration of #GenAI into our processes has dramatically improved how we work, speeding up design iterations and unlocking new creative possibilities.

Speeding Up Design and Rendering

One of the biggest benefits GenAI brings to the table is speed and, with it, the easiest ways to get buying from stakeholders within your business. The days of spending days (or even weeks) on detailed visualizations are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Custom #LORA models empower tools like #Midjourney and #StableDiffusion and let our teams create high-quality, detailed visual concepts in just a few hours or minutes. At HBA Digital, we’ve even managed to cut rendering time by up to 90%. What used to take ages can now be done in no time, meaning we can explore more design options and get client feedback faster or even workshop ideas in real-time with the design team and client utilising custom models.

This speed is critical, especially when deadlines are tight. The ability to rapidly generate and refine ideas means we can present a range of options to clients in real-time, improving both the quality of the work and the overall experience. Once you start to use AI as part of the process, in the hands of the designer with bespoke trained models, this becomes a really powerful tool.

Beyond just working faster, GenAI is opening up whole new realms of creativity for our teams. AI doesn’t just replicate what’s been done before—it can suggest entirely new ideas based on simple inputs like colour schemes, themes, or materials. It allows us to explore fresh concepts that might not have been thought of otherwise.

At HBA Digital, we’ve developed custom AI models that are trained to reflect our signature design style. This gives our designers a powerful tool to push creative boundaries while staying true to the timeless HBA aesthetic. The result? More innovative designs that still feel uniquely “us.” Do we always use Ai? No, but it can really help in the early stages of visualising the ideas without the need to create complex 3D rendering models.

Customization Made Easy

Personalization is key in today’s design world, and GenAI makes this easier than ever. We are training AI models on our past projects to generate visuals that fit seamlessly with each client’s brand and style. Whether we’re working on projects in different regions with diverse cultural preferences or adapting designs for specific clients, AI lets us tailor our visualizations quickly and easily.

For example, we’ve integrated GenAI into our BIM workflows, allowing us to create custom furniture and layouts on the fly. This level of flexibility helps us deliver exactly what our clients need while staying efficient.

Cutting Costs and freeing up design time.

AI isn’t just about faster, better designs—it’s also helping us save on costs. By automating repetitive tasks, we can reduce the time and resources needed to produce high-quality results. This efficiency leads to significant time savings, which can then be used on design inputs and iterations.

The Future of AI in Design

Looking ahead, GenAI's role in design will only grow. At HBA Digital, we’re exploring how AI can enhance all our processes, not only renders. AI isn’t here to replace designers—it’s here to enhance what we do, giving us more time to focus on creativity, collaboration, and delivering top-quality designs.

Generative AI is changing the game, and at HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates , we’re excited to be at the forefront of this transformation.