Making Tech and Design Relatable Through Showrooms
Homeowners, property managers, and design-build professionals find great value in seeing tech in design-forward environments that illustrate what’s possible. Showrooms and experience centers are certainly not new concepts for our community. However, the way the model has changed over the years brings to light some compelling opportunities that more in the channel can take advantage of.
Note: This article is summarized, read the full article on Residential Systems, by Katye McGregor Bennet, KMB Communications
SAV Digital Environments is a luxury home technology firm based in Bozeman, Mont., catering to high-end clientele and works very closely with adjacent trades, as well as artists, photographers, and other creatives. SAV’s Wallace Ave. showroom in downtown Bozeman is co-located with an architecture firm and an art gallery. The facility is often used for events, and many include a combination of tech and design.
Recently, SAV hosted the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Big Sky Chapter Spring Meeting with brands Sonance, MagnaTrack outdoor screens, and Emtek offering CEU courses throughout the day. Lutron shared its Designer Series presentation as an educational walk-through of the facility, showing attendees how Ketra lighting brings out the best in artwork, finishes, and surfaces. A lively “find the invisible speakers” game showed designers how to hide audio in walls, and Leon Ente Soundtiles showed them how to showcase audio as art.
“Events play a crucial role in uniting the design-build-integration trades, fostering collaboration, and enhancing a shared understanding of each other’s trades. Through shared learning experiences, we gain a deeper appreciation for the unique contributions each offers in crafting exceptional environments. Having a space that mirrors our capabilities is paramount to showcasing our collective achievements,” says Scott Abel, VP of Marketing & Creative Direction for SAV Digital Environments, who is also now the communications chair for the NKBA Big Sky Chapter.
The day offered equal parts education, inspiration, and networking. I witnessed a room of interested, intrigued, and newly inspired design-build professionals who asked thoughtful, challenging questions. Presenters provided equally thoughtful responses, and, together, everyone learned quite a lot about design-forward tech and how to integrate it into future design considerations. A few site visits were scheduled as a result, which suggests the longer-term benefits of providing these types of spaces to the adjacent trades for their meetings and events.
