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In a victory forsurveillance capitalism, Apple may be forced to leave its users in Europe vulnerable to rapacious ad data collection in response to intense lobbying by politicians in the region. Apple warns these lobbying efforts mean theApp Tracking Transparency(ATT) feature, which helps prevent apps fromtracking what you doacross services and websites for advertising purposes, might need to be disabled.Apple may be forced to withdraw ATTATT gives people the chance to find out what data firms are collecting about them, forces the companies to openly request permission to do so, and gives users protection when they wont honor such requests.Intense lobbying efforts in Germany, Italy and other countries in Europe may force us to withdraw this feature to the detriment of European consumers, Apple said in a statement provided to theGerman Press Agency.In Germany, officials say the design of ATT could violate regulations. Apple has proposed various fixes, but these have not been accepted so far and those that have been suggested by regulators are complex and would undermine ATT.Its hard to imagine who might be behind this intense lobbying effort.Shortly after Apple introduced ATT in 2020,Facebook/Metabegan to take out full page ads in which it claimed the feature would be bad for small business. Ad agencies complained, too, presumably because their data broking companies would find it harder to gather dataon people.What some companies call personalized experiences are often veiled attempts to gather as much data as possible about individuals, build extensive profiles on them, and then monetize those profiles,Apple wrote in 2020.The importance of privacyApple has always pushed hard on the need for user privacy.Apple CEO Tim Cook has spokenabout the threat of asurveillance economyand Craig Federighi, Apples software vice president, gave anextensive speech on the topicat the European Data Protection and Privacy Conference in 2020.The mass centralization of data puts privacy at risk, he said then, no matter whos collecting it and what their intentions might be. So ,we believe Apple should have as little data about our customers as possible.Now, others take the opposite approach. They gather, sell, and hoard as much of your personal information as they can. The result is a data-industrial complex, where shadowy actors work to infiltrate the most intimate parts of your life and exploit whatever they can find whether to sell you something, to radicalize your views, or worse. Thats unacceptable. And the solution has to start with not collecting the data in the first place.What Europe says is not what Europe doesSince then, weve seen European and other regulators totally ignore Apples arguments concerning consumer privacy sometimes in direct contradiction to GDPR in favor ofnebulous ideas around competition. What that really means is that while they claim to care about privacy with GDPR, they seem happy to subvert it to foster the evolution of a surveillance-based ad economy.ATT is an important tool to help both empower customers and boost awareness of the need to fight for privacy.Its existence calls to mind a famous comment from Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, who once said: I believe people are smart and some people want to share more data than other people do.Ask them. Ask them every time. Make them tell you to stop asking them if they get tired of your asking them. Let them know precisely what youre going to do with their data.Choice for billionairesIts not the first time Meta seems to haveheld the day in the EU. Apple has complained that its competitor has attempted to exploit some of the forced changes of the EUs Digital Markets Act to attempt to exfiltrate user data. Regulators seem to be pretty deaf to that accusation, too, potentially showing the kind of industries they hope to nurture in Europe with the DMA. What isnt clear is whether those are the kinds of businesses Europeanswant them to support and where is the choice to stick with pure Apple if they want?We will continue to urge the relevant authorities in Germany, Italy and across Europe to allow Apple to continue providing this important privacy tool to our users, Apple said.I wish them luck in that struggle.Follow me on social media! Join me onBlueSky, LinkedIn, andMastodon.

Boyd Gaming saw revenues reach a massive $1 billion in its third-quarter of the year, with the FanDuel stake sale boosting earnings.In the third quarter of 2024, the revenues sat at $961.2 million. As for the net income, the third quarter period of this year saw a reported net income of $1.4 billion which equates to $17.81 per share. In 2024, for the same period, the company reported $131.1 million in net income.In its third quarter results, the company says its net income was impacted by a $1.4 billion after tax gain from the sale of the companys equity interest in FanDuel, and $65.1 million in non-cash, pretax long-lived asset impairment charges.In the summer, it was confirmed that Boyd Gaming had completed its agreement to sell its 5% equity share in FanDuel to Flutter. The transaction means that Flutter now has full ownership of the US sports betting brand.The company still owns 28 gaming properties across ten states.Boyd Gaming sale of FanDuel holding took place this summer ahead of Q3The company president and CEO, Keith Smith, explained the figures: During the third quarter, our Company continued to achieve revenue and Adjusted EBITDAR growth after adjusting for our recent FanDuel transaction.These results were driven by year-over-year growth in play from our core customers, improving trends in play from our retail customers, our efficient operations, and our ongoing capital investment program.As a result, we saw healthy growth in gaming revenues across all three property operating segments during the quarter. At the same time, we continued our balanced approach to capital allocation, returning $175 million to shareholders during the quarter while maintaining the strongest balance sheet in our Companys history.In all, we are encouraged by the strength of our business and remain well-positioned to continue creating long-term value for our shareholders.Boyd Gamings adjusted earnings for the third quarter of 2025 were $139.1 million, compared to $139.3 million for the same period in 2024. Total Adjusted EBITDAR was $321.8 million in the third quarter of 2025, versus $336.6 million in the third quarter of 2024. Results for the third quarter of 2025 reflect lower market-access fees as a result of the FanDuel transaction, the report states.Featured Image: Via Boyd Gaming Corporation on FacebookThe post Boyd Gaming reaches $1 billion revenues in Q3, report states appeared first on ReadWrite.

MIT Technology Reviews Whats Next series looks across industries, trends, and technologies to give you a first look at the future. You can read the rest of them here.In the early 2020s, a little-known aquaculture company in Portland, Maine, snagged more than $50 million by pitching a plan to harness nature to fight back against climate change. The company, Running Tide, said it could sink enough kelp to the seafloor to sequester a billion tons of carbon dioxide by this year, according to one of its early customers.Instead, the business shut down its operations last summer, marking the biggest bust to date in the nascent carbon removal sector.Its demise was the most obvious sign of growing troubles and dimming expectations for a space that has spawned hundreds of startups over the last few years. A handful of other companies have shuttered, downsized, or pivoted in recent months as well. Venture investments have flagged. And the collective industry hasnt made a whole lot more progress toward that billion-ton benchmark.The hype phase is over and the sector is sliding into the turbulent business trough that follows, warns Robert Hglund, cofounder of CDR.fyi, a public-benefit corporation that provides data and analysis on the carbon removal industry.Were past the peak of expectations, he says. And with that, we could see a lot of companies go out of business, which is natural for any industry.The open question is: If the carbon removal sector is heading into a painful if inevitable clearing-out cycle, where will it go from there?The odd quirk of carbon removal is that it never made a lot of sense as a business proposition: Its an atmospheric cleanup job, necessary for the collective societal good of curbing climate change. But it doesnt produce a service or product that any individual or organization strictly needsor is especially eager to pay for.To date, a number of businesses have voluntarily agreed to buy tons of carbon dioxide that companies intend to eventually suck out of the air. But whether theyre motivated by sincere climate concerns or pressures from investors, employees, or customers, corporate do-goodism will only scale any industry so far.Most observers argue that whether carbon removal continues to bobble along or transforms into something big enough to make a dent in climate change will depend largely on whether governments around the world decide to pay for a whole, whole lot of itor force polluters to.Private-sector purchases will never get us there, says Erin Burns, executive director of Carbon180, a nonprofit that advocates for the removal and reuse of carbon dioxide. We need policy; it has to be policy.Whats the problem?The carbon removal sector began to scale up in the early part of this decade, as increasingly grave climate studies revealed the need to dramatically cut emissions and suck down vast amounts of carbon dioxide to keep global warming in check.Specifically, nations may have to continually remove as much as 11 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year by around midcentury to have a solid chance of keeping the planet from warming past 2 C over preindustrial levels, according to a UN climate panel report in 2022.A number of startups sprang up to begin developing the technology and building the infrastructure that would be needed, trying out a variety of approaches like sinking seaweed or building carbon-dioxide-sucking factories.And they soon attracted customers. Companies including Stripe, Google, Shopify, Microsoft, and others began agreeing to pre-purchase tons of carbon removal, hoping to stand up the nascent industry and help offset their own climate emissions. Venture investments also flooded into the space, peaking in 2023 at nearly $1 billion, according to data provided by PitchBook.From early on, players in the emerging sector sought to draw a sharp distinction between conventional carbon offset projects, which studies have shown frequently exaggerate climate benefits, and durable carbon removal that could be relied upon to suck down and store away the greenhouse gas for decades to centuries. Theres certainly a big difference in the price: While buying carbon offsets through projects that promise to preserve forests or plant trees might cost a few dollars per ton, a ton of carbon removal can run hundreds to thousands of dollars, depending on the approach.That high price, however, brings big challenges. Removing 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year at, say, $300 a ton adds up to a global price tag of $3 trilliona year.Which brings us back to the fundamental question: Who should or would foot the bill to develop and operate all the factories, pipelines, and wells needed to capture, move, and bury billions upon billions of tons of carbon dioxide?The state of the marketThe market is still growing, as companies voluntarily purchase tons of carbon removal to make strides toward their climate goals. In fact, sales reached an all-time high in the second quarter of this year, mostly thanks to several massive purchases by Microsoft.But industry sources fear that demand isnt growing fast enough to support a significant share of the startups that have formed or even the projects being built, undermining the momentum required to scale the sector up to the size needed by midcentury.To date, all those hundreds of companies that have spun up in recent years have disclosed deals to sell some 38 million tons of carbon dioxide pulled from the air, according to CDR.fyi. Thats roughly the amount the US pumps out in energy-related emissions every three days.And theyve only delivered around 940,000 tons of carbon removal. The US emits that much carbon dioxide in less than two hours. (Not every transaction is publicly announced or revealed to CDR.fyi, so the actual figures could run a bit higher.)Another concern is that the same handful of big players continue to account for the vast majority of the overall purchases, leaving the health and direction of the market dependent on their whims and fortunes.Most glaringly, Microsoft has agreed to buy 80% of all the carbon removal purchased to date, according to CDR.fyi. The second-biggest buyer is Frontier, a coalition of companies that includes Google, Meta, Stripe, and Shopify, which has committed to spend $1 billion.If you strip out those two buyers, the market shrinks from 16 million tons under contract during the first half of this year to just 1.2 million, according to data provided to MIT Technology Review by CDR.fyi.Signs of troubleMeanwhile, the investor appetite for carbon removal is cooling. For the 12-month period ending in the second quarter of 2025, venture capital investments in the sector fell more than 13% from the same period last year, according to data provided by PitchBook. That tightening funding will make it harder and harder for companies that arent bringing in revenue to stay afloat.Other companies that have already shut down include the carbon removal marketplace Nori, the direct air capture company Noya and Alkali Earth, which was attempting to use industrial by-products to tie up carbon dioxide.Still other businesses are struggling. Climeworks, one of the first companies to build direct-air-capture (DAC) factories, announced it was laying off 10% of its staff in May, as it grapples with challenges on several fronts.The companys plans to collaborate on the development of a major facility in the US have been at least delayed as the Trump administration has held back tens of millions of dollars in funding granted in 2023 under the Department of Energys Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs program. It now appears the government could terminate the funding altogether, along with perhaps tens of billions of dollars worth of additional grants previously awarded for a variety of other US carbon removal and climate tech projects.Market rumors have surfaced, and Climeworks is prepared for all scenarios, Christoph Gebald, one of the companys co-CEOs, said in a previous statement to MIT Technology Review. The need for DAC is growing as the world falls short of its climate goals and were working to achieve the gigaton capacity that will be needed.But purchases from direct-air-capture projects fell nearly 16% last year and account for just 8% of all carbon removal transactions to date. Buyers are increasingly looking to categories that promise to deliver tons faster and for less money, notably including burying biochar or installing carbon capture equipment on bioenergy plants. (Read more in my recent story on that method of carbon removal, known as BECCS, here.)CDR.fyi recently described the climate for direct air capture in grim terms: The sector has grown rapidly, but the honeymoon is over: Investment and sales are falling, while deployments are delayed across almost every company.Most DAC companies, the organization added, will fold or be acquired.Whats next?In the end, most observers believe carbon removal isnt really going to take off unless governments bring their resources and regulations to bear. That could mean making direct purchases, subsidizing these sectors, or getting polluters to pay the costs to do sofor instance, by folding carbon removal into market-based emissions reductions mechanisms like cap-and-trade systems.More government support does appear to be on the way. Notably, the European Commission recently proposed allowing domestic carbon removal within its EU Emissions Trading System after 2030, integrating the sector into one of the largest cap-and-trade programs. The system forces power plants and other polluters in member countries to increasingly cut their emissions or pay for them over time, as the cap on pollution tightens and the price on carbon rises.That could create incentives for more European companies to pay direct-air-capture or bioenergy facilities to draw down carbon dioxide as a means of helping them meet their climate obligations.There are also indications that the International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN organization that establishes standards for the aviation industry, is considering incorporating carbon removal into its market-based mechanism for reducing the sectors emissions. That might take several forms, including allowing airlines to purchase carbon removal to offset their use of traditional jet fuel or requiring the use of carbon dioxide obtained through direct air capture in some share of sustainable aviation fuels.Meanwhile, Canada has committed to spend $10 million on carbon removal and is developing a protocol to allow direct air capture in its national offsets program. And Japan will begin accepting several categories of carbon removal in its emissions trading system.Despite the Trump administrations efforts to claw back funding for the development of carbon-sucking projects, the US does continue to subsidize storage of carbon dioxide, whether it comes from power plants, ethanol refineries, direct-air-capture plants, or other facilities. The so-called 45Q tax credit, which is worth up to $180 a ton, was among the few forms of government support for climate-tech-related sectors that survived in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill. In fact, the subsidies for putting carbon dioxide to other uses increased.Even in the current US political climate, Burns is hopeful that local or federal legislators will continue to enact policies that support specific categories of carbon removal in the regions where they make the most sense, because the projects can provide economic growth and jobs as well as climate benefits.I actually think there are lots of models for what carbon removal policy can look like that arent just things like tax incentives, she says. And I think that this particular political moment gives us the opportunity in a unique way to start to look at what those regionally specific and pathway specific policies look like.The dangers aheadBut even if more nations do provide the money or enact the laws necessary to drive the business of durable carbon renewal forward, there are mounting concerns that a sector conceived as an alternative to dubious offset markets could increasingly come to replicate their problems.Various incentives are pulling in that direction.Financial pressures are building on suppliers to deliver tons of carbon removal. Corporate buyers are looking for the fastest and most affordable way of hitting their climate goals. And the organizations that set standards and accredit carbon removal projects often earn more money as the volume of purchases rises, creating clear conflicts of interest.Some of the same carbon registries that have long signed off on carbon offset projects have begun creating standards or issuing credits for various forms of carbon removal, including Verra and Gold Standard.Reliable assurance that a projects declared ton of carbon savings equates to a real ton of emissions removed, reduced, or avoided is crucial, Cynthia Giles, a senior EPA advisor under President Biden, and Cary Coglianese, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote in a recent editorial in Science. Yet extensive research from many contexts shows that auditors selected and paid by audited organizations often produce results skewed toward those entities interests.Noah McQueen, the director of science and innovation at Carbon180, has stressed that the industry must strive to counter the mounting credibility risks, noting in a recent LinkedIn post: Growth matters, but growth without integrity isnt growth at all.In an interview, McQueen said that heading off the problem will require developing and enforcing standards to truly ensure that carbon removal projects deliver the climate benefits promised. McQueen added that to gain trust, the industry needs to earn buy-in from the communities in which these projects are built and avoid the environmental and health impacts that power plants and heavy industry have historically inflicted on disadvantaged communities.Getting it right will require governments to take a larger role in the sector than just subsidizing it, argues David Ho, a professor at the University of Hawaii at Mnoa who focuses on ocean-based carbon removal.He says there should be a massive, multinational research drive to determine the most effective ways of mopping up the atmosphere with minimal environmental or social harm, likening it to a Manhattan Project (minus the whole nuclear bomb bit).If were serious about doing this, then lets make it a government effort, he says, so that you can try out all the things, determine what works and what doesnt, and you dont have to please your VCs or concentrate on developing [intellectual property] so you can sell yourself to a fossil-fuel company.Ho adds that theres a moral imperative for the worlds historically biggest climate polluters to build and pay for the carbon-sucking and storage infrastructure required to draw down billions of tons of greenhouse gas. Thats because the worlds poorest, hottest nations, which have contributed the least to climate change, will nevertheless face the greatest dangers from intensifying heat waves, droughts, famines, and sea-level rise.It should be seen as waste management for the waste were going to dump on the Global South, he says, because theyre the people who will suffer the most from climate change.Correction (October 24): An earlier version of this article referred to Noya as a carbon removal marketplace. It was a direct air capture company.

Apple and NBCUniversal today announced the launch of the Apple TV and Peacock Bundle, available beginning October 20.

The Cherry XTRFY MX 10.1 may be a large mechanical keyboard and a bit expensive, but it is absolutely one of the best to come out from the manufacturer with good but not perfect Mac support.Cherry XTRFY MX 10.1 ReviewCherry carries the reputation of being one of the first manufacturers to produce keyboards and peripherals for home computing. It has a production history dating back to the vintage arcade machines of the 1950s.For decades, it has produced top-quality computer keyboards and accessories. As someone with personal experience testing Cherry products, I was excited to be asked to look at one of their newest low-profile mechanical keyboards aimed at macOS and Windows users: The Cherry XTRFY MX 10.1. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

These annual rankings were last updated on October 24, 2025. Want to see your firm on next years list? Continue reading for more on how you can improve your studios ranking.Chicago is near the top of many enthusiasts lists or architectural pilgrimages. After being destroyed by a fire in 1871, like a phoenix, Chicago rose from its ashes, and in the process, it became an urban incubator for skyscraper design. Throughout the next several decades, architects explored the possibilities of steel frame construction and plate glass. Architects like Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright and Ludwig Mies pioneered novel theories and designs, in the process devising methods for erecting taller and taller buildings with unique ways of expressing their structural prowess.Fast forward to today, and Chicago remains an influential producer in the architectural world. More and more, the city has turned its attention to landscape architecture and the architecture of public places. This urban-oriented approach is apparent in many leading firms found in the following list.With so many architecture firms to choose from, its challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Chicago based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.How are these architecture firms ranked?The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firms level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firms ranking, in order of priority:The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2025)The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Project of the Day (2009 to 2025)The number of projects selected as Featured Project (2009 to 2025)The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2025)Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Chicago architecture firms throughout the year.Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in Chicago:30. OKW Architects OKW ArchitectsOKW Architects is in the business of reimagining, reinventing, and repositioning. We use our design and business acumen to improve the built environment in creative and imaginative ways.Some of OKW Architects most prominent projects include:15 E Oak, Chicago, IllinoisSpecialized Lincoln Park, Chicago, IllinoisTime Out Market, Chicago, IllinoisHarlem Irving Plaza, Norridge, IllinoisEataly, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped OKW Architects achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 16 29. Earles Architects and Associates (EAA) Earles Architects and Associates (EAA)Innovating Successful Environments is what inspires us. Established in 1991, Earles Architects and Associates (EAA) is a full-service architectural design firm offering a wide range of architectural, interior design and planning services. EAA has years of experience with a variety of clients in the corporate, tenant development, healthcare, institutional, industrial and retail/hospitality sectors.Innovation is at the core of every architectural design solution we create and evident in the thousands of projects weve successfully delivered. We are strong proponents of the team approach, partnering well not only with our clients but with everyone involved; from brokers and building owners to engineers and contractors.Some of Earles Architects and Associates (EAA)s most prominent projects include:Sterling Bay , Chicago, IllinoisStarbucks , Chicago, IllinoisGreat Dane Trucking , Chicago, IllinoisPhusion Projects , Chicago, IllinoisEmbeya , Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Earles Architects and Associates (EAA) achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 17 28. Range Design & Architecture James John JetelRange Design is a Chicago-based architecture firm focusing on the intersection of art, architecture, design and landscape.Some of Range Design & Architectures most prominent projects include:Nothing Design Co. Headquarters, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Range Design & Architecture achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 1 Total Projects 1 27. Searl Lamaster Howe Architects Searl Lamaster Howe ArchitectsSearl Lamaster Howe Architects is committed to realizing inspiring spaces for clients who value where they live, work, play and learn. Each project is approached as a unique opportunity with a distinct set of needs and aspirations. Client collaboration at each step of the design and construction process is key to the quality of the offices work.A projects aesthetic is complemented and shaped by a detailed study of program, context, technology, and budget. The studio shares a commitment to creativity, innovation, sustainability, detail, and materiality. The firm portfolio includes residential, commercial and institutional projects that range from master planning to renovations to restorations to new construction; it is a member of the United States Green Building Council and offers full LEED services.Some of Searl Lamaster Howe Architects most prominent projects include:Harbert Cottage, MichiganPearson Residence, Chicago, IllinoisSeneca Road House, Chicago, IllinoisMies Residence, Chicago, IllinoisBIGA The following statistics helped Searl Lamaster Howe Architects achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: Total Projects 20 26. Bailey Edward Bailey EdwardBailey Edward is a purpose-driven, forward-thinking, and award-winning architecture and engineering firm that offers creative design solutions for the way people live, work and learn. Their innovative team employs an integrated and effective design approach to respond to the needs of the public. Every project is approached with a sense of social contract, purpose and a promise to deliver clients creative and responsive solutions.Founded in 1991, the Illinois-based firm practices throughout the Midwest with offices in Chicago, Fox River Grove and Champaign. Every project is approached with a sense of social contract, purpose and a promise to deliver clients creative and responsive solutions.Some of Bailey Edwards most prominent projects include:Barbara Vick Early Learning Branch, Chicago, IllinoisDepartment of Veterans Affairs Federal Health Care Center Community Living Courtyard, North Chicago, IllinoisIsmaili Jamatkhana House of Worship Glenview, Glenview, IllinoisUniversity of Illinois at Chicago Richard J. Daley Library Corridor Oasis Renovation, Chicago, IllinoisIllinois Army National Guard Readiness Center and Army Aviation Support Facility, Kankakee, Illinois The following statistics helped Bailey Edward achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 33 25. Palmyra Palmyra GerakiPALMYRA is a woman-owned full-service architecture practice based in Chicago.The practice, like its founder, is named after the city of Palmyra in present-day Homs Governorate, Syria, a city with an independent streak and an incredibly rich multicultural history. The archaeological site of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was partially destroyed by ISIS in 2015. Even in its ruinous state, Palmyra is a palimpsest, if there ever was any. In our practice we believe that we are never creating in a vacuum and the name of our practice serves as a reminder of that.Architecture always starts with a problem: sometimes an eminently practical one and sometimes an abstract or conceptual one.Some of Palmyras most prominent projects include:Not All White Walls, San Francisco, CaliforniaBy the Book, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Palmyra achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 2 24. moss design moss designmoss is a multidisciplinary architecture and urban design studio. We provide a wide range of services and expertise throughout the project, from site selection to design, project management, construction, and completion. Our credentials include WBE certification, LEED accreditation, and Illinois, Michigan, and California licensure. Our work is diverse by design, allowing us to explore the best design solutions across various project types, including residential, commercial, hospitality, interiors, urban planning, and custom furniture.Our approach is both collaborative and customized. We seek collaboration with owners and developers looking for more than a set of drawings but true partners in a comprehensive process. We explore work that stretches the boundaries of what an architect typically does, tapping the experience weve gained and generating innovative and transformative solutions.Some of moss designs most prominent projects include:Begyle Brewing Company Tasting Room, Chicago, Illinois5411 Winthrop Flats, Chicago, IllinoisVic Loft, Chicago, IllinoisBar Pastoral, Chicago, IllinoisErie Loft, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped moss design achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 15 23. Pappageorge Haymes Partners Darris Lee Harris PhotographySince 1981, the architecture of Pappageorge Haymes Partners (PH) has had a profound influence on attitudes toward the rebirth of our cities and the promise of urban living. Our unique approach both passionately civic and distinctly practical has produced a remarkable and award-winning body of work that includes nearly every product and building type, from single-family homes to high-rises, expansive mixed-use developments, far-sighted neighborhood plans, and the creative adaptive re-use of structures across the United States.Well known for the collaborative, client-oriented approach and insightful skill we bring to every project, PH is widely recognized as an important leader in its field.Some of Pappageorge Haymes Partners most prominent projects include:K2 Apartments, Chicago, IllinoisARC at Old Colony, Chicago, IllinoisChristopher House Charter School, Chicago, Illinois600 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IllinoisWyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Pappageorge Haymes Partners achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 22 22. DAAM DAAMDAAM is an award-winning architecture and design firm based in Chicago. We make places and spaces for living, learning, gathering and recreating. Our projects are defined by a strong conceptual approach inspired by both local context and the interplay of cutting-edge digital design tools and traditional craftsmanship.Some of DAAMs most prominent projects include:Food Hall at the Center for Care & Discovery, Chicago, IllinoisBelden Loft, Chicago, IllinoisGuild Row, Chicago, IllinoisShell House, Delaware County, New YorkMindys Bakery, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped DAAM achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 10 21. GREC Architects Joe VaughnA Chicago-based firm, GREC Architects is a dynamic collective of architects, designers, and planners. We excel at merging creativity with efficiency, working closely with clients and collaborating as a studio to transform innovative ideas into exceptional spaces.Some of GREC Architects most prominent projects include:ACE Hotel Downtown LA, Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe Ludlow, Chicago, IllinoisWestin Hotel at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesBacardi at the Park, Chicago, IllinoisBusiness Bay Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates The following statistics helped GREC Architects achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 25 20. Jahn/ Jahn/Jahn is among the most iconic names in architecture. Founded more than 60 years ago, our studio has reshaped cities and changed minds.Today, we are as energized as ever, building upon a culture of collaboration alongside an innovative team of engineers, fabricators, and builders to create architecture of authenticity and integrity. Through trust in our creative process, and by making space for ideas to flourish, we believe we can design a better world.Some of Jahn/s most prominent projects include:Leatop Plaza, Zhejiang, ChinaJoe and Rika Mansueto Library, Chicago, IllinoisJoe and Rika Mansueto Library at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IllinoisHighlight Towers, Mnchen, GermanyHEGAU TOWER, Singen (Hohentwiel), Germany The following statistics helped Jahn/ achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 1 Total Projects 22 19. Krueck Sexton Partners Krueck Sexton PartnersKrueck Sexton Partners is a Chicago-based, nationally recognized architecture practice comprised of design professions dedicated to the realization of buildings that are reflective of our diverse clients. We work in close collaboration with industry-leading engineers and consultants, reinforcing an interdisciplinary and research-based studio culture. We have achieved a consistent design portfolio of the highest quality for over thirty years.Client participation is encouraged throughout a journey of discovery, when ideas and opportunities that best support the project goals begin to crystallize. This allows for the development of unique and specific solutions.Some of Krueck Sexton Partners most prominent projects include:CME Center, Chicago, Illinois1100 First Street, Washington, DCSpertus Institute for Jewish Learning & Leadership, Chicago, IllinoisUniversity of Chicago Edward H. Levi Hall Portal, Chicago, Illinoisddd The following statistics helped Krueck Sexton Partners achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 7 18. bKL Architecture bKL ArchitecturebKL Architectures open studio environment encourages a spirited exchange of ideas. Our culturally diverse team brings together a broad range of skills, experiences and backgrounds to create a vibrant atmosphere and design process. At the center of our process is a focus on in-depth analysis, intensive experimentation and collaboration. Our team designs projects that only enrich sites and cities around the world in which we build.Some of bKL Architectures most prominent projects include:The St. Regis Chicago (Vista Tower), Chicago, IllinoisGEMS World Academy-Chicago, Lower School, Chicago, IllinoisWhitney Young Library Chicago, Chicago, IllinoisCoast at Lakeshore East, Chicago, IllinoisWolf Point West, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped bKL Architecture achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 9 17. FGP atelier FGP atelierChicago-based global architecture firm FGP Atelier is changing the paradigm of what constitutes great architecture and building. Helmed by award-winning, Mexican-born architect Francisco Gonzalez Pulido (FGP), FGP Atelier was founded in September of 2017 following Gonzalez Pulidos departure as partner and president of JAHN.Some of FGP ateliers most prominent projects include:Diablos Rojos Stadium, Mexico City, MexicoOrchid Educational Pavilion, Oaxaca, MexicoLOT 41, Shanghai, ChinaFacet, Shenzhen, ChinaStarring by Ted Gibson, Los Angeles, California The following statistics helped FGP atelier achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 10 16. Latent Design Latent DesignLatent Design is a Chicago based full service architecture firm and strategic design consultancy working at the intersection of design and community development to create social, economic and environmental impact beyond the building. We use design as a tool to make the invisible forces impacting a project at local and global levels; policy, culture, climate, economy, visible through architecture.We offer innovative design solutions to those in resource and budget limited environments through a participatory approach that leverages local assets to directly generate project opportunities. Our collaborations range from small-scale tactical interventions, new construction community buildings, adaptive reuse, neighborhood master plans and design speculations. Latent Design is a registered Benefit Corporation in the State of Illinois and is required by law to create and demonstrate positive social impact to the community through our work.Some of Latent Designs most prominent projects include:Boombox Micro Retail, Chicago, IllinoisElectrolux Meander KitchenDemoiselle 2 Femme HOPE Center, Chicago, IllinoisChicago Womens Health Center, Chicago, IllinoisJackson Flat, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Latent Design achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 2 Total Projects 10 15. Goettsch Partners Goettsch PartnersGoettsch Partners (GP) is an architecture firm with a global perspective. Based in Chicago, with additional offices in Denver and Shanghai, we share a singular approach to design that combines seasoned experience with a passion for exploration and innovation. Our completed and active projects span five continents and represent a diverse range of types and sizes.Some of Goettsch Partners most prominent projects include:Lincoln Park Zoo Pepper Family Wildlife Center, Chicago, IllinoisMennica Legacy Tower, Warsaw, Poland110 North Wacker , Chicago, IllinoisAlcove, Nashville, TennesseeAbu Dhabi Global Market Square, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates The following statistics helped Goettsch Partners achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 14 14. SCB Darris Lee Harris PhotographySCB is an architecture, planning, interior and urban design firm. Founded in Chicago in 1931, SCB provides design services from four locations across the US. SCB is at the forefront of dense urban living, innovative workplaces, inspiring learning environments, resilient infrastructure, and vibrant communities. Through the collective impact of nearly a century of work, the firm has made an indelible mark on the contemporary landscape.Some of SCBs most prominent projects include:Academic and Residential Complex at the University of Illinois, Chicago, IllinoisVital Proteins, Chicago, Illinois55 Ninth, San Francisco, CaliforniaInstitute for Environmental Sustainability, Chicago, IllinoisLoews North Park Drive, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped SCB achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 1 Featured Projects 3 Total Projects 17 13. Partners By Design Partners By DesignAs we mark our 30th year in business in 2023, Partners by Design continues to design and deliver powerful, one-of-a-kind spaces for our clients. Through our integrated approach, innovative solutions, and diversified suite of services (Interiors, Architecture, Spark Environmental Branding, and VIZfire Architectural Visualization), all under one roof, we continue to be an industry leader through our innovation, technology integration, and thought leadership on the direction and formation of new space typologies.Our client-centric process driven by research and grounded in data, gives us a deep understanding of human behavior and what our clients face every day. Utilizing this behavioral understanding directly correlates to successful placemaking design and delivery.Some of Partners By Designs most prominent projects include:Mead Johnson Nutrition, Chicago, IllinoisColor Factory, Chicago, IllinoisVizient, Chicago, IllinoisGreater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago, IllinoisCCC Intelligent Solutions, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Partners By Design achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 2 Total Projects 18 12. dSPACE Studio dSPACE StudiodSPACE Studio is an AIA award-winning architecture firm dedicated to innovative, personalized designs that enhance health and well-being. Project types include residential architecture with a focus on warm modern urban dwellings and awe-inspiring vacation homes. We design homes to make your life better.A home starts with an exploration of clear goals and evolves from budget, personalized spatial planning and a site-specific approach to relate the structure to the land. Drawing from neuroarchitecture and biophilic design, dSPACE creates sculptural homes that promote health and wellness.dSPACE homes are designed for a multisensory experience. Integrated interior and exterior spaces connect you to the sights, sounds and scents of nature.Some of dSPACE Studios most prominent projects include:Silver Lake AIA Award Winner, Saugatuck, MichiganDunelands Residence AIA Award Winner, Saugatuck, MichiganZinc House AIA Award Winner, Chicago, IllinoisTree House AIA Award Winner, Beverly Shores, IndianaBrickyard, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped dSPACE Studio achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 2 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 12 11. Hoerr Schaudt Perkins&WillAt Hoerr Schaudt, we design beautiful, purposeful gardens that connect people, site, and season.Gardens elicit joy, soothe our souls, and become places where we interact with each other and the world around us. Drawing upon centuries of time-honored tradition, our work layers botanical silhouettes to shape space and create settings that artfully blend the natural and built environments be it a residence, streetscape, campus, city park, or botanical garden.Based in Chicago, with offices in Kansas City and Los Angeles, Hoerr Schaudt continues its 30-year mission to make gardens that thrive and delight.Some of Hoerr Schaudts most prominent projects include:CME Center, Chicago, IllinoisGreater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Des Moines, IowaThe Gary Comer Youth Center, Chicago, IllinoisMountain Modern, ColoradoKellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois The following statistics helped Hoerr Schaudt achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 10 10. Jacobs Ryan Associates Jacobs Ryan Associates, Mikyoung Kim DesignJacobs/Ryan Associates combines knowledge, conceptual thinking and attention to detail to produce enduring landscapes. The firm believes three fundamentals are important to the success of all landscape projects: design, technology and management. Each plays a critical part in making the finished landscape meet the clients expectations.While we are known for our designs and aim for beauty in every finished product, we also believe form should follow function. We take advantage of technological advances that will improve both the process and outcome of a project, whether the concern is aesthetic, functional, ecological or economic. We rely on time-tested approaches to many landscape solutions because what has worked well may not need changing. We manage every project closely, giving it our focused, personal attention. Every project is assigned a partner who plays an active role in the day-to-day events of the project.Some of Jacobs Ryan Associates most prominent projects include:Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, IllinoisChicago Botanic Garden, Chicago, IllinoisFord Calumet Environmental Center, Chicago,IllinoisSearle Visitor Center, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IllinoisPalos Community Hospital Landscape, Palos Heights, Illinois The following statistics helped Jacobs Ryan Associates achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 5 9. STLarchitects STLarchitectsSTLarchitects is an internationally recognized architectural and design firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The firm is dedicated to the creation of architecture of exceptional quality, consistently navigating the delicate equilibrium between pragmatic considerations and idealistic aspirations. This commitment is manifest in the deliberate integration of essential attributes inherent in exemplary architectural endeavors, including the judicious manipulation of light and space, the meticulous orchestration of proportion and volume, the imposition of order and hierarchy, and the nuanced application of color and texture.Some of STLarchitects most prominent projects include:Gwangju Library, Gwangju, South KoreaNational Museum of Korean Literature, Seoul, South KoreaJinju National Museum, Jinju-si, South KoreaKorean Museum of Urbanism and Architecture, South KoreaIndore School Design, Indore, India The following statistics helped STLarchitects achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 3 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 4 Total Projects 16 8. JGMA JGMAJGMA is a progressive architecture and design practice committed to active community involvement and the enrichment of peoples lives through the attentive and dynamic organization of space and materiality. We understand that quality design has a unique ability to influence civic life and transform communities.We proudly consider ourselves innovators in the field of architecture and are dedicated to formulating consistently unique solutions to every design opportunity. Our work is conceptually driven but exhibits the highest level of quality at every stage of design, construction, and occupancy.JGMA is devoted to serving a diverse range of neighborhoods, making them incomparable places to live, work and visit.Some of JGMAs most prominent projects include:Uno Soccer Academy, Chicago, IllinoisRichard J. Daley College Campus, Chicago, IllinoisEsperanza Health Centers, Chicago, IllinoisWestfield Old Orchard Glass Cube, Skokie, IllinoisNortheastern Illinois University El Centro, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped JGMA achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 1 A+Awards Finalist 1 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 33 7. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture Paul RafteryAdrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture is dedicated to the design of high-performance, energy-efficient and sustainable architecture on an international scale. The firm approaches each project, regardless of size or scale, with an understanding that architecture has a unique power to influence civic life. We strive to create designs that aid society, advance modern technology, sustain the environment and inspire those around us to improve our world.Our office is dedicated to the creation of new paradigms for sustainable development.Some of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architectures most prominent projects include:Waldorf Astoria Beijing, Beijing, ChinaAl Wasl Plaza, Dubai, United Arab EmiratesSteppenwolf Theatre Campus Expansion, Chicago, IllinoisFederation of Korean Industries, Seoul, South KoreaChengdu Greenland Tower, Chengdu, China The following statistics helped Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 6 Featured Projects 6 Total Projects 25 6. Valerio Dewalt Train Tom Harris PhotographyValerio Dewalt Train is a 40 person national architectural and design practice with offices in Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; and San Francisco, California. Since 1994, the firm has based its practice on the simple idea that whatever the question, good design is the answer. But we also believe that before an answer can be provided, one has to do the research to make sure the question is understood.As designers, we take a research-based approach to the design process; it is immersive and specific. This process allows us to explore the clients DNA, user profile, research best practices and discover early on what sustainable strategies should be integrated in the project.Some of Valerio Dewalt Trains most prominent projects include:Vue53, Chicago, IllinoisThe YouTube Lobby, San Bruno, CaliforniaFord Calumet Environmental Center, Chicago, Illinois1098 Alta, Mountain View, CaliforniaGordon Parks Arts Hall University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Valerio Dewalt Train achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 7 Featured Projects 7 Total Projects 52 5. Ross Barney Architects Ross Barney ArchitectsRoss Barney Architects is a Chicago-based architecture and urban design studio. Established by Carol Ross Barney, the studio occupies a unique place within the panorama of contemporary practice that is characterized by a reputation for work in the public realm. From community buildings to campus buildings for premier academic and research institutions, to groundbreaking transit stations that connect vibrant neighborhoods, Ross Barney Architects has produced distinctive structures that have become community icons.The studios ideas and projects have been recognized by entities and publications from around the world. Ross Barney Architects work has been exhibited in Chicago, New York, Washington D.C.Some of Ross Barney Architects most prominent projects include:Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, IllinoisMcDonalds Global Flagship Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, FloridaMcDonalds Chicago Flagship, Chicago, IllinoisRailyard Park, Rogers, ArizonaParallel Histories: Du Sable Park, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Ross Barney Architects achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 2 A+Awards Finalist 7 Featured Projects 9 Total Projects 18 4. Wheeler Kearns Architects Wheeler Kearns ArchitectsWheeler Kearns is a collective practice of architects. We work with people who seek to enrich their lives in spaces that embody their purpose, energy and vision.When a space we design resonates with your deepest intention, it has a lasting and powerful impact. As we work with you, we devote all our energies to understanding your core purpose, the transformation you seek, your mission. We want to see your challenge through your eyes. Doing this guides us to what we call the emotional center, the heart around which your entire project revolves. We return to that central idea as we craft concepts, help you make decisions, and refine our responses to those choices.Some of Wheeler Kearns Architects most prominent projects include:North Lawndale Employment Network, Chicago, IllinoisIntrinsic School, Chicago, IllinoisThe Night Ministry, Chicago, IllinoisArt Institute of Chicago Ryan Learning Center Renovation, Chicago, IllinoisGreat Lakes Academy Expansion, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Wheeler Kearns Architects achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Finalist 5 Featured Projects 19 Total Projects 44 3. Perkins&Will Matthew Millman PhotographyPerkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. Guided by its core values design excellence, diversity and inclusion, living design, research, resilience, social purpose, sustainability, and well-being the firm is committed to designing a better, more beautiful world.With an international team of more than 2,000 professionals, the firm has over 20 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design and landscape architecture.Some of Perkins&Wills most prominent projects include:MIT Site 4, Cambridge, MassachusettsBillerica Memorial High School, Billerica, MassachusettsNorthern California Reserve, Sonoma County, CaliforniaAl Yasmeen Mixed-Use Development, Saudi ArabiaThe Exchange at 100 Federal, Boston, Massachusetts The following statistics helped Perkins&Will achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 7 A+Awards Finalist 16 Featured Projects 29 Total Projects 113 2. Studio Gang Jason O'RearFounded and led by Jeanne Gang, Studio Gang is an architecture and urban design practice headquartered in Chicago with offices in New York, San Francisco and Paris. We work as a collective of more than 130 architects, designers and planners, using design as a medium to connect people to each other, to their communities and to the environment.We collaborate closely with our clients, expert consultants, and specialists from a wide range of fields to design and realize innovative projects at multiple scales: architecture, urbanism, interiors and exhibitions.Some of Studio Gangs most prominent projects include:Writers Theatre, Glencoe, IllinoisRichard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation, New York City, New YorkSolar Carve (40 Tenth Ave), New York City, New YorkBeloit College Powerhouse, Beloit, WisconsinWMS Boathouse at Clark Park, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Studio Gang achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 16 A+Awards Finalist 10 Featured Projects 28 Total Projects 49 1. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) is an influential collective of architects, designers, engineers and planners, responsible for some of the worlds most technically and environmentally advanced buildings, and significant public spaces. From a strategic regional plan to a single piece of furniture, SOMs designs anticipate change in the way we live, work and communicate and have brought lasting value to communities around the world. The firms approach is highly collaborative, and its interdisciplinary team is engaged on a wide range of international projects, with creative studios based across the globe.Some of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)s most prominent projects include:Poly International Plaza, Beijing, ChinaKempegowda International Airport Terminal 2, Bengaluru, IndiaP.S. 62 The Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability, New York City, New YorkJTI Headquarters, Geneva, SwitzerlandChhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Terminal 2, Mumbai, IndiaFeatured project: 800 Fulton Market, Chicago, Illinois The following statistics helped Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Chicago: A+Awards Winner 24 A+Awards Finalist 43 Featured Projects 49 Total Projects 116 Why Should I Trust Architizers Ranking?With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the worlds largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the worlds best architecture each year.Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlightedA Guide to Project AwardsThe blue + badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizers Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a projects likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:Project completed within the last 3 yearsA well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphsArchitectural designwith a high level of both functional and aesthetic valueHigh quality, in focus photographsAt least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the buildingInclusion of architectural drawings and renderingsInclusion of construction photographsThere are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizers Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.Were constantly look for the worlds best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please dont hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.The post 30 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Chicago appeared first on Journal.

The 500px Photographer Spotlight invites you to dive into the minds and methods of the incredible photographers who shape our community. Discover the unique journeys, creative insights, and inspiring stories behind the stunning photos we love.MeetMaggie GongolevichA Spain-based photographer whose work beautifully blends her love of dogs and the outdoors. What began with motorsport photography in Poland, where her rally images appeared in print, has since evolved into capturing the bond between animals and nature. With fresh inspiration drawn from travel, landscapes, and her own dogs, Maggies photography tells a story of passion and discovery.Maggie, at what point did you realize photography was your passion? Was it a gradual realization, or an instant epiphany?My father was an artist at heart. When I was little, he loved drawing and taking photos of nature and of me, but I always hated being photographed. I realized that if I showed interest in his camera, hed focus on teaching me instead of pointing it at me. It was an old Zenith, and it was beautiful; my plan worked, I was able to learn from him instead of always being a subject in his photos.Lets go back to the very beginning. Can you tell us about the story behind your very first camera?Which one? Its hard to say which was my very first. I grew up in Poland, where we mostly had access to Russian cameras. My dad had an old one he didnt use anymore, so I started playing with it, though it wasnt great.Later, for one of my birthdays, I got a simple compact camera that allowed me to take photos on school trips and around my town. I always made sure to buy the film with the most frames and always two rolls, just in case.Whats hardergetting the perfect shot, or getting the pet to sit still for it?It depends on the pet. For me, the perfect shot in pet photography is a mix of the photographers vision and the dogs expression at the exact millisecond you press the shutter. Some photos were saved by the dogs expression at the right time, and others turned out great because everything went according to plan. For example, one of my dog, Suki, is a natural-born model.+Shell stand still, jump over obstacles, and always look her best whenever I have a camera. The other three? Theyre stunning too, but getting a good photo of them is more about luck than planning.The bond between a photographer and their subject is paramount, especially when that subject happens to have four legs. How do you cultivate that trust before the lens is even uncapped?Sometimes the camera itself sparks their curiosity, and a curious dog is already halfway to a successful photo shoot. But theres no one-size-fits-all. It depends on the animals personality. Some need space, some need encouragement, and the super-excited ones often need to be ignored a little. Its all about adapting to the situation and the model in front of you.Do you secretly think some pets are natural models, and others just arent?Of course, and not secretly at all!+My dog Suki is a complete supermodel, while the others are not as comfortable, and one is even completely camera-shy. When I first started photographing at the shelter, I noticed the same thing. Some dogs, who probably had never seen a camera in their lives, somehow just knew to stand tall and look their best. Others, not so much.Whats one thing people dont realize about photographing animals until they try it?We often see perfectly posed animal photos online, with tutorials on how to place their legs or direct their gaze. But in reality, most dogs arent that well-trained, and even well-trained ones may behave differently in front of the camera. I think many people dont realize how random and chaotic it can be, but thats also the beauty of it. Some of my best shots came out of complete chaos.Is there a landscape youll never tire of photographing?For me it would be mountains and the ocean. Nothing in between, really. Mountains look different every single time, and with the ocean, I adore the colors and how they change depending on the weather.Whats a hidden gem destination you think more photographers should know about?Tabernas Desert in Spain. Its just one of many spectacular landscapes in this amazing country, but it brings completely different vibes from what most people imagine when they think of Spain.How do you feel that photography has changed the way you see the world around you?I dont think photography changed that, I was drawn to it because of the way I see the world. Ive always noticed details, gestures and found beauty in the scenes in front of me. Photography simply became my way of expressing that.Do you have a recent or upcoming shoot or project you would like to share or promote?Ive recently started exploring equine photography. I now have my very own equine model, so Ill definitely be sharing more horse photos on my feed soon. Stay tuned!Read more 500px Photographer Spotlight interviews: Andrea GambirasioThe post Maggie Gongolevich: 500px Photographer Spotlight appeared first on 500px.

Halo Studios has officially announced its remake of Halo: Combat Evolved, dubbed Halo: Campaign Evolved. Launching in 2026, it will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and, in a series first, PS5. Check out the first trailer below.As a faithful yet modernized remake of the first Halo, it offers revamped visuals and cinematics, improved wayfinding, a remastered soundtrack and even new performances by its cast. Skulls are also included alongside a broader arsenal of weapons (including the Needle Rifle, Battle Rifle, and Energy Sword).There are even three new missions starring Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson, set before the games events and featuring new environments, enemies and characters. They should be a good fit for split-screen co-op (only on consoles, sadly). Four-player online co-op with cross-platform play and cross-progression is also supported.Other new features include sprinting, the ability to hijack enemy vehicles and the Wraith as a pilotable vehicle. Of course, just as the rumors alleged, theres no competitive multiplayer. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

Racking up a total of 7 sequences comprising of 337 VFX shots, Digital Domain was one of the many VFX companies responsible for making Avengers Endgame, that looked like this, to look like this! For the scenes where we see Thanos on his retirement planet, Digital Domain did an amazing job of bringing this artificial environment to life but it didnt come easily. A completely photoreal alien planet had to be created without it looking too much like Earth. They had to create alien plants and also the fruit that we see Thanos picking which is a mix of Guava, Artichoke, Kiwi and Kiwano, also known as horned melon. Time was spent getting the lighting on the plants to look just right, with plenty of subsurface scattering, making sure they looked nicely backlit by the sun. Atmospheric elements like dust particles were added in comp as well as some good old God rays, otherwise known as volumetric lighting. But this low angled sunlight shining through the many layers of animated alien plantlife took a lot to render. Renders would use nearly all of their render farm, taking a whole weekend to complete.Aside from some alternative versions like Damaged Nebula and a clean Hulkbuster, Digital Domain recycled most of the CG characters they used in Infinity War for Endgame, with the exception of War Machine who was actually new to them.Both War Machine and Hulkbusters models were shared assets from another company.Thanos had some minor upgrades since Infinity War. More resolution was added to the Thanos model and textures. Additional controls were added to the rig, including the face, to allow for more detailed facial performances, such as partial facial paralysis, for example.In order to make his face look and move like it had suffered the wrath of using all the infinity stones at once, so extra controls around the mouth were added in order to improve the realism of muscles not quite contracting the way they should. For the scene where Nebula fights Nebula, it was shot in a way that didnt really show both faces at the same time. Which made it much easier as it meant that there wasnt much Digi-double work to do, leaving them with just the other tasks, such as; replacing future Nebulas arm, makeup and costume touchups, eye replacements and adding the orangy stripe to her head.Shooting this scene on a green screen soundstage actually made it more difficult for Digital Domain due to them having to make an entire digital set, matching the already established lighting on the actors that could also hold up to close-up shots.To save on time, due to deadlines, they reused parts from other sets that they had previously created, adding additional textures and more resolution.Thankfully, they were given quite a bit of freedom when creating the set which allowed them to insert lighting to match the already established lighting, baked onto the actors. For the holograms in the scene where Thanos finds out about the future, they already had a nice about of the animation work already done, like the scene where Thanos loses his head, literallyWhat they did do was to film the same scenes but from the perspective of Nebula and then create the 3D holograms but in the perspective of the audience. After that, once achieving the right hologram style for the shots, it was then applied in 2D. Like the music in this video?Music By: Monkey MediaAlbum Title: MonkeySong Name: M-1000Links:Get it on Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Monkey_Media_Monkey?id=Bowcdm4d3e27oxtldklnn7ynwju&hl=en_USGet it on iTunes:Listen on Spotify:Buy it on Amazon:Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusfameThe post Avengers Endgame Without the VFX Part 4 [Digital Domain VFX Breakdown] appeared first on Fame Focus.