Ixaria 3D Configurator
UI/UX Case study

Project Overview

Ixaria is a 3D configurator platform designed for furniture manufacturers and interior designers. The platform allows users to create, customize, and visualize furniture in 3D, integrating augmented reality (AR) to help customers see how furniture would look in their space. The goal was to create a seamless, user-friendly experience that bridges the gap between online shopping and in-store showroom experiences.

The problem

Furniture manufacturers and interior designers face challenges in showcasing their products online. Traditional 2D images and static product descriptions fail to convey the full potential of customizable furniture. Customers often struggle to visualize how a piece of furniture will look in their space, leading to higher return rates and lower customer satisfaction. Additionally, manufacturers need a solution that reduces the cost of producing physical samples for every variation of their products.

Responsibilities

As the lead UI/UX designer, my responsibilities included:

Research to understand the needs of furniture manufacturers, interior designers, and end customers.
Creating user personas to guide the design process.
Designing wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.
Collaborating with developers to ensure seamless integration of 3D and AR technologies.

The goal

The primary goal was to create a 3D configurator that:

Allows users to easily customize furniture (colors, materials, configurations).
Integrates AR for real-time visualization in the customer's space.
Reduces the need for physical samples, saving manufacturers time and money.
Increases customer confidence in online furniture purchases, reducing return rates.

User Research

The primary audience for Ixaria includes:

Furniture Manufacturers: Small to medium-sized businesses that produce customizable furniture and need a cost-effective way to showcase their products online.

Interior Designers: Professionals who require high-quality 3D models to create realistic renderings for their clients.

End Customers: Tech-savvy shoppers who want to visualize furniture in their homes before making a purchase.

Pain Points

Manufacturers:
Manufacturers: High costs of producing physical samples for every product variation.
Difficulty in managing and updating product variations across multiple platforms.
Lack of tools to effectively showcase customizable options online.
Interior Designers:
Time-consuming process of creating realistic renderings for clients.
Limited access to high-quality 3D models for custom furniture.
Difficulty in collaborating with manufacturers to get accurate product representations.
End Customers:
End Customers: Inability to visualize how furniture will look in their space, leading to uncertainty and higher return rates.
Overwhelmed by too many customization options without clear guidance.
Frustration with slow or clunky 3D visualization tools.

User personas

The design process

Wireframing: Created low-fidelity wireframes to map out the user flow and interface structure. Prototyping: Developed interactive prototypes to test the usability of the 3D configurator and AR features.

Visual Design

At this stage, I focused on creating a clean, intuitive visual design that enhances usability and aligns with Ixaria’s mission of revolutionizing furniture customization. Navy blue tones symbolize trust and professionalism, while vibrant yellow accents convey energy and creativity. Neutral white and gray backgrounds ensure a balanced and uncluttered layout. Clean typography and clear, interactive icons improve readability and navigation, ensuring a seamless and engaging user experience for manufacturers, designers, and end customers alike.

View live implementation

Outcome

The Ixaria 3D configurator successfully addressed the pain points of all user personas: Manufacturers saw a reduction in the need for physical samples, saving time and money. Interior Designers gained access to high-quality 3D models, improving their design process. End Customers reported higher satisfaction and confidence in their online furniture purchases.

Key Takeaways

User-Centered Design: Understanding the needs of different user groups was crucial in creating a solution that worked for everyone.
The success of the 3D configurator relied on its intuitive interface and ease of use. Augmented reality significantly enhanced the user experience by allowing customers to visualize furniture in their space.

Next steps

Add more furniture categories and customization options. Adapt the platform for international markets and different types of products.