How to... use VR to design

The design team at Galileo Watermark has been using virtual reality to help bring its product innovations to life. Ali Atkinson, creative director, explains how

UnDerstanD tHe tecH

Galileo Watermark has been exploring the uses of VR in aviation for several years. The opportunities are huge. A few years ago we introduced VR into the traditional kids' kits and more recently we've seen that a VR experience can really help the design process.

iDentiFY tHe BeneFits

VR allows the user to sit in a virtual cabin and interact with objects and the environment around them. We want our customers to know that our products will look and feel right in their cabin environment. VR enables them to interact with the products virtually and give immediate feedback. We can make design changes (often in real time), speeding up the process and ensuring our first physical prototype is close to 99% approved. We've designed VR cabin interiors too and have found substantial cost savings.

test rUn it

Our clients loved the VR experience we showcased at WTCE and could immediately see the benefits. We are now bringing our VR capabilities into several projects, primarily those with a tight lead-time. We have also been asked to generate cabin interior designs – which is a great use of the technology.

tHinK aHeaD

We already incorporate VR into our design process but as our customers become more familiar with the technology, we believe the use of VR will become standard practice. We have been using AR (Augmented Reality) for the last three years - allowing customers to see our products in their final environment through the screen of a smart device. VR is the evolution of this and will give the user a fullyimmersive experience whilst interacting with onboard products.

Get creative

There are endless possibilities for this technology! We are working on VR experiences that will let clients show off new cabin designs and products as a marketing tool and we are also investigating ways to bring VR inflight, letting passengers explore their next destination, navigate through airports and lounges, climb mountains, sail the ocean or go into space! As the technology progresses, VR systems will become smaller, more powerful and see a higher level of interactivity.