Our Services
-
For developers, architects, planners, engineers, and real estate firms
Concept Design Renderings
Marketing Illustrations / Sales Visuals
Site Analysis & Concept Diagrams
Architectural Perspectives & Landscape Views
Early-stage hand-drawn visuals of proposed architecture or landscape designs are powerful tools for internal decision-making and initial client pitches. These illustrations go beyond technical accuracy by offering persuasive, human-scale drawings that evoke mood, atmosphere, and lifestyle—making them ideal for use in brochures, websites, and investor presentations. Clear and artistic site plans, zoning overlays, and movement diagrams provide a more engaging alternative to purely digital representations, helping to convey complex information with clarity and charm. Hand-rendered perspectives of buildings within their landscaped context further enhance storytelling by seamlessly blending spatial accuracy with emotional resonance.
-
For government agencies, municipalities, planning departments, parks and recreation, transport, etc
Masterplan Illustrations
Streetscape & Public Realm Visualizations
Park & Open Space Concept Illustrations
Heritage & Cultural Site Interpretations
Hand-drawn illustrations are a powerful way to visually communicate large-scale planning concepts, helping stakeholders and the public better understand complex proposals. They effectively illustrate key urban design elements such as walkability, greenery, street furniture, and placemaking strategies, often through compelling before-and-after scenarios. Drawings of parks, playgrounds, green infrastructure, and urban forests are commonly used in grant applications and funding proposals to convey design intent with clarity and impact. For historically sensitive sites, illustrated storytelling plays a vital role in interpretation boards and preservation initiatives. In addition, hand-rendered designs of wayfinding and navigation elements help establish a clear visual language for civic and public environments.
-
For NGOs, civic organizations, or design teams working directly with communities
Workshop Sketching & Live Illustration
Community Visioning Illustrations
Participatory Mapping & Neighborhood Sketches
Poster & Mural Concepts
Hand-drawn illustrations play a valuable role in community engagement by translating verbal ideas into visual form in real time during charrettes, workshops, and town hall meetings. These drawings reflect community ideas, aspirations, and identity, making them especially effective for engaging non-technical audiences. Hand-rendered neighborhood maps can highlight key assets, local character, and shared concerns, supporting collaborative planning and meaningful storytelling. This approach also lends itself well to community-based visual storytelling for public art projects or educational installations, fostering a deeper connection between people and place.
Joe H. Zhou Horizon Illustration
Horizon Illustration is an artistic hand-drawn illustration studio based in Vancouver, Canada. Founded by Joe H. Zhou, MBCSLA CSLA - a registered landscape architect in British Columbia, the studio helps clients bring their design visions to life through fast, flexible, and creative illustration services. These hand-drawn visuals foster collaboration and are a powerful tool in the early stages of any design process, helping to communicate ideas clearly and effectively.
With formal training in both landscape architecture and architectural design, Joe brings over 20 years of experience in architectural illustration and landscape architecture consulting in Canada. He has collaborated with major municipalities and developers, including the City of Vancouver, City of Burnaby, City of Coquitlam, Metro Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, Concord Pacific, Aquilini, Marcon, Peterson, Chard, and more. Joe works extensively with architects, planners, and other consultants across British Columbia.
Joe is also a certified participant in the Four Seasons of Reconciliation course, which deepens understanding of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.