Added Value for Shop Designs thanks to Virtual Reality
29. October 2020
Photorealistic renderings are an integral part of every shopfitting project today. Now, with Virtual Reality (VR), the next generation of visualization possibilities is in the starting blocks. Dobas CEO Patrick Buchecker explains how VR works and the opportunities it offers.
Digitalization also offers various opportunities for shop fitting. At Dobas, we have been working intensively with virtual spaces since 2016, initially within the framework of photorealistic but static visualizations – so-called renderings. Now Virtual Reality (VR) opens up further possibilities for the visualization of future shop projects. With the help of VR goggles you enter a virtual space, through which you navigate in the real world by means of controllers and physical movements. The planned building becomes accessible and can be experienced.
What is VR anyway?
A virtual space consists of digitally assembled vertical and horizontal faces with materials laid on top. For a static, photorealistic rendering, basically the same digital information is needed as for the construction of a virtual space.
In a walkable virtual room, however, the entire cubage and not just a section is built up. Every single corner of the future retail space is visualized and rendered, so that a viewer gets a complete and realistic impression of the planned object.
Light and Materiality
Just like its real counterpart, an object in virtual reality needs light sources to make colours and textures visible. The lighting is used with the planned intensity and light colour (Kelvin). This makes it possible to check on the model whether the lighting design corresponds to the lighting concept and whether the desired atmosphere is achieved.
Normally, the technology is used at the end of the detailed planning phase. The VR experience thus serves to clarify final uncertainties and for fine tuning. On request, virtual realities can also be created using alternative materials, so that a retail object can be experienced once with a marble floor, with just one click with a wooden parquet.
Planning Advantages thanks to VR
The construction of a VR is costly, depending on the size of the retail space the process takes 80 to 120 hours. However, the additional costs can generate various added values, for example:
- Planning security for the builder: With a virtual visit to the boutique, the owner experiences his future property from the perspective of the sales staff as well as the customers and can optimize the plans if necessary. By simulating the time of day and atmosphere, the client also gains further valuable impressions.
- Convincing investors: Thanks to virtual reality, investors receive a meaningful first impression of projects and thus the opportunity for dedicated feedback. If necessary, corrections can be made to convince investors.
- Participation of brands: By using VR, the building owner can position himself as progressive and innovative partner towards brands. Brands, in turn, can use technology to easily recognize the potential and attractiveness of a boutique, whereby the willingness to participate is increased.
We are accordingly convinced that virtual reality – and also augmented reality – will be an integral part of planning in the future and due to its increasing popularity will become more cost-efficient and excessable.
Case Study Multibrand Boutique
In the next blog post, we will explain the VR added value using a concrete example. You can find out when the article has been published via our LinkedIn page.