Manhattan in the golden hour
Rooftop bars and cafés set the scene, with warm light just before sunset falling across metal surfaces and a wood deck; planting and a few accessories complete the urban setting. EMU asked for the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop, so we first arranged café chairs, lounge tables and bar stools in sketches that established a shared setting for both wide views and close-ups — light and shadow separating the dark furniture pieces so their lines stay clear against the city.
Preparing models for close-ups
We began with the 3D models supplied by EMU and refined them for the planned views, adjusting geometry and topology so curves, edges and the fine metal mesh would read clearly at close range. Spatial depth, camera angles and light were developed together — warm evening light sets the mood while the dark furniture keeps its definition, with one consistent color direction connecting the individual views.
Atmosphere with room for the product
The imagery shows the furniture in context — at a table, along the bar, in a lounge grouping — with only a few people appearing, enough to bring life to the setting without drawing attention from the collection. Wide views establish the location; details reveal edges, open metal mesh and the way they catch the light, with the gallery also including catalog spreads that place the renderings within a shared layout.
A setting shaped around the collection
The series shows how architecture and CGI for outdoor furniture can work together — developed from EMU's brief, the setting gives the collection a spatial context that carries through the different views, with the skyline supporting the furniture rather than competing with it.