NEW YORK—Designtex, a leading designer and manufacturer of applied materials for the built environment, has added a new search feature to its website, designtex.com: Image Search. Informed by a deep understanding of how interior designers work and the rise of the use of digital tools in the material selection process, Designtex now offers a fast, visually driven search experience to explore the company’s catalogue and easily find the perfect match from a vast array of textiles, wallcoverings, and applied materials.
Developed in collaboration with Stylib, a tech startup specializing in the creation of digital tools meant to enhance the specification process, Image Search was embedded throughout Designtex’s website, using a lightweight widget styled to complement the existing site experience.
Stylib’s AI technology powers the experience behind the scenes. When a designer uploads an image or selects a swatch, the system analyzes the visual content to detect architectural surfaces. It then suggests relevant Designtex products based on visual similarity—helping specifiers find what they’re looking for intelligently and efficiently. Image Search then allows the user to refine the results further according to project needs, such as price, finish, cleaning code, and more, using filters.
Designers can now click directly on any swatch image and instantly explore visually similar products from the full catalogue. This turns static assets into active entry points, encouraging deeper exploration and making it easier to move from inspiration to specification in a single click.
A More Intuitive, Visually Driven Customer Experience
“Architectural specification is visual first—often starting from an image or a visual concept. With Image Search, we leverage AI to complement this process,” says Noam Naveh, CEO, Stylib. “The tool helps architects and interior designers work more intuitively by moving instantly from inspiration to relevant products. We are seeing growing demand for this workflow, and it is exciting to see market leaders like Designtex setting the standard for a more intuitive, visually driven customer experience.”
The use of image searches and AI is on the rise among designers, helping simplify product discovery and offer alternates with ease. The change allows for faster workflow, expanding options and zeroing in on products that meet specification needs using filters. Using Image Search, a user can quickly find what they’re looking for, order a sample, and place an order.
“Our clients often work with visual references—from images found online to photos captured by the designers themselves,” says Claire Mann, Director of Digital Products + Strategy. “Our sales teams regularly receive requests to match design and color inspiration to a product from our catalogue, so providing designers with Image Search made absolute sense for us.”
Designtex is always seeking to understand and anticipate designers’ needs and will continue to research innovative ways to contribute to the industry through their products that combine beauty, utility, and sustainability. To learn more or experience Image Search, visit designtex.com.
