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UX Design In The Metaverse

The Future Of UX Design In The Metaverse

As the metaverse gradually yet relentlessly seeps into our everyday lives, businesses and digital professionals are asking what this change could mean for their future endeavors. And among those posing the question are UX designers. So what will be the state of UX design in the metaverse?

The best we can do is make educated guesses based on research and moves already made in the metaverse field, although they are not as far-reaching as the term “metaverse” caught buzz. In this article, we will explore how a growing virtual world could potentially help immerse users and incentivize them.

The Basic Fibers of a Metaverse

The term “metaverse” is far from getting attached to one proven definition. Whatmore, the term is, so soon after its birth, already on the crumbling edge of becoming a buzzword. Companies and tech CEOs are throwing it around, attaching it to their ambitious pitches and presentations, disguised as definitions.

We’ll provide a broad definition. The important thing for this article is to keep in mind that both a broad and narrow definition wouldn’t change the upcoming trends in UX design we’ll list below.

The Influencer Marketing Hub defines the metaverse as an ever-active and self-contained virtual space that evolves in real-time, full of users that generate content. Notice how they used the phrase “self-contained”. It’s important to keep that in mind, as many visionary (and problematic) tech CEOs try to speak of one supposedly unified metaverse. Such an endeavor is far from being made. Who would create it, and which rules and regulations would it follow? A unified metaverse would be akin to our planet unifying in the real world into a single country – a nearly impossible and unwelcome undertaking.

So instead of talking about “the metaverse”, it’d be more correct to talk about “a metaverse” or simply “metaverses”. Social media platforms, various organizations, and video game companies are, in droves, working on creating their self-contained digital ecosystems. These virtual spaces could radically reshape how users spend time online while interacting with platforms, companies, and organizations.

Now that we got that out of the way, we’ll move on to the trends that could dominate UX design in the metaverse.

UX Design In The Metaverse VR

How To Approach UX Design In The Metaverse

There are some universal rules to UX design (User Experience design). In the world of business, the goal is to provide users with a great experience while they interact with the online services and products of a company or brand. So, when making money online, it’s more about creating brand experiences than appearances.

Here are some (both new and evergreen) trends set to dominate UX design in the metaverse.

Design Stories

Good design needs good storytelling. We engage with enticing design through compelling stories, whether they be in the form of graphics, video games, products, brands, or services.

As the metaverse gears up, designers will need to visualize stories. That will help insightfully connect the infinite virtual experiences of a metaverse.

With the limitless design options provided by such a space, immersive storytelling – which is already crucial in video games – will undoubtedly be front and center of metaverse design.

Include Observational Design

Before you start weaving far-spanning narratives and user journeys, you should sit back and observe. As functional metaverses are in their infancy, you can learn a lot from following ambitious endeavors from companies, as well as their tweaks along the way. And you should understand how your users may potentially react to a metaverse setting.

Examine your competitors more closely and begin user testing. A solid base for progress is conducting an assessment of your current engagement statistics, audience demographics, and site analytics utilizing programs like Google Analytics.

And as we’ve said, UX designers must be aware of how their target demographic currently engages with the metaverse and grasp how their products and services will function in novel virtual settings.

Focus on Ethical Design

The bad follows the good. While metaverses may enhance positive experiences, think about how bullying could be more visceral than today’s cyberbullying. UX design decisions could be crucial for managing toxicity and limiting hurtful behavior.

Ethical design will be a focus as UX designers begin to create interconnected 3D environments that will allow people to work, buy and hang out securely. 

Work On Your 3D Design Skills

One of the most obvious shifts in UX design in the metaverse is the shift towards 3D design. Your user experience designs will be required to be 360 along with intuitiveness. A large chunk of metaverse experiences heavily relies on VR (virtual reality) headsets. Some startups and tech giants already offer users immersive 3D shopping experiences.

So a practical thing to do as a UX designer would be to move from 2D sketching toward 3D modeling software (if you haven’t already).

Final Word

Change is an opportunity, but for now, the best advice is to be proactive and conduct extensive research. Start observing user behaviors outside of brick-and-mortar and the usual digital experiences. As a UX designer, start treating the metaverse as a new channel to add to a brand’s experience. That way, you’ll be much more ready to make the change and innovate when the time comes.

Virtual Reality in Business

Virtual Reality in Business

This is a quick guide to virtual reality (VR) in business.

In this new guide, we’ll address key topics such as:

  • The advantages of using virtual reality for business
  • The industries where VR is making the biggest leaps
  • The innovative applications that leverage VR technology

So if you’re looking to make VR part of your business operations, this guide is for you.

Let’s begin.

Virtual Reality in Business in 2021

Virtual Reality in Business 2021

Virtual reality isn’t a new concept. But over the last few years, it seems to have taken off, finally managing to cross over into the realm of practical application.

In fact, many experts see VR as the future of work. 

Still, for such a promising technology, it isn’t featured on the prestigious Gartner Hype Cycle.

Why is that?

The reason behind its disappearance of VR technology has to do with the emergence of new VR business applications.

As soon as it was dropped by Gartner (after passing their Slope of Enlightenment), two new technologies emerged:

  • Augmented Reality
  • Mixed Reality

Both of these new fields of technology are based on VR. 

At the same time, the development of VR also depends on other tech innovations such as:

  • Computer graphics
  • Rendering technology
  • Computer processors
  • Display technology
  • Cloud computing
  • 5G

In fact, VR is still evolving.

So, while most of us witness its development as head-mounted displays, VR engineering isn’t just a headset.

Business Application of VR

virtual reality advantages in business

VR technology is the future of work. So in this part of the article, we’ll show four innovative applications of VR technology in business in 2021.

Let’s take a look:

#1 Commercial VR Systems (for e-Commerce)

It’s safe to say that e-commerce has risen leaps and bounds in the past several years. Some of it has to do with Amazon, and a lot has to do with COVID-19.

Amazon had changed online shopping with its fast fulfillment options like same-day delivery,  which according to McKinsey:

“It integrates the convenience of online retail with the immediacy of brick and mortar stores.”

And as technology like delivery management software helps businesses achieve these new tasks, VR technology may help them personalize the shopping experience.

Virtual stores, for example, are already emerging. IKEA’s Reality Kitchen Experience allows people to explore the offer in the store and inspect products via VR headsets before check out.

This kind of virtual online shopping could extend to car showrooms and real estate, while companies could analyze the heat maps of the VR experience to find patterns and improve the offer and their display in the virtual store.

#2 VR for Engineering and Manufacturing

Companies that use virtual reality for engineering are combining it with 3D-model visualization to come up with prototypes that are much more cost-effective. 

Because these models are digital, the product developers can use integrated analytics systems to get a better understanding of the project. 

Developers can use VR models to search for design flaws and modify the design before it moves to the production floor.

For example, Airbus is using VR technology to improve its aircraft design. Inside the planes, the company is using VR to check passengers’ in-flight experience, while on the plane exterior it’s testing aerodynamics without the use of wind tunnels and other expensive equipment.

#3 VR Technology in Work Environments

As COVID-19 continues to disrupt how companies conduct business, one area in which you may see the adoption of VR technology soon is in the workspace.

For example, remote jobs may start depending on virtual communication and collaboration. Teams could use the technology to attend virtual meetings without the need for commuting or physical contact.

Beyond the coronavirus pandemic, this kind of use of VR could benefit companies that rely on managed IT services to streamline how they do business with their providers.

business applications Virtual Reality

#4 Using VR for Practical Training Applications

VR could also help certain professionals perform tasks in a virtual environment that would typically require physical interaction. Specifically, this could primarily be used for practical training.

Both civil and military pilots have for years now been using flight simulators to learn how to fly. But as VR technology progresses, they may not even need the flight simulator machines anymore.

Instead, they could simply step inside a virtual cockpit and simulate flight controls to learn the fundamentals of flight.

This kind of use of VR in the workplace may transfer to everyday jobs, as well. 

Sales associates, for example, could practice their persuasion techniques and sales pitches with customized VR applications that simulate real-life sales situations.

If you want to know more about Virtual Reality and its use in business, stay up to date by reading the latest trends in technology and business on the Demakis Technologies blog.