Incorporating technology in interior design

Integrating Technology from Concept to Creation

People’s perception of interior design is often that it is all about the finishing touches, such as the carpet and cushions. However, most interior design projects involve a huge amount of work that goes on in the background. This starts with the taking of the client brief and developing that into a visual concept, and goes right through to the construction phase, working alongside architects and contractors to develop the scheme from start to finish. Interior design often influences the internal structure and space planning from the start of the build.  

To achieve this level of in-depth design, interior designers use a wide range of technologies. For example, drafting programmes such as AutoCAD and 3D modelling programmes such as REVIT and SketchUp, along with rendering software and virtual reality. Project management tools are also widely used to track budgets and progress.

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Embracing Technological Advancements in Interior Design

As technology develops, it is important for interior designers to stay up to date. Certain aspects of technology that are useful for all designers are developing at staggering rates, especially when you think back to the fact that the most used design technology around the world, AutoCAD, was only released in December 1982.  

Computer Aided Design (CAD) improves the process of interior design. It enables projects to be developed quicker than when they were historically drawn by hand and allows for more accuracy in terms of space planning, material specification, quantities, and costing.  

However, many clients do not entirely understand the information they see on a technical drawing and can struggle to imagine what the final outcome will be for their project. That is why, in many cases, visual aids or tools are used to express the concept to the client. These can take the form of collage mock-ups of textures, products, and colours, in which Photoshop is a key technology for producing this type of work. But for something more accurate and direct, 3D modelling is a valuable asset for bringing ideas to life.

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Elevating Client Understanding through 3D Modelling

3D modelling technology has developed greatly over recent years, with many programmes available for exploration, including SketchUP, Revit, 3Ds Max, and many more. SketchUp is widely used for its user-friendly format and unrestricted modelling abilities. Modelling a space in three dimensions helps to explore ideas in greater depth and unleashes more possibilities within the design as you experience the space as a whole.

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Bringing Designs to Life with VR Technology

VR is a further extension of 3D modeling. It takes time and dedication to build these models, and VR brings them to life! Clients are able to have an immersive experience of the concept by being put inside the space within the virtual world. VR helps to sell the scheme as it becomes easier to explain the reasoning behind the design decisions, whether that be practicality or all about the emotional experience.

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Sustainability Innovations

Sustainability within interior design is a growing must-have value of the design concept. Many suppliers continue to develop new technologies that enable more materials to be reused and recycled, with some even offering a full-circle lifecycle of their products, where once the project has finished using their product, they will collect it back after removal from site and recycle it into another sustainable product.

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Mastering AI

The most influential and fast-moving technology is artificial intelligence (AI). AI has become more widely available for the creation of both written and visual aids, producing quick information and realistic image generation. In the use of development work, AI is becoming a key player in strengthening a conceptual idea quicker. Ideas can be explored in a much shorter time frame without lengthy 3D virtual models being produced first. It can also identify design ideas that you may not have otherwise come across. AI tools can be tricky to master, but they can be very beneficial to any creative process.

Find out more on how we utilise technology advancements in our graphic design projects in our recent blog, AI - A graphic designer’s view

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