Virtual design: Improving architecture through immersive creation

Abstract

Mixed reality devices in today’s world have only just begun emerging from the origins in the video game and entertainment industry. As these devices advance, their usefulness grows across other aspects of our lives, and can potentially become integrated into daily life. Whether this integration will be seen through headsets, wearable sensory devices, or even implants is hard to tell, but it will assuredly affect how we interact with and experience the spaces we inhabit. Outside of entertainment, the use of mixed reality devices has potential benefits across a myriad of other industries at various scales. This paper explores the potentials of mixed reality devices in a creative sense and how they can influence the design process in architecture and similar design fields. The evolution of mixed reality devices, the cultural perception of the use of them, and various use-based case studies are discussed to determine advantages and disadvantages to the creative process.