NEW HORIZON FOR UX DESIGN

Following the launch of the Apple VisionPro at WWDC 2023, we have seen how Mixed Reality (MR) opens up a new horizon for UX design. Our relationship with current digital interfaces will have to evolve to adapt to the new interfaces that technology presents us with.

What does Apple VisionPro offer? The experience of a total integration of the virtual interfaces that we are used to seeing on our computer or mobile into the real world and in a physical space. 

This means that UX design will soon face great challenges, as it is necessary that the leap from the current interfaces to the new ones has as little learning curve as possible. What challenges are we talking about?

High spatial awareness

Interfaces are no longer bounded by screen frames, but we will have a 360° field of possible interfaces. This raises the need for new tools to visualise prototypes at this scale. In addition, the hierarchy of elements becomes more important, as we will now need to generate hierarchy between screens and not only between the elements of the screens. 

From Minimalism to Glassmorphism

We understand that minimalism is key to offer better accessibility in interfaces and less visual noise to obtain information. This is a good practice in design, but mixed reality poses new requirements that were not present until now. Apple proposes, without losing sight of minimalism, "glassmorphism" consists of giving a glazed appearance to the elements.  This allows us to remain focused on the content but keeps us in communication with the physical environment. 

Interaction is transformed

Besides clicking or swiping, now we will also be able to interact with present elements by moving our eyes. This on the one hand, highlights once again the need for new tools to cover this type of interaction. On the other hand, it opens new doors on how to focus the elements depending on where our eyes are looking. Which requires to pay more attention to the elements we are looking at with respect to the rest.

The Metaverse is becoming more and more real 

Mixed reality also opens up a new horizon for the metaverse, making reality and the virtual coexist more than ever before. Although Apple has not exhibited anything related to this field, we have been able to see how they create hyper-realistic avatars from Apple's own VisionPro glasses. This allows you to set up video calls where people will be able to see an avatar that recreates your anatomy and expressions in real time. This is a great step forward for the metaverse to become, step by step, an extension of the real world into the virtual world.

Mixed reality applied in these glasses opens up a great horizon in UX design and how we have perceived interfaces until today. The future we saw in the films is getting closer and closer.
How will tools and UX design adapt to this great challenge?

Christian Valencia, UX Product Designer at SOMOS Experiences.