If words like “rizz” and “skibidi” or phrases like “ate and left no crumbs” go right over your head, congratulations, you are probably not Gen Z. While this incredible digital first generation can sometimes confuse their slightly older (but always youthful at heart) peers, they are also quite inspiring. Born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, this generation has grown up with high-speed internet, social media, and immersive digital experiences. Because of this, they are currently shifting trends and exerting a lot of influence over technological, creative, and social trends. But what defines Gen Z’s design aesthetic, and how is it impacting the world of 3D design?
Gen Z is known for championing individuality, self-expression, and inclusivity. This generation thrives on digital experiences and is drawn to hyperreal, dynamic, and immersive visuals. Their design preferences break away from the minimalism of previous generations, instead embracing maximalism, nostalgia-infused aesthetics, and vibrant colour palettes.
In 3D design, this translates into:
Expressive, fluid forms: Gen Z favours organic shapes, gradients, and surrealist elements over rigid structures.
Bold and vibrant colour schemes: High-contrast hues, pastels, and neon gradients dominate Gen Z-driven designs.
Mixed media and layered aesthetics: Designs often merge traditional 3D rendering with hand-drawn textures, animation, and AI-generated elements.
Sustainability and ethical design: This generation prioritises eco-conscious materials, both in the physical world and in digital spaces.
Architectural renderings are no longer just about photorealism. Gen Z’s appetite for non-traditional aesthetics is pushing 3D visualisation towards more stylised and experimental directions. Architects and visualisation artists are now integrating bold colours, dreamlike environments, and storytelling elements into their renders. Twinbru’s digital fabrics enable designers to bring these imaginative visions to life. Whether through ultra-detailed upholstery textures or unconventional fabric applications, Gen Z’s aesthetic preferences are being embedded in architectural visualisation workflows.
Interactivity is key to engaging Gen Z. They don’t just consume content passively; they expect to interact with it. This has led to the growing popularity of real-time rendering, VR walkthroughs, and AI-enhanced design tools. Platforms like Chaos Cosmos, NVIDIA Omniverse, and Twinbru’s own textures library is making it easier than ever for designers to create highly immersive environments that respond to user inputs, a crucial feature for engaging this digital-first audience.
Gen Z blurs the line between the digital and physical worlds, demanding designs that exist seamlessly in both spaces. This has sparked a rise in digital-first furniture and textile concepts - where designs are conceived in virtual spaces before being produced in reality. Twinbru’s digital fabrics align perfectly with this approach, allowing designers to visualise and refine fabric choices in high-fidelity 3D before committing to production, thus accelerating the design process.
While previous generations embraced minimalism, Gen Z leans towards bold self-expression through maximalism. This has brought a resurgence of eclectic, playful, and highly personalised design. Think clashing patterns, textured fabrics, and layered materials - all of which can be tested and fine-tuned through 3D design. Twinbru’s extensive library of digital fabrics supports this approach, offering rich, varied textures that help designers achieve the vibrancy and depth that Gen Z loves.
Sustainability is at the forefront of Gen Z’s values. They expect brands to demonstrate eco-consciousness, and this extends to design. In 3D visualisation, this means opting for sustainable digital workflows that reduce material waste, using eco-conscious textures, and prioritising ethical production practices. Twinbru’s digital textile solutions align with these values, offering a way to create, test, and experiment with interior designs in a virtual space before any fabric is purchased, minimising waste and maximising efficiency. The textures library also has digital twins of eco-certified fabrics, which means a digital visualisation of a sustainable fabric will be a sustainable choice in the real world too.
As Gen Z continues to redefine design standards, we can expect a future where 3D visualisation is more interactive, immersive, and expressive. Architectural renderings will embrace artistic storytelling, interior design will lean into hyperreal textures, and digital fabrics will become an essential tool for sustainable, experimental workflows.
For designers and brands, embracing these shifts isn’t just about keeping up—it’s about unlocking new creative possibilities. With tools like Twinbru’s digital fabrics, designers can tap into this new era of 3D visualisation, creating work that resonates with Gen Z while pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in design.