From 2D Grids to 3D Environments: A Framework for Transitioning Product Design Patterns into Spatial Computing

The trend of spatial computing has created both opportunities and challenges to product design with special reference to how to integrate the prevailing design patterns in 2D into immersive 3D worlds. The paper will offer a general framework that will instruct designers on how to make modification/translation of traditional 2D user interface patterns into spatial computing applications. The framework also focuses on the principles of the spatial consistency, interaction affordances, and user cognition in 3D space. We show with case studies in platforms of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) that the framework allows the easy transfer of the cases, usability, and design integrity. This model offers practical principles to designers who aim at aligning the conventional product design paradigm with the new spatial computing technologies.