Sonify 3D Studio
Innovation overview and development
An overview of the digital innovation
As part of the Sonify product launch in November, Zentia launched Sonify 3D Studio, an industry first online configurator that allows users to design, visualise, and reconfigure discontinuous ceilings in a highly interactive, immersive, and visually stunning 3D environment.
Utilising cutting edge technology and embracing the principles of parametric design, Sonify 3D Studio provides potential customers with a canvas to allow them to experiment with a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes to produce highly creative acoustic ceiling designs (including acoustic ceiling baffles, rafts and canopies) in a number of sector-specific spaces.
Designs can then be shared with colleagues or clients for a review and in a few clicks, downloaded as a Revit file to support digital workflows including BIM whilst supporting the Golden Thread of Information.
How the digital innovation was developed, including effective collaboration, knowledge transfer and partnership along the project team
As part of our research, we looked at other available solutions on the market and quickly decided we needed to offer something ground-breaking to our customers that would help make the specification of Sonify simple; whilst embracing the need for architects and specifiers to create, visualise and then work with the design they produced in their own digital workflows.
We brought together a team with vast experience to develop Sonify 3D Studio, with representatives from our own internal marketing, new product development, and IT teams, as well as third-party collaborators including design agencies and software houses. From the initial scoping exercise through discovery to development and delivery, our team aligned to create a truly customer orientated digital first approach to delivering this tool.
Our mission was to bring an innovative, useful and state-of the-art solution to customers to make the possibility of designing highly customisable discontinuous ceiling solutions of all sizes quick and simple.
Our team in conjunction with our selected third-party collaborators deployed Sonify 3D Studio to the market as part of the Sonify launch on November 3rd 2022 to resounding positive feedback from the market with some fantastic designs being created and shared using Sonify 3D Studio.
Details on the measurable commercial results
From launch on 3rd November 2022, and the following 4-week period, the Zentia Specification team introduced the Sonify system to over 25 Tier 1 Architect Practices, securing specifications in excess of 18,000 panels in a variety of configurations, shapes, colours and designs.
In addition, and to compliment these Sonify specifications, over 45,000m2 of our existing product range has been specified. This has allowed Zentia the opportunity to offer a single manufacturer solution to architects and specifiers across the entire project. This in turn will help our ceiling installers to efficiently source specified Zentia products through our UK Wide distribution network.
These projects will be ordered and live on site during 2023 and beyond.
How does this innovation improve processes
Sonify 3D Studio considers the entire sales process from design through to installation. For each design, the system creates a bill of materials that sits behind a unique project ID.
This unique code remains the reference for the design so that contractors can use it to order the product from Zentia’s UK wide distribution network. Each design is then delivered on site as a ready-to-assemble ‘kit of parts’.
How might this innovation influence the specification
Sonify 3D Studio was specifically designed to support architects and specifiers with digital planning and parametric design to help make ambitious, large scale and complex discontinuous ceilings simple and risk-free to specify.
Our 3D Studio is accessed via our website, sonifystudio.com allowing architects and specifiers to register and create as many designs as they wish within five pre-loaded environments to deliver design-led, high performance acoustic ceiling baffles, rafts, and canopies in large open plan spaces, all from a desktop, mobile or tablet device.
Each design is assigned a Project ID for full traceability to support The Golden Thread of Information with easy export as Revit files to assist integrations into digital workflows.
Creation of novel internal systems to produce eco-innovation
Zentia strive to reduce the environmental impact of their products and services and are committed to a digital first approach for all business activities. Sonify 3D Studio is a testament to this as it supports common digital workflows and the Golden Thread of Information, an increasingly important principle in the construction industry that allows the sustainable management of construction products throughout the product lifespans.
By supporting the Golden Thread, we aim to preserve sustainability and other product information of our discontinuous ceiling solutions from initial design and specification through the manufacturing process and final delivery to site and beyond. This means that our products can eventually be disposed of responsibly, helping to prevent waste and contamination to the environment.