TopHat

The Interactive Configurator: Showcasing High Optionality

TopHat needed a digital tool they could share with potential clients to demonstrate the high degree of optionality and visual appeal of their properties. However, our analysis found that traditional configurators, which offer too many choices upfront, can create a sense of overwhelm and hard work for users. Furthermore, high optionality requires a massive and costly volume of rendered assets.

Our Solution: Simple, Light-Touch Mapping and Live Feedback

We designed a configurator experience that felt simple, light-touch, and inspiring, focusing on key design decisions rather than minor technical details.

• Simple Flow Mapping: We collaborated closely with TopHat to map out a streamlined, multi-stage decision flow. Users make just a few key decisions at each step, preventing cognitive overload.
• Live Visual Feedback: The heart of the solution was live feedback. As the user made a choice (e.g., changing the window style or the facade material), the rendering of the home would update immediately. This made the experience feel intuitive and engaging, showcasing the design flexibility without requiring the user to navigate extensive menus.
• Asset Efficiency: By meticulously mapping out the client’s exact needs, we determined the minimum number of optionality permutations required. This allowed us to work with the client to generate the exact number of high-quality assets (images) needed for the configurator, ensuring a premium visual experience while keeping development time and cost efficient.

The Corporate Website: Scaling Trust and Authority

TopHat had successfully established itself as a promising technological disruptor. The immediate challenge was to evolve their digital presence to match their growth and investor backing. They needed to move from a “promising startup” identity to a “proven scale-up” that commanded trust from large developers, housing associations, and major investors.

Our Solution: Evolved Brand and Strategic Credibility

Our strategy was built on leveraging TopHat’s key assets—their proprietary modular technology and the recognition of their powerful financial backers.

• Evolved Brand Identity: We refined TopHat’s visual language to be slicker, more professional, and highly trustworthy, reflecting the precision engineering of their products.
• Showcasing Proprietary Technology: The website was designed to clearly articulate their unique value proposition, specifically detailing the advantages of their modern, high-precision modular builds and the design freedom offered by their 3D-printed facade innovation.
• Proof Points and Credibility: The site strategically showcases projects and case studies, moving the focus from what they could do to what they have achieved. We prominently featured their well-known investors and leveraged this recognition to immediately establish the high level of trust and confidence that backs their operations.