MetaHumans are next-generation digital humans — photorealistic, fully rigged, and ready to speak, move, and emote in real time. Created using Epic Games’ MetaHuman Creator and deployed in Unreal Engine, they offer an extraordinary leap in how we portray people in digital environments. From detailed skin textures to subtle eye movement, MetaHumans are designed to behave like real people — minus the limitations. They don’t need camera crews, makeup, or lighting setups. They can be placed anywhere, say anything, and exist in any scenario your imagination allows.
The process of creating one is surprisingly intuitive. Through a browser-based app, you start with a base character and shape their features — tweaking everything from facial structure and hair to clothing and skin tone. It’s a bit like playing a beautifully designed game, except the result is a fully functional digital human ready to drop into your project. Once exported into Unreal Engine, your MetaHuman is immediately capable of complex animations — whether you’re driving them with pre-recorded sequences, live motion capture, or AI-generated voice inputs. They lip-sync in real time, respond to lighting changes on the fly, and can be easily repositioned or adjusted without redoing entire scenes.
At South by Design, we see MetaHumans as more than just tech — they’re storytellers. We use them to bring architectural and urban environments to life in ways that go far beyond traditional static renders. Because design isn’t just about buildings. It’s about how people live, move, and feel within a space. MetaHumans allow us to populate unbuilt environments with realistic, expressive characters who convey atmosphere and intent. Picture a concierge welcoming you into a hotel lobby that doesn’t yet exist, or a virtual host walking through your future mixed-use development, pointing out its features with clarity and charm. These aren’t background extras — they’re the heartbeat of a narrative that helps audiences connect.
The advantages go beyond aesthetics. With MetaHumans, hyper-realism builds trust. When viewers see natural eye movement, genuine expressions, and lifelike interactions, they’re more likely to engage emotionally. And because everything is built inside Unreal Engine, you get real-time control. Need to tweak lighting, change outfits, or re-record a line? It’s done instantly — no reshoots, no delays. Once a character is created, they can be repurposed across videos, languages, and platforms, making them incredibly scalable and cost-effective. They’re also perfect for VR, AR, and interactive experiences — serving as digital guides, AI receptionists, or responsive hosts in immersive environments.
We use MetaHumans across all types of projects: cinematic films, urban planning presentations, interactive 3D walkthroughs, and virtual tours. Each time, they bring human presence into digital space — not as placeholders, but as compelling, emotionally resonant figures that draw people into the story. As voice synthesis and motion capture tech continues to evolve, we’re blending it with MetaHuman performance to push the boundaries even further, helping clients tell richer, more human stories.
If you’re designing a project that needs to resonate — whether it’s a precinct proposal, a new development, or a bold vision for the future — MetaHumans can be the key to making people care. They don’t just show what you’re building. They show who it’s for. And that can make all the difference. At South by Design, we craft the digital people that help your ideas come alive.