What are the best practices for conducting a design review in VR?

1 Prepare Thoroughly

A successful VR design review begins with meticulous preparation. Before diving into the virtual world, ensure that your models and environments are optimized for VR. This means checking for correct scale, texture resolutions, and lighting to prevent any performance issues that might distract from the review process. Additionally, create a clear agenda that outlines the focus areas and goals for the session, which guides participants and keeps the review on track.

3 Invite Feedback

Encouraging active participation is crucial in a VR design review. Make sure everyone involved has a chance to provide feedback. This might involve rotating the VR headset among participants or setting up a system where viewers can mark up or comment on aspects of the design within the VR environment itself. The goal is to foster an inclusive atmosphere where all viewpoints are considered, enhancing the design through diverse insights.

4 Use Annotations

Annotations in VR can significantly enhance communication during a design review. By allowing participants to tag specific areas of the VR model with comments or questions, you create a dynamic discussion that can be reviewed and addressed systematically. This practice helps in pinpointing exact locations of interest or concern, making the feedback more actionable and the review process more efficient.

5 Foster Collaboration

To leverage the full potential of VR for design reviews, foster a collaborative environment. This means setting up a space where participants can freely discuss and interact with the design and each other. Whether through virtual avatars or shared screens, the ability to collaborate in real-time within the VR space can lead to more dynamic and productive sessions, with immediate exchanges of ideas and solutions.

6 Follow Up Promptly

After the VR design review, it's important to follow up promptly. Gather all the feedback, annotations, and notes collected during the session and compile them into an actionable list. Addressing the feedback quickly not only demonstrates respect for participants' contributions but also maintains the momentum of the design process. The insights gained from the VR review should be integrated into the design workflow as efficiently as possible to capitalize on the collaborative effort.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?