How can you overcome limitations when using VR and AR tools in commercial interior design?

1 Choose the right platform

Depending on your goals, budget, and audience, you may want to use different platforms and devices for VR and AR. For example, you can use a smartphone or tablet for simple AR applications, such as overlaying furniture or artwork on a real space. However, for more complex VR scenarios, such as walking through a virtual building or exploring different design options, you may need a headset, a computer, and a controller. You should also consider the availability and compatibility of the platform with your design software and tools.

2 Optimize your content

One of the main challenges of using VR and AR is creating and delivering high-quality content that runs smoothly and looks realistic. To do this, you need to optimize your content for the platform and device you are using, such as reducing the file size, simplifying the geometry, and adjusting the lighting and textures. You also need to test your content on different devices and platforms to ensure that it works properly and does not cause any glitches, errors, or motion sickness.

3 Engage your users

Another challenge of using VR and AR is designing a user experience that is engaging, intuitive, and meaningful. You want to create a VR or AR experience that captures your users' attention, guides them through the space, and allows them to interact with the elements. You also want to provide feedback, instructions, and navigation cues to help your users understand what they can do and where they can go. Moreover, you want to balance the level of realism and abstraction in your VR or AR content, depending on your design intent and message.

4 Collaborate with others

Using VR and AR can also enhance your collaboration and communication with your clients, colleagues, and contractors. You can use VR and AR to present your design concepts, solicit feedback, and make changes in real time. You can also use VR and AR to co-create and co-design with others, using tools such as cloud-based platforms, multi-user environments, and shared annotations. By collaborating with others using VR and AR, you can improve your design process, outcomes, and relationships.

5 Learn from others

Finally, you can overcome the limitations of using VR and AR by learning from others who have successfully used them in commercial interior design. You can look for examples, case studies, and best practices from other designers, firms, and industries that have used VR and AR for various purposes, such as prototyping, visualization, storytelling, and marketing. You can also join communities, forums, and events where you can share your experiences, challenges, and solutions with other VR and AR enthusiasts and experts.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?