Vieunite Pushes Low-Brightness Digital Canvases for Hotels and Offices
2026-09-16 · via AV Magazine
Vieunite, the sister company of UK digital signage manufacturer Allsee Technologies, is positioning its Textura Pro displays against the industry trend toward brighter screens, arguing that lower brightness levels serve art and wellbeing-focused installations better than standard digital signage specs.
In an interview with AV Magazine, Vieunite founder and managing director Baoli Zhao said the company settled on 350 nits as what he calls the right brightness for showing curated artwork without glare or a washed-out look. That is well below the brightness levels many commercial display makers tout as a selling point, particularly for high-ambient-light retail and outdoor applications. Zhao says the combination of that brightness level with what the company calls texture-accurate technology, anti-glare coating and wood frames is meant to make screens read as art objects rather than signage, to the point where he says viewers sometimes touch the display to check if it is a real canvas.
The product line, Vieunite Pro, is aimed at hospitality and, increasingly, corporate workplaces. According to Zhao, the company has installed Textura Digital Canvas units at Meta's UK headquarters, blending curated art with internal communications content. He says staff training on the cloud-based content system takes five minutes, which matters for hotel and office operators who do not want dedicated AV staff managing seasonal content changes. The pitch to those buyers includes reduced printing and poster waste, plus lower power draw than what Zhao describes as a standard commercial display, though the announcement does not provide specific wattage or cost-of-ownership figures.
Hardware sizes have expanded from an original 27-inch model to 33-inch and 55-inch versions, based on what Zhao says has been strong demand for different form factors. He also confirmed an e-paper version of Textura Pro is in development, though no timeline was given.
On the content side, Vieunite's differentiator is a curated art catalogue built over three years by cultural director Dr Benedict Carpenter van Barthold, including licensing arrangements with artists and partnerships such as the National Galleries of Scotland. The company has also just added artwork from comedian Leigh Francis to its collection. Separately, Vieunite has a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Nottingham Trent University researching how biophilic digital artwork affects wellbeing in smart buildings.
For signage operators, the interview is less about new hardware specs than about a positioning argument: that in hospitality and workplace settings, screens tuned for gallery-like presentation and low intrusiveness may compete on different terms than brightness-and-resolution-led commercial displays. What the announcement does not address is pricing, panel supplier details, or how Textura Pro's total cost of ownership compares numerically against competing commercial display lines.
The announcement in full
Reproduced from AV Magazine for reference. Digital Signage Magazine did not write the text below.
By AV Magazine in Displays September 15, 2026 0
The Vieunite founder tell us that ever brighter displays are not the answer to presenting curated art without glare and supporting wellbeing in hospitality spaces.
Baoli Zhao is the founder and managing director of Allsee Technologies and its more recently established sister company Vieunite.
Zhao has spent nearly 20 years building Allsee into one of Europe’s leading digital signage manufacturers, but throughout that time he has believed displays should enhance a space, not dominate it.
Vieunite is the result of that thinking: it is a company that combines curated art and technology, with an emphasis on wellbeing, to create environments that people genuinely enjoy spending time in.
He speaks to us just as the company announces that its art collection will feature the pop art and personality-infused artwork of comedian and TV presenter Leigh Francis – famous for his Bo Selecta! and Keith Lemon characters.
AV: What gap in the market did you see that inspired you to found Vieunite Pro? BZ: Having spent some significant time travelling and in hotels around the world, I noticed that many beautiful hotels had invested heavily in their interior design, yet the digital signage displays often felt disconnected from the space. Rather than enhancing the guest experience, they sometimes overwhelmed it. That sparked the idea of creating technology that could become part of the design, rather than interrupting it. To that end, I set about developing Vieunite Pro and the Textura digital canvas, which is a specially designed screen that presents artwork in a natural and authentic way.
AV: Why do you believe art has an important role in commercial spaces?
BZ: I am so pleased you asked that, as there is way more to Vieunite than just the screen or as we like to call it, the digital canvas. Our cultural director, Dr Benedict Carpenter van Barthold, who is an artist himself, has spent the past three years compiling and curating a huge collection of digitised art from various artists and galleries around the world. Much of this artwork is exclusive to Vieunite Pro and our clients and allows them to complement the environment they have so carefully created with a mix of unique artwork and low-key digital signage that is much more in keeping with the vibe of the hotel. We even have collections of carefully curated artworks to fit almost every commercial context. I don’t know of any other company that has invested so heavily in creating this type of art catalogue to support the artists themselves with licensing monies, as well as provide the client with a massive selection of different and original artwork.
AV: How are these digital canvases different from standard digital signage?
BZ: Most companies are pushing higher and higher brightness, which is an issue for artwork as it can cause glare, and artwork can appear almost washed out or shrill to the viewer. We have found that a 350-nit screen is actually the perfect brightness and solution to take away those issues and create soft fascination, an experience that makes people ‘lean in’. Textura Pro has texture-accurate technology and anti-glare technology built in and with the authentic wood frames this successfully exhibits the art and imagery with gallery-like presence. It has to be seen to be believed, and often people even touch the display to see if it is an actual canvas. The operation of the Textura Pro is also very easy. Staff training takes just five minutes, allowing non-technical employees to easily update scheduled playlists and audio-visual announcements via the cloud portal. This eliminates the need for continual printing and disposal of seasonal posters, significantly reducing paper waste, transportation and production costs. Combined with its energy-efficient 350-nit display technology, Textura Pro helps hotels and all the other verticals we sell into to reduce their environmental footprint, whilst supporting wider ESG objectives within the company and all without compromising the guest experience or design. In fact, we add positive impact to that experience….
AV: Is Vieunite Pro only for hotels, or does it have more applications?
BZ: Whilst hotels and hospitality remain our primary focus, we’ve seen growing interest from large organisations looking to create more engaging, inspiring workplace environments. Creating a workplace people genuinely want to spend time in now requires much more than bean bags and table tennis. Employee wellbeing, engagement and communication have become strategic priorities for organisations seeking to attract, retain and connect their teams.
Vieunite Pro helps organisations address these challenges by creating a new channel for internal communications that feels integrated into the workplace rather than intrusive. Alongside company news, announcements and key business updates, displays can seamlessly transition to curated artwork and nature-inspired imagery, helping create calmer, more welcoming spaces. This approach enables organisations to communicate more effectively while avoiding the visual fatigue often associated with traditional digital signage.
This isn’t just a concept – it’s already being put into practice. At Meta’s UK headquarters, Vieunite Pro’s Textura Digital Canvas was installed to enhance the workplace experience by blending curated digital art with internal communications, creating a more inspiring environment that supports collaboration, creativity and employee engagement.
Our approach is also underpinned by ongoing academic research. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Nottingham Trent University, Vieunite has been exploring how digital displays of biophilic (nature-inspired) artwork can positively influence health, wellbeing and comfort within smart buildings. The research examines how thoughtfully curated digital content can help strengthen people’s connection with nature and contribute to healthier, more human-centric environments.
Research consistently shows that exposure to art and nature-inspired imagery can reduce stress, improve mood and contribute to more positive workplace environments. Organisations are increasingly recognising that employee experience isn’t just about functionality – it’s about creating spaces people genuinely want to be in while providing meaningful ways to communicate with their workforce.
Ultimately, we’re not just selling another display. We’re helping organisations rethink how digital technology, internal communications and art work together to enhance the atmosphere, culture and experience of a building.
BZ: Both in the home environment and at work, there is a huge interest in art, but until now the screens themselves were not optimised to display that art… As stated, Vieunite was specifically designed to show art in a realistic and faithful way. The standard Vieunite Home digital canvases are aimed directly at the domestic end consumer, who wants to experience a wide variety of artwork at home. Vieunite Pro is designed for the B2B market, where content will likely be refreshed more regularly and the longevity of the product in situ is really important as well. Since the launch of our original 27” product, we have now developed a 33” and a 55”, as the demand for different sizes has been strong. Through Vieunite Pro, we are growing our partner network and have won a number of high-profile projects that were down to the mix of our dedicated digital canvases, our art collection, as well as the environmental side and, of course, the high level of support we provide.
AV: Where do you see the market heading over the next five years?
BZ: With companies encouraging employees to come back into their offices, upgrading the environment is a key topic for employers. I believe that workplaces will continue to improve employees’ working environments by including art as part of their architectural design. AI can even be used to create further personalisation and wellbeing. Hospitality is becoming more and more experience-led and of course all verticals are considering sustainability. These are all areas where Vieunite Pro scores well, as our digital canvases have a far lower power consumption than a standard TV or commercial display and so the cost of ownership is way lower over a five-year period. An epaper version of Textura Pro is also in development.
AV: What conversations are you having with architects, designers and workplace consultants?
BZ: Workplace design has evolved significantly in recent years. Organisations of all sizes are moving beyond rows of hot desks and generic meeting rooms to create environments that better support collaboration, wellbeing and productivity. Today’s workplaces are expected to perform in multiple ways, from providing acoustically suitable spaces for hybrid meetings and video calls to creating welcoming environments that leave a positive impression on both employees and visitors.
At the same time, management teams face the ongoing challenge of embedding company culture, communicating strategic priorities and keeping employees engaged across increasingly dispersed workforces. Traditional meetings, posters and emails are not always enough to reinforce key messages or encourage engagement. Vieunite Pro offers a more creative approach by combining inspiring digital artwork with company news, internal communications and corporate messaging. The result is a communication channel that feels integrated into the workplace rather than intrusive, helping important messages stand out while enhancing the overall atmosphere of a space.
AV: Where do you see immersive digital art heading over the next few years?
BZ: With the advent of AI, 3D and other immersive displays, I believe you will see an explosion of AI and artwork presented in digital mediums. However, we are keen to support our featured artists who have worked so hard to produce their original content and develop their style. I believe that over time, you will see more and more AI-led artwork, but you simply can’t beat the genuine and original artwork developed by our featured artists. Our curatorial Team has also cultivated many high value partnerships, with organisations like the National Galleries of Scotland. It’s amazing that we can support national heritage at the same time as offering a great experience of art to our clients. Ben has done such a great job for us in that area.
Baoli Zhao is founder and managing director of Vieunite .