Episode 69: Is Interior Design Rendering Dead? How AI Tools Are Changing Client Visuals

In this episode of the AI for Interior Designers™ Podcast, Jenna breaks down whether traditional 3D rendering still makes sense for interior designers now that AI tools can create convincing visuals in a fraction of the time.

For years, high-end 3D renderings were the gold standard. Designers would spend 10–14 hours perfecting materials, lighting, and tiny details. It was beautiful work—but also time-consuming, expensive, and often overkill for what most clients actually needed: confidence in the concept and clarity around how everything fits.

Now, AI is changing that balance. Jenna shares why she personally stopped offering full 3D renderings nearly two years ago, how she now combines accurate floor plans with AI-generated imagery and video, and what this shift means for render artists, students, and working designers.

In This Episode, We Cover

The shift from hand drafting to high-speed visuals: why BIM tools and generative AI are the next inflection point in our industry.
When to skip the 14-hour render: how to identify when a client needs a high-end investment versus when they just need a vibe check.
The new workflow: how to build accurate 2D plans, then layer on fast AI visuals to sell the concept without pixel-perfect obsession.
The future of render artists: why technical designers are more valuable than ever as “accuracy editors” and quality control specialists.
Designer vs. DIY AI: how to talk to clients who think prompts can replace a professional.

Key Takeaways & Workflow Tips

Why Traditional Rendering is Evolving — Clients are increasingly hesitant to pay for “perfect” scale in every pixel when they can get a clear vision of the mood and layout in under two hours. Jenna explains how she uses tools like Mydoma’s Visualizer to create accurate floor plans and 2D drawings, then pivots to AI for the “wow” factor.

Jenna’s Current AI Visualization Stack

Foundation: Create a solid, scaled floor plan with accurate dimensions.
Concept: Build a clean concept board with actual products in Canva.
Visualization: Use AI (Google Gemini or ChatGPT) to “drop” real products into an AI-generated room image.
Immersion: Turn those stills into short video walkthroughs using AI-driven video tools to show the light, scale, and feel of the space.

Mentioned in this Episode

Jenna’s Platforms & Education

Visualization & AI Tools

Industry Events & Organizations

Final Thought

AI images are a powerful tool for marketing and quick visualization, but they are not a substitute for professional space planning and real-world design expertise. If you’re ready to streamline your visuals and stop losing days to 3D modeling for every project, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen to Episode 69 on your favorite podcast app or at the AI for Interior Designers™ Podcast home.

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Disclaimer: This blog was written using AI as a recap from the recording then edited by the author for accuracy and details.

EP 69: Is Interior Design Rendering Dead? How AI Tools Are Changing Client Visuals