If you’re a residential architect or designer considering using 3D for your client design presentations, this article will hopefully provide some insights for you to make your decision.
As technology evolves and infiltrates our everyday lives more and more, we often find ourselves faced with a choice. Either to embrace it or possibly get left behind. Unfortunately, it is no different in the design world. Technology can’t make you a better designer, that still comes down to creativity and experience. However, technology can help you advance at a much faster pace if you choose to utilise it to your advantage. There are many different areas where technology can help in a designer’s life, especially in the residential market. Although the one most talked about by designers and clients alike, would have to be 3D rendering for presentation purposes.
From our observations and conversations with residential architects and building designers, we realise that many are considering the idea of offering 3D rendering as part of their service but still feel a little hesitant to make a start. So we thought we’d give you a run down on the top reasons why leading architects and building designers prefer to use 3D for client design presentations.
Reason #4
3D as a marketing tool – giving you a competitive edge
This is a regular reason that comes up again and again. This industry in particular, being very visual, lends itself so well to Instagram marketing. There is nothing better than showing amazing photos of finished projects on your Insta feed. However we all know how difficult and time consuming it is to actually obtain all those great images. First you have to wait for the project to be completed, then you have to arrange for expensive photography shoots, before you can eventually upload them to your website and social media platforms. The whole process can take years from when you first completed the design. Which is not great if you’re wanting to post some great current trends.
The alternative is to showcase your drawings. Let’s face it, prospective clients don’t find plans on Instagram particularly appealing. But a sexy 3D render of a completed design can speak volumes about your capability and get those prospects excited now. A lot of designers we’ve spoken to use 3D images as a strategic marketing tool. Not only to showcase their design talents but also to give prospective clients a taste of what they would receive if they chose them.
Reason #3
3D as a sales tool – making your job easier
Not only can 3D be used as a great marketing strategy, but as a sales tool also. Now we’re not trying to say all designers are the same, but from our observations a lot of creative designers that are running their own business (often from their own home) are great at designing but sometimes not so great at selling themselves. Obviously this is not the case for everyone, however we can all do with some tips on how better to sell our services.
What we often find with 3D presentations, is that the 3D model speaks for itself. The designer has been able to see it in their mind as they have been designing. It’s when that vision needs to be translated into the minds of their client that the challenges can arise. That’s not as easy as you would think. It’s often not until a client can actually see the finished product that they say; Yes this is exactly what I was hoping for. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter how good you are at explaining your 2D plans, some clients just can’t visualise the space in their head.
We all know good design is often in the detail. It can be those seemingly small details on the 2D plan that can make a big difference to the space. Those same small details are the ones that get overlooked when viewed on a 2D plan versus a 3D model. With a 3D presentation there’s a lot less explaining and a lot more understanding. The client can instantly see where you were going with an idea and are more likely to love it straight away, without the need for the sales pitch.
Reason #2
3D as a time saver – fewer revisions
By presenting your ideas in 3D you can often reduce the number of revisions. A lot of the time when clients are only looking at 2D plans, they can make assumptions about how something is going to look which are not necessarily correct. They can ask for changes to be made to a design only to have those changes removed later after they fully understand the whole picture. This can also happen when finishes and colours have been introduced. All of a sudden the space can transform and have a different impact to the client. There’s nothing worse than having a design revert back to how you originally intended, just because the client couldn’t visualise the end result from the beginning.
We’ve highlighted a few of the top reasons why designers like to use 3D for client design presentations. Now we come to the number 1 reason.
Reason #1
3D as a decision making tool – to help clients move forward
We hear this reason every time we speak to designers of all disciplines.
It gives their clients confidence to make decisions and move forward with the project.
This is the top reason because we are in an industry that is essentially time based. The goal of every profitable design business is to move projects through to completion as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Often the area that is out of the designer’s control in that process, is the client’s decision making. Even if the designer has a great system in place to ensure great efficiencies in design output, they can still come unstuck with a client that struggles to make a decision. It can be the smallest of things too, such as window frame colours or bathroom layout.
When architects and designers use 3D it can really speed up that process and in turn help the business be more profitable. It works because clients gain the confidence they need to make decisions. When they can see it in 3D they start to lose that element of doubt that was holding them back and delaying progress.
Summary
Hopefully that’s given you a few more things to consider before embarking upon 3D for client design presentations. By highlighting some of the benefits that you can gain by utilising 3D, we hope you can make some informed decisions yourself. Perhaps we’ve pointed out some that you hadn’t thought of before. So you are better equipped to decide if you wish to embrace it or not. Remember by using outsourced providers of 3D rendering you don’t have to learn new skills or hire staff in house. By using an on-demand provider you are not making a financial risk either. So why not give it a go on your next project and see how it works for you.
About Pitch Box
Pitch box is a low cost, fast solution that delivers leading 3D visuals of your designs when you need it.
Providing realistic 3D images, fly-throughs and even SketchUp Base Models, to residential architects and designers so you can provide that high end service or improve capacity without the need to hire in-house staff. Ultimately allowing you to be more productive and more profitable.
The company prides itself on exceptional customer service, with a dedicated customer support team based in Brisbane, Australia. Delivering high quality products with a guaranteed project completion turnaround time of only 5 – 10 business days. Unlike many 3D external service providers, Pitch Box’s pricing is transparent and competitive. Our customers know exactly what they are getting, each and every time they place an order. Discover more about how Pitch Box can support your business and place your order by visiting our website today!
