Design-verse technologies: qualitative investigation of environments and objects in virtual reality for visual evaluations of UX and HCI

Abstract

This article addresses Virtual Reality (VR) applied to Design, focusing on its contri- bution to Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) of artifacts based on User Experience (UX) and Human Computer Interaction (HCI). The research question: Is it possible to visually recognize real objects transposed into a virtual reality (VR) envi- ronment, and evaluate their general dimensions and aesthetic aspects such as shape, color and texture through different perceptual dimensions (Semantics, Apparent Usability and Emotional Response) ? After bibliographical reviews, practical in-depth studies and digitization of objects for VR, a Qualitative Assessment was carried out with 8 Postgraduate participants in Design, Arts, Architecture and Technology. The results indicate the feasibility of realistic visual representation of products, allowing analyzes in the aesthetic, symbolic, emotional and apparent usability dimensions. The potential of VR as a design and evaluation tool, limitations of the technology and suggestions for future research are highlighted.