Does it sound straightforward? It shouldn’t, because it isn’t. Once ideas have been conceptualised by a designer, they must then be communicated to clients. This is done through a combination of static 2D and 3D images, sketches, product samples and a healthy amount of elaborate description. Success relies on complex ideas being articulated precisely and interpreted by a client exactly as they were conceived. That isn’t straightforward either.

Art can survive, and sometimes thrive on some misinterpretation between artist and viewer. In the business of interior design, it can be a minefield. The reality is that two people may well interpret a designer’s vision in two entirely different ways. Assumption, bias, imagination (or lack of) and expectation can all affect how a new design is perceived and mean great work can sometimes never see the light of day and misunderstandings don’t get caught until they’re confronting a new owner on the day of completion.

Enter virtual reality (VR)

Virtual reality is more than a coming trend that architects, interior designers and visualisation firms are keeping an eye on. It’s already here, and it’s in the process of transforming not just how firms market themselves, but also how they design, collaborate and communicate. VR eliminates the gap between a designer’s vision and client’s perception in ways that blueprints or 3D renderings simply can’t. The ability to immerse clients in a virtual space engages them in a visceral way and allows them to instantly understand what is being proposed.

Meanwhile, collaboration tools let designers explore a space together with their clients, whether they happen sitting around the same table or on opposite sides of the world. Those benefits translate to meaningful results – whether they be wowing potential clients with a VR-enabled online portfolio or reducing the number of revisions due to clients experiencing how a design will translate into a living or working environment from the word go.

Current adoption of VR by those in the business of interior design is pointing to the fact that the technology is quickly becoming a must-have tool in the same way websites, email and CAD software have long been considered essential components of successful businesses.

So, what are the realities of integrating VR into an interior design practice? The answer to this can vary dramatically depending on budget, solution providers and any practice’s idea of exactly how it wants to integrate the technology. Although there are various VR solutions available, not all of them are seamless in their integration into existing workflows and this is an essential part of having VR improve the designer/client experience rather than in any way hinder it.

When developing the Yulio platform, we felt it was essential that there be a seamless interaction between technology and creativity to ensure VR fits naturally with existing processes.

The fish tank

At the beginning of the scale is ‘fish tank’ VR which enables anyone with a computer, tablet or smartphone to view a space in three dimensions. The image on the screen responds to where the user moves their device. While this lacks the true immersive quality of a full VR experience using a headset, it can be very successfully utilised as a marketing tool via deployments on websites, or within situations where headsets just aren’t feasible.

The cardboard

Moving on from this are basic mobile headsets, which allow users to slot in a phone, and advanced headsets, which connect to the phone. These headsets allow users to turn around and have a true 360° experience. This is great for face-to-face interactions, and meetings with clients and potential clients. Since low-end headsets cost just $15, mailing these devices to clients or qualified sales leads can show what a designer is capable of.

Tethered VR

Next, we arrive at tethered VR, which involves dedicated hardware, such as an Oculus Rift or Vive, and users being tethered to the system via a cable. While more expensive and a little harder to setup, these devices are where VR really comes alive, creating completely immersive experiences where users are able to move throughout a space rather than being confined to a fixed point.

The integration

VR is now able to work seamlessly around existing workflows and concerns that do exist around implementation primarily tend to revolve around perceived cost, an issue which is all-but negated with the latest cloud-based solutions on offer, and minor but legitimate concerns about possible feelings of nausea. Momentarily holding a headset up to the face, without fitting a head strap, while a particular design feature is communicated, is a seemingly simple way to avoid this.

For designers, enabling complex ideas to be ‘experienced’ by clients rather than simply ‘viewed’ is a simple but profound distinction. With near-future iterations of the technology enabling the creation of 3D models of physical spaces simply through scanning them, the overlaying of new environments on top of undecorated spaces as well as being able to edit digital 3D models in real-time, for many of those in the industry, future designs will be undertaken for every project with VR top of mind.