For over three decades, Dunster House Ltd has been a cornerstone of British craftsmanship and innovation in the garden building industry. Founded in 1994 by Christopher and Pamela Murphy, the family run company has grown from a modest 1,000 sq ft workshop into a thriving enterprise with 13 factory units across the UK and 8 more in Europe. With a product range that spans everything from log cabins and climbing frames to summerhouses, gazebos, and garages, Dunster House is now recognised as the UK’s leading garden buildings company.

Behind the brand’s success lies a deep commitment to quality, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement. That same spirit of innovation led Dunster House to adopt Cadasio, a modern visual communication platform designed to transform 3D CAD data into interactive online experiences.

The Challenge: Moving Beyond 2D Instructions

Before implementing Cadasio, Dunster House relied on Autodesk Inventor to create 2D assembly instructions for customers. While this method worked, it came with challenges.

Creating and maintaining detailed 2D views was time-consuming, especially when designs changed. Presentation views could take considerable effort to update, and customers sometimes struggled to interpret complex 2D drawings.

As a company that takes pride in delivering a smooth experience from purchase to assembly, Dunster House saw room for improvement. They wanted a solution that would make their customer instructions more intuitive, engaging, and accessible.

Discovering Cadasio

The team discovered Cadasio through a combination of online research and a colleague’s recommendation. The decision to move forward was driven by one standout feature, the ability to share interactive 3D instructions directly with customers via a simple web link.

Cadasio’s browser-based platform offered an immediate advantage. There was no need for customers to install additional software or navigate complex interfaces. Instead, they could zoom, rotate, and explore exploded 3D views of their products from any device, gaining a much clearer understanding of how to assemble them.

Transforming the Customer Experience

Dunster House quickly saw how Cadasio could enhance the way they communicated with customers. Instead of static 2D drawings, users could now interact with the model itself, visualising exactly how components fit together.

Feedback from customers has been positive, with many appreciating the option to access both YouTube videos and Cadasio powered 3D visuals for added clarity.

“Cadasio has been used as an additional way to share information with customers, alongside printed copies, our online portal, and YouTube videos. The response has been very positive.”  said Georgios Protopapas, R&D and Design Manager.

For Dunster House this will lead to a reduction in customer service calls, fewer misunderstandings, and happier customers, all key to maintaining their trusted reputation for quality and care.

A Real-World Success: The Thunderdam Porch Project

One standout example of Cadasio’s impact came with the launch of Dunster House’s Thunderdam porches.

Explaining how to connect the porch to a home’s façade could have been complex using traditional methods. With Cadasio, however, Dunster House was able to clearly demonstrate the process through interactive, exploded 3D steps that customers could view and manipulate online.

“It was particularly effective for explaining critical areas such as how to connect the porch to the facade of a house.” said Georgios.

This approach not only made the instructions easier to understand but also reinforced customer confidence in assembling their new purchase correctly the first time.

Streamlined Implementation and Simple Onboarding

For Dunster House’s design team, the transition to Cadasio was straightforward. Tutorials and example projects made it easy to get started, and Cadasio integrated neatly into their existing documentation workflow.

The company now uses Cadasio to create interactive step-by-step guides based on view representations from Autodesk Inventor. Looking ahead, they plan to enhance these further by linking each step to a unique QR code, allowing customers to scan and instantly view the corresponding 3D instruction.

This innovative use of Cadasio is another example of how Dunster House continues to embrace digital tools to elevate the customer experience.

A Culture of Innovation and Responsibility

Under the leadership of Christopher Murphy MBE, and now with his sons Alexander and Andrew at the helm, Dunster House has built a legacy grounded in innovation, responsibility, and care for people.

All design concepts originate in the UK before being prototyped and manufactured across their European and UK factories. Rigorous testing ensures that every product meets the company’s high standards for quality and durability.

Beyond business success, Dunster House also stands out for its social impact. The company has a dedicated Humanitarian department that develops practical solutions for humanitarian crises, including the supply of essential sanitation equipment to NGOs worldwide. They have also been recognised for their support of the Armed Forces community, earning the Silver Award as part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

With over 860 employees across Europe and plans to recruit an additional 120 by the end of 2025, Dunster House continues to grow while staying true to its family values and customer-first philosophy.

The Impact of Cadasio

Since adopting Cadasio, Dunster House has achieved:

  • Clearer customer instructions through interactive 3D guides.
  • Reduced customer confusion and fewer support queries.
  • Faster documentation updates when product designs change.
  • A consistent, engaging experience across digital and printed materials.

The partnership has been a natural fit. As Dunster House modernises its customer communication, Cadasio provides the perfect bridge between traditional design and the interactive expectations of today’s online audience.

Looking Ahead

Dunster House plans to expand its use of Cadasio in exciting ways. By incorporating QR codes linked to live 3D views within printed manuals, customers will soon be able to transition seamlessly from paper to digital, ensuring they always have the guidance they need.

It is a forward thinking approach that reflects both companies shared commitment to innovation and continuous improvement.

In Their Words

When asked to describe Cadasio in one sentence, Georgios said:

“Easy to use and even easier for communicating clear information.”

That statement captures exactly why the collaboration works so well. Both Cadasio and Dunster House believe that clarity and quality go hand in hand and that when customers understand, everyone benefits.

Conclusion

From its humble beginnings to becoming a market leader, Dunster House Ltd has always been driven by a passion for excellence. By adopting Cadasio, they have taken another confident step forward in enhancing the customer experience, simplifying communication, and setting a new standard for how product instructions should look and feel in the modern age.

As Dunster House continues to innovate in design, manufacturing, and customer support, Cadasio remains proud to play a role in helping this family run British success story bring its products and its customer experience to life.