Homepage

[Research Contribution] User Experience (UX) Design and Strategy for Immersive Technologies: Shaping the Future of Digital Environments

15 September, 2025

Keywords: Immersive Technology, VR, AR, MR

As part of the knowledge-sharing activities within the ArtTech Fusion series by the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), the panel discussion “User Experience (UX) Design and Strategy for Immersive Technologies” shed light on the challenges and opportunities in designing user experiences for immersive technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR).

The discussion was moderated by Assoc. Prof. Gerald Estadieu, featuring Mr. Trinh Phuoc – CEO of SoundxVision.io, and Mr. Minh Duc, a game developer with over 10 years of experience.

UX Design for Immersive Technologies: Definition and Importance

In the modern technological landscape, platforms like VR, AR, and MR are profoundly changing how we interact with the digital world. However, a decisive factor for the success of these technologies is User Experience (UX) design. UX in immersive environments requires a delicate blend of intuitiveness, spatial interaction capabilities, and sensory engagement. Applying effective UX design strategies helps users seamlessly transition between the real and virtual worlds, delivering experiences that are both smooth and captivating.

Assoc. Prof. Gerald Estadieu, a lecturer at the University of Saint Joseph in Macao, shared: “Successful UX in immersive technologies not only focuses on user behavior but also must ensure the usability and specific characteristics of 3D environments to deliver a natural and enjoyable experience.”

To achieve this, designers must ensure that elements such as accessibility, spatial interactivity, and sensory engagement within a 3D environment are all prioritized to create a truly compelling user experience.

The Development of Spatial Audio

In his presentation, Assoc. Prof. Gerald Estadieu delved into a critical area of immersive technology: Spatial Audio. He emphasized that sound plays a crucial role in creating realistic immersive experiences. According to him, the Ambisonics technique—a method for 3D sound recording and playback—is the only theoretical foundation that can accurately deliver spatial audio in immersive environments.

However, despite its immense potential, Ambisonics has not yet been widely adopted due to limitations in recording technology, audio playback systems, and system costs. It is estimated that the spatial audio market will grow by 10% over the next 10 years, reaching a value of $5 billion by 2023.

In a collaborative project with the University of Art and Design Linz, Austria, Assoc. Prof. Estadieu’s team developed an experimental Ambisonics audio playback system with 24 speakers, installed in Macao. The system utilized 3D printing technology to create the speaker enclosures and developed its own electronic components, including printed circuit board (PCB) design. The resulting sound quality exceeded expectations, opening up significant potential for applying spatial audio in fields such as virtual tourism, education, and entertainment.

Otto Sonics: An Open Solution for Spatial Audio

A key highlight of the discussion was the Otto Sonics solution—an open-source and DIY (do-it-yourself) spatial audio system.

Assoc. Prof. Gerald Estadieu introduced this system, which aims to make spatial audio technology more accessible and cost-effective. According to him, Otto Sonics offers several distinct advantages over existing spatial audio systems:

Affordability: Otto Sonics provides a reasonably priced spatial audio solution, making the technology accessible to a wider range of organizations and individuals.
Scalability: The system is scalable and can be used for large installations, from concert halls and theaters to large exhibition spaces.
Accessibility: Otto Sonics can be used by various user groups, including:
- Research centers and universities for research and teaching purposes.
- Theaters, concert halls, and museums to create immersive spatial audio experiences.
- Artists, content creators, and VR developers to develop audio for games, films, or virtual and augmented reality experiences.

With these benefits, Otto Sonics is not just an audio solution but also an opportunity for creative artists and developers to experiment with and develop novel immersive experiences.

Experience in VR Development

A game developer with over 10 years of experience and three years specializing in VR development, Mr. Minh Duc, shared his insights on the challenges and opportunities in VR game development, especially for newcomers. He spoke about his game, “Stunt-Track-Builder,” which achieved success on the Meta VR store and even received funding from Facebook.

In addition to his successful game development, Mr. Duc also shared his experiences with the Chinese VR market when his game was released on the Qiyu store. He also attended Meta Connect 2023, where Mark Zuckerberg introduced the Quest 3. Through these experiences, Mr. Duc offered valuable advice on approaching VR development in 2024, particularly for beginners.

He also highlighted some important trends in VR, including the development of smart glasses, such as the collaboration between Meta and Ray-Ban to create AR glasses. While these products open up new possibilities for lightweight and convenient experiences, Mr. Duc noted that the future of VR remains uncertain. Tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, and Tencent are scaling back their investments in VR, which remains a niche market primarily driven by small and medium-sized studios.

The Importance of Extended Reality (XR)

Mr. Trinh Phuoc, CEO of SoundxVision.io, discussed Extended Reality (XR), an umbrella term that includes AR, VR, and MR. XR is transforming how we interact with digital environments, offering richer and more diverse user experiences.

Mr. Phuoc pointed out that while science fiction films can inspire interactive concepts in XR, many features from these films are impractical and difficult to apply in reality. For example, continuous hand gestures in mid-air would cause user fatigue and limit their usability in the real world. Instead of flashy features, XR design should focus on comfort and the genuine needs of the user.

He also shared that XR users are diverse and have different purposes. “Explorers” enjoy dynamic interactions, while “less-mobile users” prefer convenience and minimalist interactions to achieve their goals quickly and efficiently. A clear understanding of user needs helps designers create more engaging and user-friendly experiences.

New Trends in UX Design for Immersive Technologies

The discussion on “UX Design and Strategy for Immersive Technologies” provided deep insights into how designers can create impressive user experiences in virtual environments. The experts all emphasized that success in UX design for immersive tech requires creativity, a deep understanding of users, and the effective application of new technologies like spatial audio, 3D printing, and game development tools.

The fundamental principles of UX design for immersive technologies presented by the experts include:

User-centered design: Creating experiences that are easy to use, intuitive, and highly usable.
Interactivity and comfort: Crafting experiences that are not only engaging but also convenient and comfortable for the user.
Understanding user needs and habits: This helps in designing appropriate interaction methods, from hand and eye tracking to voice control.

With the continuous advancement of technology, the future of UX in immersive technologies will continue to present both opportunities and challenges. By applying sophisticated and creative design strategies, designers can shape a future where immersive technology is not just a tool but an integral part of our lives.

As part of the growing trend in the ArtTech field, the annual ArtTech Fusion (ATF) international event series is hosted by the ArtTech Hub (ATH) and units of the UEH College of Technology and Design (CTD), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), in collaboration with domestic and international partners, with a different theme each year.

In 2024, the ArtTech Fusion international series was held under the theme “New ArtTech for Future Generations,” aiming to inspire and promote creative thinking and innovative action in the future generation, contributing to a sustainably developed society. The three-day ATF24 journey (Oct 22-24, 2024) featured over 30 academic and practical activities, including 05 Keynote Speeches, 10 Special Sessions, 05 Parallel Research Presentation Sessions, 05 Workshops, 01 Book Chapter publication, 09 Exhibitions, 01 Heritage Connection Trip, and 01 Tangible Performance.

In 2025, the 4th ArtTech Fusion series (ATF25) will take place with the theme “Co-Creation for a Wondrous Future,” scheduled from September 24 to 26, 2025. This will be an occasion to explore, experience, interact, and create in the wondrous world of art combined with new technology, all for a sustainable future.

For updates on ATF25, please visit: Website: https://ath.ueh.edu.vn/ Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ueh.arttechhub .

Author: MA. Nguyen Le Son Trang – University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City

This article is part of the series spreading research and applied knowledge from UEH with the message “Research Contribution For All.” UEH cordially invites readers to look forward to the next UEH Research Insights newsletter.

News, photos: Author, UEH Department of Communications and Partnerships

Chân Trang (1)