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.

A man with glasses sits at a desk in front of a wall covered with architectural and landscape design plans and renderings.

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.