RAUM vs. Mural:
Conclusion: Social VR with
purpose and structure
vs.
When should you switch?
Mural is the perfect tool for tightly moderated method workshops. RAUM is the solution for teams that have outgrown the template. If collaboration shouldn’t stop at documentation but live on in the space, RAUM delivers the decisive added value.
Why teams look for a Mural alternative
Mural shines with structure, design-thinking templates, and facilitation features. But that same methodological rigor often becomes a barrier in day-to-day project work:
- The “template trap”: Creativity often ends where the template’s box ends.
- Information loss after the workshop: Results get exported or “frozen” instead of staying alive as part of the project.
- Cognitive overload: In 2D boards, the meta-level view is quickly lost when topics are complex.
The consequence: Teams look for a Mural alternative when they want to not just “run workshops” but think and develop together over time.
The fundamental difference:
Methodology vs. environment
Mural delivers the process—RAUM delivers the place.
- Mural (The method board): A tool for guided processes. Content is organized along predefined phases. Focus is on facilitation.
- RAUM (The workspace): An environment for free exploration. Topics exist in space and persist. Focus is on exploration and depth.
Feature comparison:
RAUM vs. Mural at a glance
| Aspect | Mural (method focus) | RAUM (environment focus) |
|---|---|---|
| Working principle | 2D whiteboard with templates | Spatial 3D workspace |
| Core strength | Moderated short workshops | Ongoing project work |
| Method guidance | Very strong (timer, voting, etc.) | Flexible & self-directed |
| Persistence | Boards & documentation | Lasting, usable spaces |
| Complexity | Phase-based / sequential | Spatial & contextual |
| Sense of presence | Functional (cursor) | Immersive (co-presence) |
When Mural remains the right choice
Mural is unbeatable for design sprints, retrospectives, and clearly structured innovation formats. When you need to guide a group through a fixed process in a tight timeframe, Mural gives facilitators the guardrails and tools they need.
Why RAUM beats Mural
RAUM breaks the limits of the classic workshop. It’s the workspace for the time between sessions.
1. Collaboration without an “expiry date”
While Mural boards often end up in the digital archive after the workshop, RAUM stays. Teams pick up exactly where they left off. Context doesn’t need to be “warmed up” again every time.
2. Grasping relationships intuitively
In RAUM, relationships between ideas are shown not only by lines but by spatial depth and proximity. That lowers cognitive load: the brain reads the project structure as naturally as a physical office.
3. rom output to experience
Decisions in RAUM feel more real. Teams report that strong co-presence keeps them more engaged and that they don’t just “capture” results but bring them to life together.
Conclusion: When collaboration doesn’t end with the workshop
RAUM is the Mural alternative for teams that want to go beyond methodological frameworks. If you need facilitation and frameworks, use Mural. If you want to experience connections and develop projects sustainably, you need RAUM.
The alternative to Mural when collaboration doesn’t end with the workshop.