Welcome to Collabor8

Bringing Architectural Vision to Life

With over 30 years of experience in architecture, Collabor8 Studio translates design intent into thought-provoking and emotive architectural visualizations. We believe the art lies in mastering composition and light to create atmosphere, turning the unseen into vivid, high-quality reality.

Since 1994, Gordon has been driven by a passion for precision and detail in architecture. His journey began with traditional drafting, where he mastered the art of creating drawings that not only conveyed technical information but also told a 3D story. By thoughtfully selecting pen thicknesses, I brought his designs to life, adding depth and dimension that made his work stand out.

As technology evolved, so did my approach. Embracing AutoCAD's 3D tools, he transformed his designs into dynamic, evolving models that captured the essence of a project’s development. Today, I continued to use this blend of meticulous detail and cutting-edge technology to craft designs that are not only functional but also visually compelling.

Deciding to leave architectural practice in 2011 was painful. His skillset extended beyond architectural technology into architectural visualisation and IT, yet the industry itself was becoming increasingly challenging. Eventually joined Scotland’s largest CG studio, which proved to be a great experience. The facilities were excellent, with access to new tools and technologies, and the transition felt relatively easy. I was already comfortable speaking with architects and designers, but now the focus was firmly on creating images. The biggest change was that I was regularly meeting a wide range of new architects and designers, rather than working solely alongside in-house creative colleagues.

Things changed in 2012 when the studio owners decided to incubate a sister studio, with him appointed as studio manager. A year later, the new studio was launched with me as director, based in The Lighthouse in Glasgow. It was a stunning hub for the city, bringing together creative talent, professional services, and galleries under one roof

Leaving in 2015, he returned to architectural practice for six months with the aim of understanding how the profession had changed. It quickly became clear that not only had 3D evolved, but architectural processes had too. Traditional 2D drafting had largely been replaced by Revit-based workflows. In the CG studio, models were typically supplied; now, Gordon was responsible for creating the Revit models himself, gaining first-hand experience of how buildings were authored and coordinated in this new way.

Whilst working as a director for someone else, I often asked myself, “Why am I not doing this for myself?” Launching Collab8 Studio in 2016 felt inevitable. The name was simple, yet clearly conveyed what we stood for: collaboration. Our aim was to craft imagery that communicated not only our vision, but our commitment to our clients.

We focused on creating stunning visuals that spoke volumes, achieved through close collaboration with like-minded creatives—each a master of their craft. Together, we built a studio dedicated to perfecting the art of visual storytelling.

Our first strapline—“All About the Image”—became the foundation of our approach. It captured our passion for producing exceptional imagery that not only conveyed the essence of each project, but elevated it to new heights.