Our latest Chaos Campus show explores what a boutique visualization and creative studio wishes every young artist knew about creativity, business, and turning passion into success.Chaos Campus is the official Facebook community that brings together students, educators, and industry enthusiasts passionate about Chaos software, rendering, and 3D art across archviz, VFX, and animation, offering a space to share work, ask questions, and connect globally. As part of that initiative, Chaos Campus Live Show, a collaboration with Creative Lighting, hosted by Nikos Nikolopoulos and now in its fourth season, connects the global CG community through knowledge sharing, Q&A sessions, and live chats with industry leaders in a welcoming and interactive space.Join Chaos Campus to never miss a show and be a part of a vibrant community of creatives shaping the future of CG! Below are the key takeaways from episode 39, which featured Pedro Fernandez, Founder of Arqui9, a boutique visualization and creative studio, and Timon, Creative Director of the studio.SummaryCreativity requires blending personal expression, storytelling, and exploring diverse influences. Overcoming creative blocks requires stepping away and diving into new activities.Growth as a creative professional involves mastering business fundamentals, taking risks, and embracing lessons from experience.A strong portfolio should be concise, visually impactful, and highlight personal strengths. It is also important to balance client work with unique or experimental projects.When looking for work, seek out studios with values like Arqui9's that favor bold creativity, passion, and dedication and foster a collaborative team dynamic.Meet the minds behind Arqui 9: Pedro and TimonPedro Fernandez began his career as an architect with a passion for visualization, which he saw as a way to make ideas real. After studying and working in Australia and Portugal for a while, he moved to London and freelanced for various studios, including Bionics, which provided him with a valuable learning experience. He founded Arqui9 to explore his unique way of seeing the world and doing things. Pedro describes Arqui9 as being a little bit at the fringes when it comes to their approach and is inspired by studios like Luxigon, Bionic, and MIR. He believes in fostering team creativity and acknowledges that the studio has projects from top studios but has also diversified the types of clients they serve.My main focus from the get-go was not business. Being creative, being unique, and expressing yourself will, in some form or another, build your business.Pedro Fernandez, Founder, Arqui9 ArquilineIn his youth, Timon traveled extensively, finding inspiration in the various sights he encountered. Originally focused on drawing, he later pursued multimedia studies in Switzerland. He soon developed a passion for concept art, which drew him towards Arqui9s unique blend of art and architecture. After completing an internship at the studio, he was offered a full-time position and eventually became Creative Director at Arqui9. When asked about his views on creativity, he shares: "Everything has been created, but not by you. And I think everyone's got something different to say." ArquilineArqui9s manifesto and valuesThe studio centers its work around a manifesto of nine core principles created in collaboration with Gabrielle, a former client and now a member of the team. The most important principles that guide their work include "love of audacity," "passion, intensity, and dedication," and the belief that no work without a passionate character can be a masterpiece." Most employees at Arqui9 have worked together for four or more years, creating a highly intuitive environment where every idea is acknowledged, and everyone makes significant contributions.The Mercedes project: Redefining large-scale video productionThe Mercedes project was the first time Arqui9 was involved in video production on such a large scale. The goal of the projects was to be memorable and entertaining, and the studio had a clear vision for the film from the very start. The project represented a significant milestone for the studio, as it involved collaboration with models, a film crew, and directors. This experience helped the team gain confidence in their abilities to deliver high-quality work, which encouraged them to pursue new, similar projects. ArquilineAdvice for creatives who are starting their journeyArqui9 believes that creativity is about personal expression, storytelling, and pushing boundaries. They emphasize that combining influences from diverse cultures and industries can enhance creative output. You don't need to travel the world to gain a fresh perspective. Sometimes, simply taking a walk in nature or overhearing a conversation at the store can spark your imagination for your next project!Enhance your knowledge by improving any skills you lack and being receptive to learning from others' experiences. Arqui9 reminds us that growth as a creative professional involves understanding business fundamentals, taking risks, and learning from experience. When you have gathered enough projects to showcase, remember to keep your portfolio concise, visually striking, and reflective of your personal strengths. Also, be sure to include unique or experimental projects alongside client work.For more actionable insights on mastering archviz and building a strong foundation in the industry, check out our blog post on 11 Essential Lessons to Excel in Archviz. ArquilineUse AI to enhance, not replace, your workTo overcome creative blocks, creatives should try their best to step away from projects to regain perspective, explore other activities to reignite inspiration and remember not to be too hard on themselves. They should embrace mistakes as part of growth and remain curious about new techniques and tools.Both Pedro and Timon encourage creatives to embrace AI while not completely depending on it and keeping a curious mind. Arqui9 has introduced tools like Runway, Midjourney, 11 Labs, and ChatGPT into its workflow to help with idea and content generation, as well as video production. Pedro acknowledges that AI may seem concerning at first due to job security, but when used to assist creativity, it can be a useful tool. Timon adds that it should not be used to substitute fundamental skills and understanding of composition, color theory, and lighting.AI is a tool at the end of the day. Creativity is the motor that kind of runs that tool. It's using it as a tool and not as a motor.Pedro Fernandez, Founder, Arqui9Lets connect, learn, and create together!We hope episode 39 of Chaos Campus Live was insightful and motivated you to take the next step in your creative journey. If you want to soak in more information from Pedro and Timon, be sure to rewatch the episode. Dont forget to join the Chaos Campus community on Facebook to connect with fellow artists, share your work, getadvice from industry experts, and keep up with trends in archviz, VFX, and animation. Stay bold, stay curious, and keep making art that inspires.Show us what youve got.Share your best Chaos render and it may just get featured on our blog.Get started