When evaluating a used car, I realized the core problem: inspection process is compromised by context. Online, 2D photos can't convey condition. On the lot, you're under pressure—seller watching, conscious of time. You can't inspect the way you would at home: slowly, from every angle, without friction.
I built CarViewer to restore that freedom. Let buyers conduct thorough inspection in their own environment before meeting the dealer. An interactive 3D model they can rotate, zoom, compare at their pace. By the time they arrive at the lot, they already know what they're evaluating.
The Design
Split-pane layout: 3D model on left, structured vehicle data on right. This mirrors how professional inspectors work—constantly cross-referencing visual condition with specs.
Points of Interest (POI) system lets sellers tag damage directly on the 3D body. A dent gets a pin with photo, description, repair estimate. Transparent documentation instead of hidden issues.
Three camera modes based on how people actually inspect:
- Orbit: freely rotate at your pace
- Cinematic: guided fly-throughs highlighting features
- Orthographic: top-down and profile views revealing alignment issues
The Craft Required
Photorealistic 3D doesn't come from pointing an iPhone at a car. I developed a capture protocol: iPhone with polarizing filter (eliminates reflections), strict shooting pattern (consistent distance/height, overlapping frames), then manual optimization—reviewing every model for artifacts, adjusting lighting, sharpening details.
This human-in-the-loop step separates professional results from "good enough" that erodes trust. The technology is just the tool. The real work is understanding user needs and doing the careful work to meet them.
Design Grounded in Real Behavior
The split-pane layout exists because that's how you actually inspect something—rotating the object while checking specs simultaneously. The POI system came from understanding that damage is only scary when hidden. The three camera modes appeared because people rotate, zoom, and examine from different angles naturally.
I didn't design from a framework. Every decision came from imagining how someone would actually use this to evaluate a $20,000 purchase.
CarViewer is a complete retrospective of what happens when you focus design around a single real problem: restoring buyer confidence in high-stakes purchases. The 3D technology is the vehicle. The product thinking is what matters.