Imagine a world where architects, interior designers, property professionals, and even the common person can step into their creations before they even break ground, where ideas don’t have to be confined to blueprints and 2D renderings but are brought to life in 3D using immersive Augmented Reality (AR) that has transcended its gaming roots and become an invaluable tool for shaping the spaces we inhabit.
In April 2022, Ignite Lab partnered up with Imersian to play host to a live research project — a collaborative effort across multiple industry partners in the built form environment. The goal? To engage with the latest industry research and trends while improving apartment livability for all demographics. This immersive educational co-design workshop gave many professionals in the design and property industry firsthand experience in using AR for co-design.
Setting the Stage: The Co-Design Brief
Thirty-six participants, primarily from varying fields in the design and property industry, found themselves in a real-life apartment build — an environment complete with a kitchen, living room, and balcony spaces. These participants spanned age ranges and roles. Most participants currently lived in, had previously lived in or wanted to live in an apartment at some point.
Their first task was to create their own co-design brief for the apartment living spaces and take the lead on how an apartment could work for them. This included choosing which areas were essential and non-essential, designing additional spaces, and tailoring the kitchen, living room, balcony, study nook or office and dining room to their specific preferences.
Exploring Traditional vs. AR Co-Design
The participants got to engage in the traditional co-design session using 2D methods first. Initial feedback highlighted the comfort and familiarity of this approach. One participant noted,
“[It] was easier to articulate my ideas. The AR was limiting and involved a learning curve. Although the AR was better at showing the limitations of the size.”
The Augmented Reality Experience
Next came the AR-enabled co-design session. Participants delved into a new realm of design, interacting with various apartment components and furniture using 3D models within the real apartment build.
At the beginning of the workshop, 75% of the participants had never used a similar AR design tool before so this was their first encounter with such technology. However, despite the initial reservations, the AR co-design session left a significant impression on the group. By the end, over 96% of the participants expressed a desire to see AR used more frequently in co-design workshops.
What was it that changed their minds? Many participants noted that the quick visualization, greater versatility, and immersive nature of AR technology made the experience not only informative but also fun and engaging. In the words of one participant,
“The AR-enabled co-design was interesting as we both have never experienced this. It was good to experience how we could place the objects, adjusting the sizing and orientation.”
Another summed it up nicely;
“[AR co-design] Was very fun and quite intuitive…I can definitely see its application for people who are not architects, especially in understanding scale and size of furniture.”
Another participant added that the experience was,
“Engaging, and great to see layouts and products in place which impact space.”
Blending Traditional and AR Design
Reviewing the data comparing the functionality of both of these methods reveals intriguing insights. There were moments when it came to designing storage spaces accurately and orienting furniture and planning for sightlines, the traditional method proved to be better for most people. However, when it came to correctly sizing the furniture, selecting the height and reach of the furniture and planning clearances, the AR method was better for the majority of the participants.
Embracing the Future
The majority of the participants found value in both traditional and AR-based approaches. One participant explained,
“For me it’s easier to oversee the design in a 2D plan and get the chance to modify the 3D after.”
Another said,
“The [AR] tech was really cool. I think it would be great for designing colors and finishes. But I found that I was imagining the design in plan and struggling to recreate it in AR.”
Most felt that starting from a pen to paper 2D plan and then moving onto modifying it in 3D after could be the perfect blend of traditional and AR design. As one participant aptly put it,
“They [traditional and AR based co-design] both have their benefits and limitations although AR could become a significant benefit with greater flexibility in the platform…”
A Desire for More
Many of the participants expressed interest in more in-person guided AR-enabled co-design workshops similar to this one, rather than remote sessions or self-guided sessions.
The Future Beckons
It’s clear that AR-enabled co-design is opening new doors in the world of design and property development. While challenges exist, the potential for greater flexibility, quick visualization, and an enhanced understanding of spatial dynamics is propelling AR to the forefront of the industry.
It seems the future of design has arrived, augmented by boundless possibilities, and we at Imersian are working to bring it to you.
