KLAMATH FALLS, Ore.—You don’t have to merely imagine what your new JELD-WEN Custom doors or windows will look like – you can visually configure them online with JELD-WEN’s product visualization tool. Add prairie grilles, rain glass and Scarlet Haze – no wait, make that Capri Blue cladding. JELD-WEN’s “Design Your Own” product visualizer responds instantly to the user’s selections and it’s helping to drive sales.

“Windows are a ‘considered purchase,’ not an impulse buy,” stated JELD-WEN Director of Digital Strategy Adam Wendt. “Our online product visualization tool allows shoppers to explore more options than they even knew existed. The process is simple but effectively prepares them for a productive trip to a dealer showroom.”

How It Works

In the Design & Inspire section of JELD-WEN.com, visitors can navigate through the “Design Your Own” visualization tool and select from a wide variety of product options. With each selection the photo-real graphic is instantly updated, and customers can share their new creations with friends and design professionals while building a personal online design notebook. They can also schedule an appointment with a JELD-WEN dealer to further discuss or purchase the product they configured online.

Visitors begin by choosing from JELD-WEN’s wide array of Custom door or window base models. After an online base model has loaded, which typically takes a few seconds, the visitor is prompted to select product options from different categories. As the user rolls over different options – colors, finishes, shapes – the product visually and instantly changes to represent the selection.

“The product visualization tool renders the door or window design options instantly—more quickly and with much better graphics than what we have seen anywhere in the industry,” stated Wendt. “The prompts are easy and the navigation is intuitive.”

For windows, visitors begin by selecting one of five types of windows to customize: casement, awning, double-hung, fixed, and sliding. Users are prompted to select exterior options such as cladding color, grille design, grille width, and glass.

Then users select from a variety of interior options such as factory prefinishes, and hardware. For doors, visitors select from one of 15 inspirational designs and choose options such as wood specie, factory prefinish, decorative metal accents, and decorative glass. Door and window selections can be rotated for an angled view, shared with a friend or a JELD-WEN dealer, or saved to a personal online design notebook for future use.

The tool features an online chat function that allows visitors to invite friends via email to check out the newly rendered design and chat in real-time. Visitors are not required to register an email address with the site to engage in the chat function.

“Live chat is a great way to collaborate with anyone whose opinion matters to you, like your architect, best friend or spouse,” Wendt explained. “People enjoy sharing their design configurations, getting immediate feedback, and making changes instantly.”

The tool also has a rollover zoom function so wood grain and glass textures are easy to see -- a feature much like those on high-end apparel shopping sites, which isn’t surprising since this technology has been successfully implemented with popular apparel brands.