There are countless tools available for Interior Designers, including many apps and desktop programs. It’s great to have a large variety of options, but it can be overwhelming to learn how to use a new software. That’s why we created Minsar, so that all creative individuals have the ability to create AR/VR experiences without needing to know how to code. With simple drag-and-drop technology, you can design dynamic experiences and share them effortlessly.
In the video below, you can see how a Minsar user can design a mantelpiece display by dragging and dropping 3D elements.
As you can see, the user is able to drag and drop the elements to place them on the mantelpiece. They can arrange the objects where they want, adjust the sizes & orientations, and replace them with other objects. This is a great way to test out new furniture or decor before committing to a purchase.
Who uses AR for interior design?
IKEA was one of the first companies to develop an application for viewing furniture and interior designs in AR. Since 2017 their app has allowed customers to preview items before buying them, (whether it be a couch, lamp, or smaller decoration) superimposed in their homes. This has helped IKEA cut down on returns, and boost customer satisfaction. Imagine how many customers who head to the store, buy a flat pack item, bring it home, assemble it, and then realize they’re not happy with how it looks in their space. The app can greatly reduce the amount of times this occurs.
Target has also added an AR component to their app, and it is available for many of their furniture and decor items. This works much like IKEA’s app, in that it allows users to view items in AR before committing to purchases.
So how do you find the content for interior design experiences?
To obtain 3D recreations of your products & furniture, it is necessary to hire a 3D designer or freelancer to create these assets. Alternatively you can make your own assets by learning to use a tool like Blender, but this software can take a lot of time and hard work to master. If your experiences do not require custom-made content, then there are many more options available.
Sketchfab is our favorite place to find 3D content online, and many of these assets are free. Whenever possible, we encourage supporting 3D artists by purchasing some of their content as well.
While searching for assets on Sketchfab, you can apply many different types of filters that can help you find the exact assets you need. You'll want to make sure that you check "downloadable" as one of the filters for your search. Once you have downloaded your chosen content, drag it straight into your Dropbox so that you can access it from within the Minsar app.
What happens if you can’t find the content you want on Sketchfab, and you’re not ready to hire a 3D designer?
It is possible to supplement your experience using 2-dimensional assets like pictures and videos. For example if you are looking to place a specific object in your design, you can import a PNG file of this object to display in your scene.
This can also be particularly useful when designing with paintings or other wall decorations, as these are usually quite close to being 2-dimensional anyway.
Minsar was specifically designed for those with little to no technical background, but of course every technology can have a learning curve. That’s why we’re committed to helping you every step of the way! Please do not hesitate to reach out to our Customer Support Specialist who can assist you with creating your experiences, optimizing your assets, and learning to use Minsar.
We would love to see all of your projects, so please message us on social media or post using the tag #MadeInMinsar.
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Learn more about how AR can be applied in the real estate sector.
Assets for video provided by brow1275, nilslindback, albertsierra, easellease, siapop, and livia chandra.
