Home Kitchen

Why rendering matters to retail design

Intense competition in the retail industry drives higher levels of performance across the board, and a key driver for success in this industry is the visual appeal and functionality of retail outlets. Detailed and attractive 3D rendered images, or computer generated images (CGI), especially those created with the help of Building Information Modeling (BIM), can have a significant impact on customers, sales, and marketing. Retail design drawings that achieve stunning photorealistic views and effective 3D rendering services can help generate profits while saving costs.

To better understand the importance of rendering for the retail industry, let’s see what rendering is. In 3D graphic design, rendering is the process of adding shading, color, and lamination to a 2D or 3D wireframe to produce realistic digital images. Rendering allows the creation of images or animations that show the design features of a proposed space. Designers and clients alike benefit from rendered views. Although various techniques and software (Autodesk’s 3ds Max, VRay, SketchUp, Maya, and Mental Ray are popular) can be used to create computer-generated renderings, the goal remains the same: improve presentations, support marketing, and create views of design for analysis. Clients can understand renders better than architectural drawings, and therefore renders are generally more effective in communicating design intent. Accurate renders can effectively represent spatial limitations and possibilities and, as a result, reach a wider audience.

Using Building Information Modeling (BIM) in rendering creates greater precision in the rendered image. BIM models can specify the count for cabinet fixtures, light fixtures, countertops, legs, handles, grommets, drawer pulls, equipment supports, and other details. A great deal of detail is incorporated into a BIM model, which can be used to generate accurate and detailed rendered images, showing how various elements fit into a space in relation to each other. BIM models are especially useful for analyzing spaces in large commercial spaces, such as department stores or shopping centers. Square footage and furnishings and fixtures lists by department can be represented in display areas, with corresponding dimensions. This means that with the use of retail BIM modeling, a 3D view can be created that shows how potential objects interact. Commercial space displayed in 3D can also include paint, laminate, and wall coverings, so 3D viewing is a close representation of how real space can appear.

Rendered images are important to retail companies in a number of ways. The benefits of 3D renderings include:

  • Realistic representation of spaces.

  • Allows executives to view and approve new sites.

  • Ease and speed of creation

  • Useful for project approval and marketing

  • Language barriers are minimized

  • Renders look uncluttered and attractive compared to 2D elevations

High-quality photorealistic renders are as good as photos. The renders also provide flexibility, as elements can be altered quickly and easily. Some of the precise characteristics of the retail spaces that the renderings represent can predict the store experience. For example, a well-designed store entrance should create expectations and offer choice. High-quality renders help to achieve this. Renders can show lighting, signage, and displays. The image of the retailer can be communicated through the type of flooring and shelving used. For example, glass shelves and accessories can suggest elegance. Smart lighting can improve the way merchandise is displayed, helping to increase sales. The walls can be used to store and display messages, and the windows can be used to display the type of merchandise and to market the image of the store.

A useful application of rendered images is displaying store layouts. Customers can be shown the basic layout of a retail space through 3D visualization so that they can opt for a layout that allows a specific path for their customers. Design indicators essential for effective design include the width of the aisles, wide enough for shopping carts (if necessary), and also for people to walk without colliding. There are three basic types of retail layouts, all of which can be communicated through renders: grid layout, racetrack layout, and freeform layout.

  • The grid layout includes parallel aisles with shelf display items on both sides, often used for bakeries, display of fruits, vegetables, clothing, electrical and electronic products.

  • The design of the race track, or circuit, involves a main hallway that revolves around the retail space to guide customers on a prescribed route.

  • A free-form layout organizes shelves, fixtures, and aisles asymmetrically, and is primarily used in smaller stores, specialty stores, or sections within department stores.

Customer approvals for design can be significantly influenced by detailed and effective rendering. The representation of the commercial space can show shelves for the benefit of each client. Shelves and displays should be neat and in such a way that customers can easily locate items. Furniture details in business areas such as cash counters, shelves, storage spaces, display counters and their location are key factors influencing sales, and showing these details through rendering can be useful for customer approvals.

Another key feature of the retail space that influences sales is lighting. The location of light and rendering for lighting at different times of the day and night can influence merchandise display locations, and 3D rendering can show the differences in effect that various types of lights and their reflections can have. in the same space on the same merchandise.

Renders can also be used as planograms. Planograms are images / maps created by retailers to decide where to place merchandise for maximum profit and take into account lighting and shelving. The space must be visually appealing to increase customer purchases. These planograms can be easily created, tested, and modified in the virtual environment provided by the representation.

Approvals and decision making

Using 3D rendering services can also be useful for obtaining executive approvals for new sites and for decision making. This is why:

Competitive advantage

When competition is fierce, a 3D visualization of a project is almost as effective as a business card, representing and translating the uniqueness of the project. Presenting work, past, ongoing, and future, is a powerful tool. High-quality rendering shows design and enhances reputation.

High quality promotional material

Promoting design intent is crucial for retail clients. Well-crafted computer-generated images can depict interiors more clearly, influencing decisions made regarding the location and dimensions of furniture, flooring, and wall finishes and coverings. Renders promoting the brand can be included in brochures, pamphlets, and other promotional material.

Multiple views

Multiple views of the same space through renders can help show the big picture and support decision making.

Economic

It costs much less to create a render than physical models, and since the renderings are virtual, they can be delivered to a larger customer base.

Easy changes

Customers change their minds frequently and rendered images can be quickly edited to suit customer requirements. 3D renderings can be sent to the customer for approvals and quick changes.

Focus on the main USPs

Renderings show accurate and realistic renderings and can simultaneously highlight merchandise’s unique key selling points.

With a number of benefits, photorealistic 3D rendered images can be a valuable asset to retail success. Using BIM to create detailed rendered views of the retail space with options for walls, lighting, furniture, shelving, and layout provides an additional advantage in obtaining approvals and in the fields of sales and marketing. Changes are easy to execute and multiple views can be generated to enable more informed decision making. Rendering, therefore, is of prime importance in the retail industry.