Architectural Storytelling: Real-Time Visualization, Sketching, and AI with Dan Stine

Dan Stine, Director of Design Technology at Lake|Flato Architects, brings a unique blend of experience as a registered architect, educator, author, and international speaker. His work pushes the boundaries of architectural storytelling, seamlessly combining real-time visualization, sketching, and AI. This approach will be featured in his hands-on workshop at the upcoming ASAI conference in Tokyo.

Lake|Flato Architects: Cultivating Innovation and Rich Narratives

Lake|Flato Architects stands out as a top-ranked American design practice recognized for both design and performance excellence. With offices in San Antonio and Austin, and a strong collaborative culture, the firm's accolades include the AIA Gold Medal for its founders, David Lake and Ted Flato, as well as Architect Magazine’s No. 1 U.S. firm ranking. Signature projects include:

• House Zero: A 3D printed house in Austin, named one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions.
• San Antonio International Airport Terminal: A $1.6 billion project spotlighting design and technology integration.

The entire team, not just specialists, is equipped to shape compelling visual narratives for clients.

Visualization Tools: Instant Feedback with Enscape

Enscape is seamlessly integrated into Lake|Flato’s design workflow, enabling real-time rendering across Revit, SketchUp, and Rhino. As architects make changes, Enscape provides near-instant visual feedback—allowing teams to explore ideas, refine designs, and present concepts visually to clients. For a more artistic and inviting touch, tools like Photoshop are used to add watercolor-style effects to the final images.

Hand Sketching: The Human Touch in Digital Design

Despite advanced digital tools, hand drawing remains a core part of design communication at Lake|Flato. Designers frequently overlay hand sketches on computer-generated renderings. This gives presentations a warm, iterative feel, assuring clients the design can still evolve.

Immersive Experiences: VR, AR, and Beyond

Virtual reality enhances client understanding, using wireless Quest headsets and streaming powered by NVIDIA CloudXR. In addition, HoloLens integrations bring BIM models into mixed reality for interactive, on-site holograms. These methods create deeper engagement and spatial insight.

AI tools like ChatGPT and Veras (now part of Chaos Group) enable rapid image creation and transformation. Designers produce hand-drawn overlays or re-style existing renderings with simple prompts. While current AI tools sometimes introduce perspective or proportion shifts, they accelerate brainstorming and creative exploration.

Artistic Presentation Methods

Every project progresses from basic BIM models through Enscape rendering, then on to Photoshop, and sometimes hand-drawn sketch overlays. This layered story blends technical precision with human artistry—an approach that signals the design isn’t “locked in” and welcomes ongoing input.

Learn More: Join the ASAI Conference

To dive deeper into architectural storytelling and visualization, consider joining the ASAI Conference in Tokyo from October 1-3, 2025. Dan Stine’s hands-on workshop promises valuable insights from the front lines of design technology. Follow his updates and writings for continuous inspiration.