London-based XK Studio began a few years ago when artists Alexa Sirbu and Lukas Vojir came together. Their research-led design practice focuses on hyper-real 3D visuals and moving images which, on the surface, could be read as a little cold and technical. On the contrary, the team, which has now grown to seven, strives to “put equal importance on both the artistic and technical side of the work”, says Alexa, co-director of the studio. They also use their varied backgrounds in creative computing, film studies and architecture to “craft visual narratives that are often inspired by nature, biomimicry, technical materiality and fashion”, Alexa continues to tell It’s Nice That.
Inspired by the “natural world, such as micro-organisms, flowers and weather phenomena as well as the realms of science”, Alexa says the studio’s work hops between luscious 3D renders and erratic industrial digital performances. The former of which can be seen in the digital bloom artwork for Apple’s MacBook Pro, while the latter can’t be ignored in the studio’s energetic shoe studies xkr_001 and 002. Alexa credits the “flat, non-hierarchical structure in the studio” with allowing them to work at such a high level. But, it’s the refusal to do what’s expected that makes the work so awe inspiring.