Elevating Excellence: The Next Frontier in Product Design
Product Design • June 17th, 2024 • by Dan Olsavsky
As technology advances at an unprecedented pace, interface and experience design are undergoing a transformative shift. The future of design is poised to be defined by groundbreaking innovations that not only enhance how we interact with digital content but also how we perceive and navigate our surroundings. This article, inspired by the AI and Innovation presentations from the 2024 Config (Figma Conference), explores three pivotal trends shaping this future: spatial computing, designing for canvases, and rendering 3D content. By learning more about these areas, we can glimpse the exciting possibilities that lie ahead and understand how they will revolutionize our digital interactions.
Spatial Computing
Spatial computing represents a paradigm shift in how we interact with technology. Moving beyond traditional screens, spatial computing immerses users in a 3D environment where digital content seamlessly integrates with the physical world. Imagine Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, who can view and process multiple forms of data in real time, giving him superhuman intelligence.
The Apple Vision Pro exemplifies this innovation, offering a glimpse into the potential of augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) to reshape everyday experiences. By leveraging advanced sensors and spatial mapping, the Vision Pro allows users to interact with digital elements as if they were tangible objects in their environment. This immersive experience opens up new possibilities for entertainment, education, and productivity, setting the stage for a future where the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds blur.
Designing for Canvases Instead of Portals
As we transition into an era dominated by advanced computing, the approach to designing user interfaces must evolve. Traditional interfaces, confined to rectangular screens or “portals,” with a lot of vertical scrolling, will give way to dynamic and flexible “canvases” that adapt to various contexts and environments. This shift demands a reimagining of design principles, focusing on creating intuitive and immersive experiences that leverage the full potential of spatial computing.
For example, imagine an architect using AR to project a 3D model of a building onto a construction site, allowing stakeholders to explore and interact with the design in real time.
Additionally, consider the new infotainment systems in vehicles. Instead of a traditional dashboard, these systems provide a customizable canvas that adapts to the driver’s needs, displaying navigation, media, vehicle performance, and even real-time updates from the road environment. This flexible interface not only enhances the driving experience but also improves safety and convenience by providing contextually relevant information seamlessly integrated into the driving environment.
Virtual reality (VR) further expands the possibilities for designing beyond traditional portals. The Meta Quest, for example, offers an immersive environment where users can interact with digital content in a fully 3D space. In a VR setting, designers can create entire virtual worlds that users can explore and engage with, providing experiences that are both deeply interactive and visually stunning. Whether it’s for gaming, virtual meetings, or training simulations, VR can transform user experiences by offering a limitless canvas that goes beyond the physical constraints of conventional screens. This opens up new avenues for creativity and functionality, making the user experience more immersive and engaging than ever before.
Rendering 3D Content in the Browser
The ability to render 3D content directly in web browsers has been a game-changer for UX designers and developers. WebGL, a powerful graphics library, enables the creation of rich, interactive 3D experiences that run seamlessly across different devices and platforms. This technology has opened the door to a new realm of possibilities, from immersive gaming experiences to intricate data visualizations.
A prime example is NASA’s Eyes applications, which use WebGL to offer an interactive exploration of our solar system. Users can navigate through space, zoom in on planets and moons, and witness real-time data visualizations of spacecraft trajectories. By bringing high-quality 3D graphics to the web, WebGL empowers designers to create more engaging and interactive experiences that captivate users and drive deeper engagement.
Parting Words
The future of user experience is a thrilling frontier where spatial computing, canvas-based design, and WebGL-powered 3D content converge to redefine how we interact with technology. These innovations promise to create more immersive, intuitive, and engaging experiences, seamlessly blending the digital and physical worlds. As we continue to explore and harness the potential of these technologies, the possibilities for enhancing our daily lives are boundless. By embracing these trends, designers and developers can pave the way for a future where user experience transcends traditional boundaries, delivering unprecedented levels of interactivity and immersion. The journey has just begun, and the future of UX holds exciting prospects that will reshape our digital experiences in ways we can only begin to imagine.
