Design has long been a fascinating landscape which has embraced the latest technology to open up exciting new worlds of possibilities. Now, thanks to the arrival of virtual reality, those possibilities are even more exciting, taking the future of the industry in a whole new direction with a wealth of potential.
Although movies like Blade Runner 2049 presented the future of VR as a dystopian, grim one, designers right now are exploring creative and beneficial ways of employing the latest VR technology.
VR isn’t a new technology, however the new ways in which it is being integrated into our daily lives are extremely innovative. Of course, the most obvious way in which virtual reality is impact on us is through video gaming. Players all over the world are now able to access virtual worlds by simply popping on a headset.
This has allowed gameplay to be even more immersive, even more thrilling and even more social, with even online casinos taking advantage of the technology to create more realistic live dealer games. However, the possibilities of VR in everyday applications extend far beyond just gameplay. Here, we take a closer look at how designers’ dreams are being explored to their full potential.
Bringing The World To Us
One of the top benefits that design VR can offer is being able to make all kinds of experiences more accessible to us. Traveling to far flung destinations may be beyond our means, however with a virtual reality headset, it’s now possible to actually see and experience destinations all over the world and to explore museums and attractions that we would otherwise never be able to visit.
The World Of Clip Art
Graphic design is being taken to a new level thanks to the arrival of VR which has allowed clip art to be produced in three dimensions. Illustrations and graphics can be transformed with the aid of VR technology.
Holographic Computer Reinvents The Process Of Design
It may seem that the holographic computer is the stuff of fiction, however it’s becoming increasingly affordable and accessible for those who work within the design industry. With specialist headsets, users can view a holographic project as they work. As a result, designers working away from their office on location or during site visits can work on their design in situ for a more free and dynamic working experience.
Shared VR Experiences
Movies such as Blade Runner 2049 have long portrayed the future of VR as an increasingly isolated one in terms of social inclusion. Current technology like headsets seem to reinforce that idea. However, designers are now working on finding new ways to make VR more inclusive and more social. The Flow headset, for example, has been designed with a screen on the headset itself which mirrors the experience the player is having in VR.
Touchscreen Projections
The homes of tomorrow will almost certainly include the Internet of Things, and this is somewhat disturbing, especially for those who are keen to preserve their own privacy. Designers are, therefore, working on using VR to bring a more human edge to interiors that are digitally enhanced. For example, the HTC Vive lamp is able to transform a kitchen surface into an interactive screen, and Swift Creatives have made mixed reality products which interact with a range of household objects for a more engaging home environment. Soon, visible controls could be a thing of the past.
2D To 3D Graphic Design
Traditionally, graphic design is a two dimensional practice, however with VR, 2D designs can be transformed into 3D fully immersive creations. Singularity – a project created by Relajaelcoco for the Gear and Oculus Rift systems – explores VR’s potential within the graphic design sector. This project shows that VR designs don’t need to be fully modelled on gaming worlds but may take their style cues from the world of graphic design instead.
Interaction With Graphics Thanks To Mixed Reality
Some designers are now working on analysing the ways in which VR may apply to things far beyond graphics. VR is able to enhance graphics and make them more compelling and interactive. One example is the Mixed Reality Icon Series by Dauntesq, a Belgian designer. He transforms ions from social media into tactile objects which the viewer can then interact with.
VR Is The Future In Design
Lots of designers are now seizing the potential of experimentation with mixed reality, augmented reality and VR in their work. Many of the big tech companies like Facebook and Microsoft are also investing a lot of time and money into the development of virtual reality-related products, so change is coming to the design world very soon. Although it’s unclear precisely what the future of design will hold, we can be absolutely certain that virtual reality will have a key part to play in it.
