PORTRAY: Fellowes Design and Experience Center
PORTRAY is an immersive visualization experience built for Fellowes, a global leader in workspace solutions. Leveraging a 27-foot-wide curved projection display and driven by a pair of 55-inch interactive screen tables, this creative use of technology was developed to expedite the process between the customer’s vision and the final design. The centerpiece is the perfect fusion of the physical and digital to help dealers, designers, and clients visualize the possibilities of an interior design project in seconds. Users can freely design modular spaces with Fellowes’ virtual products, finishes, and materials options at scale in real-time, backed by the power of the superior 3D capabilities of the Unreal game engine.
The Challenge
Unraveling the core issue led us through a labyrinth of conversations within the Fellowes ecosystem. Amidst this complex web of needs and perspectives emerged a crucial insight: the genesis of a project was where we could make the most impact.
Project Vision
Our solution was a groundbreaking experiential installation in Fellowes’ Chicago showroom. This immersive tool transformed the conceptualization phase, enabling real-time visualization and collaboration, thus reducing weeks of negotiations to moments of creative convergence.
Elegant and inviting, the Fellowes lobby blends modern design with comfort, welcoming clients and partners.
Kyle Couture / Gradient Films
Designers and clients collaborate, selecting materials to guide the clients visions to life.
Kyle Couture / Gradient Films
Design + Execution
Understanding that this experience would be directly utilized by customers rather than being merely demonstrated by a showroom manager, we aimed to create an interface that was both straightforward and intuitive. This led us to the idea of using materials and tokens as primary elements for design and interaction. By simply placing an object on the table, users could, with a few quick taps, visualize their custom configuration in real-time. From a development perspective, the project presented countless challenges, as it involved integrating a variety of complex technologies that were far from standard and demanded significant customization to work together seamlessly. This ranged from constructing an ultrawide curved projection screen and merging images from multiple projectors to ensuring smooth communication between the interactive table displays and the real-time virtual environment. Each aspect of the project demanded unique engineering solutions.
Design and examine rich wood samples, choosing hues and textures to create bespoke a clients environments.
Kyle Couture / Gradient Films
Detailing design synergy, where fabric, laminates, and veneers converge at PORTRAY for custom solutions.
Kyle Couture / Gradient Films
Interactive tables illuminate ideas, merging technology with hands-on design exploration.
Kyle Couture / Gradient Films
Contemplating design at a digital interface, where clients can view their aspirations.
Kyle Couture / Gradient Films
Peering into a world of possibilities, digital renderings translate ideas into reality.
Kyle Couture / Gradient Films
Project Details
The immersive visualization style employed in this project significantly streamlines the decision-making process. Furthermore, the intuitive simplicity of the UI enhances accessibility, ensuring a user-friendly experience for all.
A clever use a gaming platform to accelerate and enhance interior design projects. This project addresses a clear need: overcoming the lengthy and cumbersome process of visualizing how a proposed interior design would look “in real life.” Portray’s life-size interactive makes design decisions much more understandable for clients. It does not abandon material swatches and samples, but shows how new technology can render those choices much more accurately. Seems like something that will be copied very quickly and eagerly in the interiors industry.
Design Team
Kevin Lee (cco and co-founder)
Derek Tran (cto and co-founder)
Kevin Thomas (creative technologist)
Kyle Jones (interactive developer)
Emily Montoya (interactive designer)
Dan Roeger (lead 3d artist)
Kate Sears (senior producer)
Abby Carlson (senior producer)
Matt Battista (growth manager)
Collaborators
John Mckitrick (avi systems)
Phil Salansky (avi systems)
Photo Credits
Kyle Couture, Gradient Films
Open Date
June 2023