![]() I keep a big file of all my key components open, so I can just pull them across to whatever model I’m working on.” Building the drawing with LayOut “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve needed a hexagonal bolt, casement window, or victorian doors - the good thing is that once I’ve drawn it, I never have to again. Luke starts with small geometry and then finalizes volumes and scale once the initial build is decided. These primary forms are easy to resize and rescale, speeding up his workflow. He has greebles in the shape of sci-fi tech and gadgets that can be 3D printed and applied to any surface. You can build new concepts quickly and reduce the potential for errors by using existing, fleshed-out components. This is called kitbashing or model bashing, the process of combining pre-built pieces to create something new. Luke has a library of pre-built components that he repeatedly uses to model more complex shapes. The great thing about SketchUp is I can just play around with it for ages, moving stuff around and making it bigger or smaller.” “My creative process is like sketching but made faster and easier with pre-built geometry. To begin elevations and extrusions, he moves to SketchUp’s Desktop app, opening the floor plan he created on iPad. Luke returns to the studio with the existing space measured and modeled - and the spark of an idea already forming in his head. Video of SketchUp sci-fi environment kitbash From iPad to studio office Plus, you don’t have to relearn with SketchUp for iPad it’s familiar and easy to use.” The interface is intuitive - I love that the drop-down menus can be minimized or maximized easily. With Apple Pencil, it feels like free-hand sketching, but it’s in 3D. “SketchUp for iPad is a great mobile tool that streamlines my workflow. ![]() ![]() Everyone can tour the updated model in real time via SketchUp Scenes. He saves time by making changes on the iPad during the meeting instead of scribbling notes to decipher later. When meeting with directors, Luke and the team bring the iPad along to show their plan to transform the existing space. He now always brings an iPad to a site to gather measurements for creating fully-fledged, accurate floor plans without ever returning to his office. The ability to accurately capture existing conditions directly in a digital format cut Luke’s on-site work time in half - not to mention the time saved back in his studio transferring handwritten notes onto the computer. In 2022, SketchUp released modeling on iPad. With the breakneck pace of the film industry, Luke needed a more streamlined process. From there, it was usually several days before he could return to his studio and create a 3D model from his sometimes hard-to-read, handwritten notes. Like many of us, Luke used to gather existing space measurements the old-fashioned way - jotting dimensions in his sketchpad. He needs detailed measurements - door, wall, and ceiling - of the property where the movie will be filmed as a baseline for his creative exploration. When Luke creates 3D models for a movie set, his first step is to survey the existing space. Luke modeling on iPad from his couch Trade your sketchpad for an iPad Additionally, skills like surveying and taking as-built measurements also have a place in set production. Classically trained architects are flocking to the film industry, and they don’t need to start as assistants because of their advanced modeling skills. All major studios in the UK are expanding, and there aren't enough people with the skills to meet the demand. Now, he’s moved from analog drafting to drawing everything with SketchUp’s 3D modeling software. He originally drafted scenes by hand on large drawing boards. Technology prevalent in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries has been adapted over the years to build movie sets, making Luke’s workflow much more manageable. Not surprisingly, there’s quite a bit of overlap in both set production and architecture approaches. He needs the right tools to be effective: iPad and desktop modeling, pre-built sci-fi components, 2D documentation, and 3D printing. ![]() In his workflow, Luke moves from existing spaces into conceptual 3D modeling and back to the real world. Luke combines unique tools like iPad and sci-fi kitbashing to streamline his workflow and spark unusual geometric combinations for his craft. Much consideration goes into producing the sets for these visual masterpieces. He’s best known for his work on Avengers: Infinity War and Inception - movies that film school students will study for years to come. If you’ve watched any Disney, Marvel, or Warner Bros movies, you’ve probably seen Luke Whitelock’s set design skills in action. Renowned UK-based art director Luke Whitelock shares how workflows typically employed by architects help him create movie sets for some of the biggest studios in the film industry.
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