Denisse Luna
What does it take for an independent lighting and hardware studio to stand out in a crowded landscape? For Dutton Brown, the answer lies in pairing bold creativity with digital tools that connect them with specifiers at the right moment. In this 5-minute read, Thomas Brown, CEO of Dutton Brown, shares how the brand has strengthened its visibility, reached architects earlier, and amplified its growth through BIMobject.
Dutton Brown is a Minneapolis-based lighting and hardware manufacturer celebrated for its expressive use of color. With more than 200 configurable products, the team is known for helping designers coordinate color and finish across entire spaces.
As part of their digital evolution, they invested in creating CAD files for their whole collection. However, production was only the first step; the real challenge was ensuring that architects could easily locate and utilize those models.
Listing assets on their website helped, but it didn’t create the discoverability they needed. That visibility search led them to BIMobject’s global marketplace.
“BIMobject makes our brand discoverable in a way that would’ve taken years on our own.” — Thomas Brown, CEO, Dutton Brown
One of the first advantages Thomas noticed was how easy it was to explore the platform: how intuitive it is to browse competitors, explore adjacent categories, and understand how established manufacturers present their BIM content. That clarity made it easier to position Dutton Brown’s library effectively.
“We were drawn to how simple the platform is to explore,” Thomas says. “The filters and search features make it easy to discover new brands and products, and the interface makes it straightforward to associate technical details, color options, and company information with your models.”
This strong link between brand and product information made BIMobject a natural choice for launching their BIM library.
• Read more about How BIMobject supports brand visibility for manufacturers
Dutton Brown’s philosophy centers on color. Bringing that identity into BIMobject was critical for standing out among neutral-dominant categories.
The team added swatches of their 13 signature colors directly beneath the main product image on each listing. Designers scrolling through a search page instantly differentiated Dutton Brown from other brands.
This consistency across their library reinforced the message that color is integral to their product line.
• You can explore their approach on Dutton Brown’s brand page on bimobject.com.
Activity began immediately after publishing. Using BIMobject insights, the team tracked:
The benefits were clear:
“In our category, there are over 130 brands,” Thomas notes. “We landed in the top ten within the first month or two.”
Before going live, BIMobject’s specialists reviewed each listing to ensure data quality and long-term scalability. The structured tiers and add-ons made it easier for Dutton Brown to adjust their strategy as their presence grew.
“You start seeing what people around the world are downloading, which file types they prefer, and what they’re searching for,” Thomas says. “It’s exciting as you expand your presence.”
Thomas highlights the value of having BIMobject experts guiding each part of the process, from selecting the right plan to configuring listings to reviewing files for quality.
“They’re responsive, they know the platform, and they help you present your brand in the best way,” he says. “The experience has been great from start to finish.”
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Access to architectural traffic and specification-minded users has been one of the most impactful parts of Dutton Brown’s BIMobject experience. For a studio optimizing its marketing budget, reaching highly qualified specifiers through organic discovery creates a significant advantage.
“You’re getting real architectural leads,” Thomas explains. “Achieving this through Google or Meta would be far more expensive. With BIMobject, we’re able to punch above our weight.”
This visibility positions the brand as credible, reliable, and ready for specification. → Discover how BIMobject helps manufacturers scale specifier engagement.
Credibility is a crucial element for emerging or independent manufacturers entering the architectural workflow. BIM content signals readiness to collaborate at a professional level.
“Brands associated with BIMobject are taken seriously,” Thomas says. “It reinforces that you’ve invested in the tools architects rely on.”
For Dutton Brown, BIMobject enhances both brand identity and business strategy, enabling them to connect with specifiers who value design, customization, and reliability.
Book a demo with us today and see how BIMobject can support your digital strategy.
Case study summary
Q: Why should manufacturers create BIM files for their products?
A: Manufacturers who invest in BIM files make their products easier for architects and designers to specify during early planning stages. BIM improves visibility, reduces specification friction, and strengthens credibility in digital workflows. Dutton Brown experienced this immediately after launching their BIM library.
Q: What makes BIMobject valuable for smaller or emerging manufacturers?
A: BIMobject helps smaller manufacturers compete with larger brands by placing their BIM content in front of millions of specifiers. It levels the playing field by offering structured product listings, global reach, analytics, and marketing tools. Dutton Brown noted that architectural leads acquired through BIMobject would have been significantly more expensive through traditional channels
Q: What kind of results can manufacturers expect after publishing on BIMobject?
A: Manufacturers typically see an increase in product views, downloads, and specifier engagement. Many also gain insight into popular file types, global interest, and product performance. In Dutton Brown’s case, their brand reached top ranking in their category within the first months.
Q: Why is BIM becoming a key part of marketing and sales for building product manufacturers?
A: More projects begin with digital workflows, and architects increasingly expect manufacturer-specific BIM content. Offering BIM files supports early-stage decision-making and increases the chance of being selected in actual building projects. Manufacturers adopting BIM now position themselves for long-term competitiveness.
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