The advent of technology has opened a new world of opportunities for humankind – both in the corporate world and in our daily lives. By affording us the ability to do things better, faster and smarter – we’ve come to know a world where we simply can’t imagine our lives without technology.
The best thing about innovative applications and devices is that they can be adapted to provide solutions in just about any industry. Technological advancements have supercharged interior design, automating many tedious and time-consuming tasks and breaching the limits of conceptualisation.
Let’s take a look at the different technologies that have transformed interior design into the powerful tool it is today:
3D printing
If someone told you a mere 5 years ago that you’d be able to print solid objects out of plastic and even wood-like materials, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s ridiculous. And yet here we are! You can literally have anything printed for you. Can’t find that part for your old shower door? 3D print it!
3D printing has opened up the world to the possibilities of taking a 2D design and breathing life into it without having to break the bank. Yes, sure a 3D printer is expensive, but the possibility of printing decor elements to demonstrate their application and real-world dimensions before going into costly production, is invaluable. Interior designers can eliminate a lot of back and forth in the creation of decor elements – especially large items such a couches and tables – by printing exact scale models to determine their suitability to a space and their client’s style.
Crowdsourcing and remote collaboration
Technology has made interior design available to everyone. Think Pinterest, Instagram and the millions of interior design blogs online. Design does not live in isolation, therefore the ability to share and access other design ideas over social media and other connected platforms allows for better, bolder end results.
The cloud has also brought everyone in the design industry closer to one another, making great designs more accessible and affordable to the general consumer. A designer in Bordeaux, France can help create a bespoke piece of furniture alongside a local designer in Joburg without any additional travel and accommodation costs required. Both designers can work on the same online document and make changes in real-time.
Augmented Reality
One of trickiest elements of interior design is trying to picture what a space will look like in real life once it has been completed. Enter Augmented Reality! AR technology allows interior designers and the man on the street to envision a space long before a drop of paint has been applied. Speaking of paint, the most prevalent and accessible form of design augmented reality can be found in the painting industry. World leader, Dulux has introduced an application that allows you to see what a room would look like once it’s been painted in one of their signature colours. The Dulux Visualizer app goes one step further by matching the colour of any object you capture with your camera to their existing paints colours.
Moving beyond paint, Decolab offers you the ability to digitally decorate an entire space with furniture and decor. The AR virtualisation tool lets you put your selection of objects inside your own interior to allow you to make a better evaluation of how it will fit in your own space.
The evolution of interior design processes
In the offline decoration sphere, technology has also advanced various practical applications. Remember sandblasting? The once time-consuming, messy and glass-weakening method has seen the advent of window film. This advanced alternative has far fewer drawbacks and many more benefits than sandblasting, yet offers the same beautiful design.
The improved window treatment is easily applied in the comfort of your office, does not leave behind any small glass particles and actually strengthens glass. It also adds an additional layer of security and privacy as the window film remains opaque even at night when the lights are switched on – protecting the interior from preying eyes. The treatment also offers 95% UV protection while still allowing natural light to illuminate the space.
Window film offers interior designers a myriad of opportunities to create bespoke glass elements in any space. Download our Window Covering Guide for some design inspiration.
