Kohler turns to AR to immerse architects and designers in latest launch
Kohler has launched a limited edition creative AR experience to celebrate the new Statement & Anthem showering collection. The hybrid launch concept extends the boundaries of a showroom by offering digital and physical touchpoints through a Statement & Anthem sculpture, which reflects the colours and finishes of the new collection, and an accompanying QR code which transports the user to a virtual world.
Once the sculpture is configured and the QR code scanned, the user is transported to a virtual world where they can explore different spaces of wellbeing inspired by the stunning design cues of the new Statement Showering Collection and Anthem Digital & Mechanical Controls. The physical pieces create an immersive experience for architects and designers, and encourage Kohler’s creative audience to touch and feel the various materials, admire the unique shapes and forms, and build their own configurations.
“Our new Statement & Anthem collection represents a generational shift in the shower experience and we wanted to celebrate that,” explains Angela Zahn, Kohler Kitchen & Bath Group Director of Global Campaigns and Channel Marketing
“As these products break out of traditional bathroom design, by blurring the lines between the bathroom and other interior spaces (Statement forms were inspired by household objects found outside of the bathroom) as well as allowing users to control the shower mechanically or digitally, we saw an opportunity to showcase them by creating a hybrid experience that similarly blurred the lines between home/work, and digital/physical.”
The spatially-aware, mobile and webAR browser experience enables participants to step inside a 360° virtual space to explore three beautiful landscapes that showcase Kohler’s products. Within these landscapes, participants can find and interact with a life-sized, animated, abstract sculpture inspired by the physical sculpture, as well as rotate, pinch and zoom in to examine the details.
Architects are also able to leverage their own physical environments and transform them into interactive playspaces by virtually walking around, examining the product from all angles, and taking in their surroundings. Each sculpture is accompanied by high-quality product cards containing imagery and helpful specifying information.
Through this immersive hybrid experience, architects and designers can discover the endless ways Kohler products can bring a sense of harmony and revitalization into their designs and create their own spaces of wellbeing.
“We understand our audience of global architects, designers, developers and hoteliers gains so much more from an experience that can be seen, felt, and appreciated in the context of a physical environment,” continues Angela. “Therefore, the creative team landed on a concept that was both transportive and grounded, while embracing the constraints of a remote setting in a thoughtful, sophisticated, and innovative way.”
Gift boxes containg the sculpture, product codes and portal QR code have been sent to 500 key figures in the architect and design community. As travel resumes, the AR experience will be featured at Kohler events and retail locations, providing Kohler with an opportunity to enable its customers to explore both the physical and digital world of Kohler Showering simultaneously.
ABOUT THE SUPPLIER
Kohler is a global leader in the design of bathrooms which elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary. With experience on large scale and boutique hotel projects around the world, including its own golf and spa resorts, Kohler is synonymous with luxury and wellbeing-led spaces where guests can relax and recharge.
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