Virtual Tour
I designed this concept project using the new 360° imaging tools found in Articulate Storyline 360. The purpose of this project was to provide users a 360° environment they could observe and explore without being physically present at a given location.
Overview
Audience: Potential renters of an apartment that was recently added to the rental market
Responsibilities: Instructional design, graphic design
Tools: Articulate Storyline 360, Adobe XD, Adobe Illustrator
Process
Problem and Solution
In this concept project, a rental agency approached me with the problem of wanting potential renters to feel comfortable applying for a lease without actually seeing a property if they were unable to make it to the open house. The company was unsatisfied with presenting regular, two-dimensional images to represent their properties, so I offered the solution of building a three-dimensional environment that the users could explore.
Intrigued by the idea, stakeholders asked me to develop a 3D virtual tour for a property that would soon be available for rent.
Visual Mockups
The goal of this project was to make users feel as if they were physically present within the property. To do this, we first needed to create visually captivating 360° images. The property was captured using 360° cameras and then reviewed and analyzed to assure visual connectivity.
Storyboarding
Once the 360° images were taken, I sat down with the Subject Material Expert (SME) and other stakeholders to determine the goal for the project. The goal was straight forward: give potential renters enough information and visuals to feel comfortable applying for a lease without physically seeing the property. With that in mind, we developed a list of features and highlights that should be included in the virtual tour. Once that was done, I created a visual storyboard to combine the narrative and visual aspects of the project.
Development
Once the SME and stakeholders were satisfied with the visual mockups and the accompanying storyboard, I moved on to developing one room as a prototype. I used Articulate Storyline 360 to modify the 360° images and create the project. Storyline 360 allowed me to insert markers and add layers to the 360° images to make them immersive and engaging. Once I had a functional 360° room, I asked the SME and a peer group to experience the virtual environment. The overall feedback was excellent with just a few suggestions to help polish the experience. Once the prototype was approved by all parties, I completed the other rooms and linked them together to form the fluid, final project.
Results and Takeaways
The end result was a smooth 360° environment that allowed users to interact with their surroundings as if they were actually there. It was really exciting to work with this immersive technology and create such a realistic project. I can easily see the advantages of 360° experiences and the benefits it brings. With more time and resources, I could have expanded this concept project and brought it even more to life.