EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES TO INTEGRATE VR MODELLING IN PRODUCT DESIGN EDUCATION
Year: 2024
Editor: Grierson, Hilary; Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon
Author: Contreras, Giovanni Jesue
Series: E&PDE
Institution: University of Sussex, United Kingdom
Page(s): 73 - 78
DOI number: 10.35199/EPDE.2024.13
ISBN: 978-1-912254-200
ISSN: 3005-4753
Abstract
Over the past decade virtual reality (VR) headsets have become increasingly affordable and available. This in turn, has made virtual reality tools more accessible. Within the context of product design, one of the possibilities opened with VR is that of creating 3D models within a 'virtual/immersive' environment. This has several advantages for product design educators, including increased/high student engagement due the novelty of the approach and physical/immersive experience. How to incorporate this type of 3D modelling in the curriculum however, remains substantially less clear. While there is continued interest on VR from segments of the academic community, its adoption within the context of product design education is in its infancy. Moreover, because of the many different variables involved, and the differences inherent to any design project, the experience from a larger and wider variety of case studies is necessary. This paper reports from a case in which VR has been incorporated into a design project in a first-year course which is part of a product design degree course.
Keywords: Virtual reality, Design tools, CAD, 3D Modelling, Design education