ARki (Darf Design)
ARki (Darf Design) is a London-based bootstrapped studio that builds an augmented-reality app for visualising 3D architectural and interior designs at full scale on iOS, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro, serving architects, construction firms, design schools, and consumers through a freemium subscription model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What ARki (Darf Design) does
ARki (legally Darf Design LTD) is a London-based spatial-computing company that builds AR/3D visualisation software for architecture and interior design. Its flagship product, the ARki app, imports 3D models in FBX and GLB formats from industry-standard CAD/BIM tools (3ds Max, Maya, Blender, Cinema4D, Rhino, SketchUp, ArchiCAD, MicroStation) and renders them at full architectural scale in augmented reality on iOS, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. The platform features world anchors for mm-accurate placement, image anchors, LiDAR environment occlusion, dynamic lighting, annotations, explode animations, and a modular Kit-of-Parts builder. The ARki 12 "Room Planner" update (November 2024) extended the app into consumer-facing interior design with LiDAR room scanning, 2D/3D drawing, material customisation, and a catalogue of 1,000+ furniture models.
ARki operates a hybrid go-to-market: product-led, freemium distribution through the Apple App Store with a Pro subscription tier (monthly billing, 7-day free trial, USD-equivalent pricing set by Apple's matrix), supplemented by enterprise direct sales for projects such as Network Rail HUB Station and 7N Architects collaborations, plus design-education accounts (e.g., Parsons School of Design). The platform was rebuilt from Unity to Swift/RealityKit for the Apple Vision Pro, where ARki shipped as a day-one launch partner in February 2024 and was previously featured in Apple's 2020 iPad Pro M1 keynote.
The company is bootstrapped and founder-controlled by Sahar Fikouhi (former Foster + Partners architect, founder-CEO). Headcount stood at approximately 4 as of 2024, with no external funding disclosed. Marketing relies primarily on the Darf Blog, YouTube tutorials, the App Store, and earned media from Apple and AWE (Augmented World Expo) appearances, including the 2013 Best AR Mobile App award for the Hermaton installation.
ARki (Darf Design) firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ARki (Darf Design)
- Legal name
- Darf Design LTD
- Website
- https://darfdesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ARki (Darf Design) is a London-based bootstrapped studio that builds an augmented-reality app for visualising 3D architectural and interior designs at full scale on iOS, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro, serving architects, construction firms, design schools, and consumers through a freemium subscription model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ARki (Darf Design) industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Augmented Reality Visualization Software
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AR/VR & Spatial Computing (SLAM, 3D vision) (HDAAAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Immersive/Interactive Animation (AR/VR/Real-Time) (MPAHACAN), VR/AR Gaming Platforms (BPAMAKAG), Creator Tools & Content Pipelines for Immersive Learning (VR lesson builders, 3D asset workflows) (EDAFAJAL)
Keywords
Where ARki (Darf Design) is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
ARki (Darf Design) business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- ARki Pro Subscription: Freemium model with a free tier providing limited functionality and a Pro subscription unlocking full features. Subscriptions are billed through Apple App Store (iOS) with monthly and annual billing options. A 7-day free trial is offered for new Pro subscribers. Subscription payments are charged to the user's iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and upon each renewal term.
- ARki Pro Subscription: Paid Pro subscription tier providing full access to ARki features including advanced sharing, cloud sync, premium furniture library, and all editing capabilities. Cancellation can be done via iTunes settings at least 24 hours before the free trial period ends to avoid being charged.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier with limited functionality |
| Subscription | Monthly | ARki Pro Subscription |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
ARki (Darf Design) product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ARki is a proprietary augmented reality and spatial computing platform that lets users import 3D architectural models (FBX/GLB) from major CAD/BIM software and visualise them at full scale in AR on iOS, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. It is sold via a freemium App Store model with an ARki Pro subscription, supplemented by custom enterprise distribution and AR visualisation services for organisations such as Network Rail and design schools.
Product overview
ARki (Darf Design) is a spatial computing and augmented reality platform for architecture and interior design, consisting of the ARki core app as the primary product and the ARki: Room Planner sub-product as a major consumer-focused interior design update (v12). The platform operates on a freemium model (ARki Free vs. ARki Pro subscription) distributed via the Apple App Store, with enterprise custom distribution available. The core offering centers on importing 3D architectural models (FBX/GLB) from industry-standard software and viewing them at full scale in AR using iOS devices with LiDAR support. The Room Planner extension adds consumer-oriented room scanning, 2D/3D drawing tools, and a furniture catalog. ARki is available on iOS, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro (with spatial computing features), and also offers AR/3D visualization services for enterprise clients including Network Rail, architectural firms, and exhibition organizers. The platform also provides tutorials and learning resources as a complementary product component.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ARki: Room Planner: A major consumer-facing update to ARki focused on home renovation, room planning, and interior design for everyday users.
- ARki Pro
Products and services
- ARki App Core ARki application for iOS, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro that lets users import 3D architectural models (FBX/GLB), view them at full scale in AR, annotate designs, create interactive presentations, and share projects via QR codes or links. Available via freemium on the Apple App Store.
- ARki: Room Planner (ARki 12) Major consumer-focused update (version 12) of ARki for interior design. Adds LiDAR room scanning, 2D/3D floor plan drawing, a catalogue of 1,000+ furniture models, and material/colour customization. Targets homeowners and amateur designers alongside professionals, available on iOS, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro.
- AR/3D Visualization Services Design services using ARki for architectural and event visualisation, including Network Rail footbridge visualisation, Paddington Station wayfinding, HubStation modular builder showcases, and exhibition installations such as Hermaton. Delivered to enterprise clients and exhibition organisers.
- Custom / Enterprise App Distribution Custom-built or white-label versions of ARki for specific enterprise clients or use cases, including dedicated enterprise support ([email protected]), custom branding, and distribution outside the public App Store for Android and legacy iOS devices.
Quantifiable outcome
- Transformed a neglected Victorian terraced house into a four-bedroom family home with reduced design risk and fewer costly on-site changes by visualising layouts, extensions, and finishes in AR before construction.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ARki (Darf Design)
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ARki (Darf Design) technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration15 records
AI capability3 records
Feature15 records
ARki (Darf Design) partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Parsons School of DesignminorStudents at Parsons School of Design in New York used ARki to create digital spatial narratives, experimenting with 3D models superimposed throughout NYC to understand how their design ideas would impact the urban environment in real-time.
- Network RailcoreARki collaborated with Network Rail and 7N Architects to showcase the winning HUB Station modular design concept for Network Rail's Re-imagining Railway Stations Competition. ARki was used to visualise footbridges across UK stations and Paddington Station wayfinding signage at full architectural scale in AR. The collaboration produced the modular Kit-of-Parts (KOP) feature in ARki 10.
- 7N Architectscore7N Architects designed the winning HUB Station Kit-of-Parts modular station concept for Network Rail's competition. They collaborated with ARki to build the ARki 10 modular builder feature, allowing users to assemble station designs from the Kit-of-Parts component library in AR.
- Bosch ShineminorHermaton was exhibited at the Bosch Shine 2015 festival, bringing the AR spatial gaming installation to a new audience and venue.
- AWE (Augmented World Expo)minorAWE commissioned Darf Design to create the Hermaton AR spatial gaming installation for AWE 2013 in San Francisco. The project, a large-scale AR buzz wire maze installation, won Best Augmented Reality Mobile App at the event.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
ARki (Darf Design) competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Planner 5D: Consumer 2D/3D home design platform with AR viewing on iOS and Android. Competes with ARki's Room Planner for homeowners and amateur designers, with a much larger user base and cross-platform availability.
- Roomle: AR-based room planning and furniture configuration platform for both consumers and retailers. Directly comparable to ARki's room planning and furniture catalog features, with white-label offerings for furniture brands.
- Twinmotion (Epic Games): Epic Games' real-time architectural visualization tool that supports VR and immersive presentation of BIM/CAD models. Competes with ARki in the professional architectural visualization space, though primarily desktop/VR focused rather than mobile AR.
- Enscape (Chaos): Real-time rendering and VR plugin for Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, and Archicad. Competes with ARki in immersive architectural visualization for architects, though focused on desktop VR rather than mobile AR at scale.
- Magicplan: Mobile AR floor plan scanning and interior design app with LiDAR support. Overlaps significantly with ARki's Room Planner features (LiDAR scanning, 2D/3D drawing), targeting homeowners, contractors, and real estate professionals.
- Fologram: Fologram builds AR tools specifically for architects, designers, and makers using HoloLens, iOS, and Android. It is one of the closest direct competitors to ARki, focusing on bringing 3D models from Rhino/Grasshopper into AR for full-scale architectural visualization.
Broad incumbents
- Adobe Aero: Adobe's AR authoring and viewing app for designers. Broad incumbent with general AR authoring tools that overlaps with ARki's design presentation use cases, especially for designers already in the Adobe ecosystem.
- IKEA Place: IKEA's official AR app for placing true-to-scale 3D furniture in real rooms. A broad incumbent with massive distribution and a constrained furniture catalog, competing with ARki in consumer AR furniture visualization.
- Trimble (SketchUp): Major architectural 3D modeling platform with AR viewing capabilities and a large professional user base. Broad incumbent that competes with ARki's professional architectural visualization use cases, particularly among existing SketchUp customers.
- Houzz Pro: Houzz's professional platform combines 3D floor planning, AR viewing, and a large product marketplace. Competes with ARki across both professional architectural workflows and homeowner interior design, with a much larger user base.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ARki (Darf Design) social profiles
Digital presenceARki (Darf Design) financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ARki (Darf Design) leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
ARki (Darf Design) funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ARki (Darf Design) M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ARki (Darf Design)
What does ARki (Darf Design) do?
ARki is a proprietary augmented reality and spatial computing platform that lets users import 3D architectural models (FBX/GLB) from major CAD/BIM software and visualise them at full scale in AR on iOS, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro. It is sold via a freemium App Store model with an ARki Pro subscription, supplemented by custom enterprise distribution and AR visualisation services for organisations such as Network Rail and design schools.
Is ARki (Darf Design) a public or private company?
ARki (Darf Design) is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ARki (Darf Design) founded?
ARki (Darf Design) was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ARki (Darf Design) based?
ARki (Darf Design) is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does ARki (Darf Design) make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. ARki Pro Subscription is the primary driver. The others are ARki Pro Subscription.
Who are ARki (Darf Design)'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Planner 5D, Roomle, Twinmotion (Epic Games), Enscape (Chaos), Magicplan and Fologram. Broad incumbents are Adobe Aero, IKEA Place, Trimble (SketchUp) and Houzz Pro.
Does ARki (Darf Design) have an API?
No public API is recorded for ARki (Darf Design).
What industry is ARki (Darf Design) in?
ARki (Darf Design)'s product category is Augmented Reality Visualization Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAEAJ, AR/VR & Spatial Computing (SLAM, 3D vision), with a secondary code of MPAHACAN, Immersive/Interactive Animation (AR/VR/Real-Time). Its SIC code is 7373.