Are you ready to design for the future with Apple Vision Pro & VisionOS?
Design & Innovation
Maria Correa
Feb 7, 2024
Welcome to the future, where digital and physical worlds blur into one seamless experience. Wait, what? .. Yes, we are going to talk about Apple's latest marvel: the Vision Pro. This weekend the internet crashed with the launch of Apple’s Vision Pro, and for sure! This isn't just another tech release; it's a doorway to new realms of creativity and interaction, promising to redefine how we think about apps and games development. Are you ready to debrief into the world of immersive design? Let’s explore what makes the Vision Pro not just a gadget, but a canvas for the future.
The Design Revolution of Apple Vision Pro
When we talk about phones, and the latest phone releases, we never though about a device that goes beyond the screen, really? It is unimaginable to think that a device can show your digital content not just sit flat but surrounds you, reacts to you, and immerses you. That's the Apple Vision Pro. With its futuristic display technology and spatial audio, it's like stepping into another world—a world where designers and developers have the power to create experiences that were once the stuff of science fiction.
Comparing it to what we had before, Vision Pro isn't just an evolution; it's a revolution. Its design pushes the limits of what we thought possible, from the way it fits on your head to the way it tracks your movements and responds to your gaze. It's a testament to Apple's commitment to not just improving technology, but transforming how we interact with it.
VisionOS: A New Frontier for Developers
At the heart of Vision Pro's magic is VisionOS, Apple's groundbreaking operating system designed specifically for immersive experiences. This isn't just iOS for a new device; it's a whole new playground for developers. VisionOS offers tools and possibilities that challenge developers and designers to rethink apps and games from the ground up.
Developing for VisionOS means thinking beyond the traditional confines of screens and windows. It's about creating worlds that users can step into, interact with, and explore. Think about the amount of opportunities you have to create, now it's not just about creating experiences that end up on a screen, it's about creating an immersive world completely adapted to your product, your users and their needs. But with great power comes great responsibility—and a steep learning curve. The shift to immersive design requires a new set of skills and a fresh mindset, but the rewards are limitless.
Designing Apps and Games for Immersion
So, how do we harness the potential of Vision Pro and VisionOS to create truly immersive experiences? It starts with understanding the fundamentals of 3D design and spatial interaction. Developers and designers must think about how users navigate and interact with 3D spaces, how sound can be used to guide and immerse, and how to make interactions feel natural and intuitive. Whether it's a game that transports you to another world or an app that brings your workspace into virtual reality, the key is to focus on creating experiences that are engaging, intuitive, and, above all, immersive.
Design Systems in 3D
As we step into the era of immersive app development, the construction of apps takes on new dimensions—literally. Design systems and components must evolve to an environment where interaction is not limited to clicks and swipes but encompasses the entirety of a user's surroundings.
Design systems for VisionOS apps will need to account for 3D space, ensuring consistency and usability across different immersive experiences. This includes defining guidelines for 3D typography, spatial layouts, and the use of color and light to guide user attention and action. Designers will need to consider how elements scale, rotate, and interact in a space that extends beyond the flat screen into the world around the user.
Saying this, components in VisionOS apps will go beyond buttons and sliders to include interactive 3D objects, gestures, and voice commands tailored to immersive environments. Designing these components means thinking about how they exist in space—how they're discovered, interacted with, and what feedback looks like in a fully immersive context. Components will need to be versatile, adapting to various immersive scenarios while maintaining a coherent brand experience.
Are Companies Ready to Design for VisionOS?
The big question is, are companies ready for this shift? Early adopters are already on board, experimenting with Vision Pro's capabilities and setting the stage for a new era. But there's a gap to bridge for many, from small developers to large corporations. The true is that we don’t even know how long is going to take for users for acceptance and adaptation, that is, is it really worth starting to develop in VisioOS from now? What we know is that the journey towards embracing this shift is not uniform and it's evident that various companies are at different stages of readiness.
Preparing for VisionOS isn't just about learning new design tools or programming languages; it's about reimagining what digital content can be, and here, I am talking to the marketing teams, are you also ready for this content redesign, new KPIs to achieve, and understand the new behavior of users? It's a journey that requires curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.
The New Age of Ads
Now that I mentioned the marketing teams, let’s deep dive in this subject. Imagine crafting ads that don't just capture attention but envelop the senses, transporting potential customers into experiences they can literally walk around in. This isn't the future; it's the now, and it's time for marketers to explore the vast potential of immersive advertising.
With Vision Pro, ads can be more than visual; they can be experiences. Picture a travel ad that doesn't just show a beach but lets you feel the warmth of the sun and hear the waves crash around you. Or a car advertisement where you're in the driver's seat, hands on the wheel, feeling the purr of the engine. This level of immersion could redefine engagement, making ads an experience users look forward to.
For marketing teams, this means thinking beyond traditional storyboards to crafting narratives that engage all the senses. It's about creating worlds where your product isn't just seen but experienced. This could mean interactive demos for new products, immersive brand stories, or even virtual showrooms where every detail can be explored in 360 degrees.
What to Take into Account for Future-Ready Design
Designing for Vision Pro and VisionOS means thinking beyond the screen. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
User Experience in an Immersive Context: How will users move, look around, and interact with your app or game? The user's comfort and ease of navigation are paramount.
Technical Requirements: Immersive experiences demand high performance in terms of graphics and processing power. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of Vision Pro is crucial.
Storytelling: Every app or game tells a story. In an immersive environment, how you tell that story—how you engage users' senses and emotions—can make all the difference.
Conclusion
The Apple Vision Pro and VisionOS aren't just new tools in the tech arsenal; they represent a new frontier in digital design and interaction. As product teams, including marketers, designers and developers, we have an incredible opportunity to shape this emerging landscape. It's an opportunity to engage audiences in ways previously unimaginable, creating apps that are experiences in their own right, a challenge to rethink design systems and components for a world where digital and physical blend seamlessly. Are you ready to be a part of it?
