Collaborative environment of the year

The problem

Collaborating on 3D content is challenging. The fundamental problem is that most projects involve two disparate groups:

• 3D artists, responsible for creating the models in an application such as Blender or Cinema 4D.
• Non-technical users, responsible for reviewing work and providing feedback.

This isn't a unique problem, of course; a website has similar stakeholders. The difference is that web designers have tools to bridge this gap. These tools allow non-technical users to comment on an in-progress design without the need to install Photoshop or Figma.

In the world of 3D planning, the solution was rather more rudimentary. Instead of a sophisticated web app, stakeholders typically resorted to emailing screenshots back and forth.

What the industry needed was a tool that made collaborating on a 3D project as easy as collaborating on a new website design.

The solution

Previz is a web application that allows every stakeholder to cooperate on a 3D project, regardless of their technical ability.

Users can interact with a full 3D scene directly in their browser without installing any software. They can easily provide feedback on any element, from textures to timelines, enabling more precise feedback and faster approval.

Companies such as the BBC, LinkedIn, and Land Rover have used Previz to plan everything from new car launches to worldwide stadium tours.

Working side-by-side with the CTO, I played a major role in implementing the entire application. My primary responsibilities included advising on key back-end architectural decisions, and developing the API which drives the entire application.

Previz was built by a three-person team, operating across 15 time zones. Fittingly, it was named "Collaborative Environment of the Year" at the prestigious AV Awards.