The ever-expanding field of virtual reality incorporates the design elements in a good number but not in the way we are used to seeing. UX/UI Design in Virtual Reality takes a different turn from the traditional role. While there are many features that of a product design that can be directly transferred to the field of virtual reality, but there are a different set of requirements that a designer would require. Virtual reality, along with the augmented reality, is the fast-growing fields, especially in the digital product areas. And as most suggest that these two are the future of technology. This means as a UX/UI Designer, and it is crucial for you to understand how you can use go beyond the traditional UX/UI design methods and use them in the VR. Along with the unique skill sets and the elements required to make the transfer from UX/UI design into Virtual Reality.
Virtual Reality Approaches To UX Design
When it comes to turning UX Designs to Virtual Reality experiences, it tends to go beyond what we see and understand. There are some of the traditional end-product designs but what you as a UX designer would focus on, is the application of the designs to the consumers. The aim is to ensure that it’s not just the touch screen or the mobile app feature that is into place. But also the user’s body and senses are being used for the virtual reality experience.
Some of the approaches that Virtual Reality UX heavily banks on is as follows:
Optional
The most important factor of having a user enter the world of Virtual Reality UX is to ensure that they are opting for it. The privacy, identity, exit and safety of the user is the topmost priority.
Inclusive
Since both the fields of Virtual Reality and UX Design comes down to the user’s consumption of the content, it is crucial that nobody feels excluded. The designs must be made in a way that includes people from all walks of life despite physical abilities.
Safety
The transfer of UX design to Virtual Reality can be tricky. But as a designer, it is your responsibility to make sure that the user is safe in the environment they are enrolling themselves into. Overexposure to VR can harm the physical and mental well-being of the user.
Comprehensive
You know you have done a fine job in incorporating UX design in VR when your users are able to understand the environment they are getting in. When the users enter the virtual reality arena, they must be guided through, feel present and empowered.
Interactive
As said earlier, it all comes down the user’s experience. As a designer, the right message of your product must reach the audience. The way your audience interacts with your product depends on how much you are able to explain by your design and how much they are able to understand. And when it comes to Virtual Reality UX, things tend to go faster ten times. Empowering your audience to understand, pick, shape and create within the design will help increase the interactivity.
How To Meet UX Requirements in Virtual Reality Experiences?
With UX design entering the Virtual Reality, the rules can be turned and twisted a bit. You can choose to design entirely new environments for your users, along with new controls and experiences. However, you must always ensure that the end product reflects the message that you seek to deliver to your audience. The idea is to create a digital world that is closest to the real world but can be experienced differently without many efforts.
For example, a person should be able to use the virtual reality product and move to another country (mentally) while sitting on a couch at home. The aim is to bridge the gap between the physical world and the virtual world.
Stationary
When the VR products are stationary, the users tend to rely on things that are comfortable and safe. In most cases, the designs and the visuals are created in a way that the objects come to the user without the user moving away from their position.
Another critical factor is being able to incorporate senses within the equipment. As a UX designer, it becomes essential for you to make sure that the Virtua Reality experience leaves a good impact on the audience. Your job here is to reinforce the environment on virtual reality and make it similar to what the user sees outside.
Full Movement
Full movement in Virtual Reality is not that common, and it requires super-tough UX Design. It requires a certain level of physical engineering and designers that can go beyond the basic product design knowledge. Apart from having the perfect design layout, the VR equipment must also provide comfort and safety to the users. Thye must be able to prevent accidents from and fatigue.
In the case of a full-movement VR, the system is usually in a featureless room. The sophisticated techniques used to create the Virtual Reality UX for full-movement designs ensure that the environments provided by the VR match the user’s reality.
Conclusion
Every time there is a virtual reality product that aims at interacting directly with the non-technical people, UX Designs will play a decisive role in presenting the product to the user. It requires the UX designers to be attentive and adaptive towards what the users want and how will they interact with the product.
