This relates to an older post that I made on the Hazeron forums years ago where I suggested Normal Maps. After learning the ins and outs of how the server’s ram is managed (and how every design needs to be suspended in the server’s ram), I think a better suggestion than just normal maps is to start composing a library of textures that have all the relevant maps that are needed and make them so these textures are client-side as opposed to server side.
These textures could then be used as default textures in both the Complex (new) and Simple (old) designers, pairing up nicely with the idea of having various different flooring/wall “options” for the simple designers.
This would then also allow new complex designs of ships to be made that have very detailed textures that do not chug the server.
Ultimately, there only ever need to be 1-3 varients of each “style” texture so long as options to change rendering options like hue, luminousity, gloss/metallic exist. And since this game is now OpenSource, it allows for more flexible assets to be used as well.