OBJECT Rotterdam 2024
Two apps designed to keep designers connected from anywhere.
[WEB DESIGN]
[DEVELOPMENT]
[PHYSICAL–DIGITAL]
Two applications were designed and developed when three designers — Jeroen van den Bogaert, Satomi Minoshima, and Toshihito Endo — participated in and exhibited their work by sharing an exhibition space at OBJECT Rotterdam 2024 (February 2–4, 2024, at the HAKA building).
One application is a 3D web platform that allows participants to experiment with their exhibition floor plans, while the other focuses on digitally archiving the exhibition in 3D.
Challenge
Off-site planning tools often fail to reflect the real experience of exhibitions. While 3D renderings can recreate spaces, their static, non-interactive nature limits communication and makes collaboration difficult. The challenge was to create a tool realistic enough for planning yet interactive enough for designers to exchange ideas smoothly.
Approach
Using WebGL and web technologies, the project turned 3D environments into interactive, browser-based tools. This made the process more accessible, engaging, and collaborative, allowing designers to sit, think, work, and stay connected—whether they used the tools with full 3D scenes or in a simpler, background-free mode.
Outcome
Two applications were built: one for real-time floor planning and one for digital archiving. The planning tool enabled three designers to collaborate directly within the shared 3D space, while the archiving tool captured the exhibition’s layout and atmosphere, preserving the experience beyond the event.
REALISTIC REPRODUCTION
This 3D application was built to help participants plan a shared exhibition space with a clear “sense of the actual site.” The room and artworks were accurately recreated in 3D with real-world dimensions, then optimized for the web to ensure smooth performance. The result is a realistic, detailed preview that supports precise spatial decision-making.
SPEEDY COMMUNICATION
Static 3D renderings can slow communication, especially between visualizers and those less familiar with 3D tools. To solve this, the web app lets participants freely adjust layouts in real time, testing placements directly in the browser. This speeds up planning while preserving the spatial clarity of the original 3D environment.
ATMOSPHERIC DOCUMENTATION
Traditional photos and videos often fail to capture the mood of an exhibition. The digital archiving app addresses this by turning the event into an explorable 3D reproduction based on collected visuals. It offers a more immersive way to revisit the atmosphere, share the experience, and draw inspiration after the event.
Discover More Works
