Virtual Drawer | Devpost

Inspiration

As XR enthusiasts, we’ve noticed that many current XR utility tools feel disconnected from our physical environments. They often rely on flat, 2D interfaces, missing opportunities for richer spatial interactions. This inspired us to explore how these tools could be better integrated into our surroundings, and how we can reimagine the design of their interactions to feel more natural, intuitive, and immersive.

What it does

The Virtual Drawer introduces a new interaction paradigm for how users can launch and manage their XR utility apps. When closed, the drawer appears as an abstract bar that responsively adapts to its environment. Its responsive design allows it to conform to different workspaces, curving to match the shape of a circular desk or aligning straight along a rectangular one. This adaptability ensures that the drawer feels like a natural extension of any physical or virtual setup. More than just a central hub for XR utility tools, we also envision the Virtual Drawer to be a dynamic platform for innovation. By opening it to third-party developers and designers, it invites the creation and sharing of custom widgets tailored to diverse needs. This open platform fosters a collaborative ecosystem, enabling the Virtual Drawer to continually evolve with its users and adapt to new possibilities in XR technology

How we built it

We explored multiple prototyping tools to bring our vision to life. We began with Open Brush for early concept sketches, leveraging its simplicity to quickly visualize initial ideas. Next, we explored ShapesXR for spatial prototyping, experimenting with how the Virtual Drawer would integrate into 3D environments. However, we ultimately transitioned to Bezi, as it provided greater flexibility and allowed us to prototype more complex interactions, such as those involving hand gestures, with greater ease.

Challenges we ran into

One of the primary challenges we faced was navigating the limitations of no-code XR prototyping tools. While tools like Open Brush, ShapesXR, and Bezi each had their strengths, no single platform fully addressed our need to demonstrate complex, interactive concepts. Each tool had its strengths, but we needed to combine their capabilities creatively to effectively communicate our idea. Balancing the representation of interactivity without fully coding the experience also required innovative problem-solving.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of our team’s ability to conceptualize and design the Virtual Drawer, rethinking how users can interact with applications in MR. By focusing on clear, interactive storytelling, we were able to present a compelling vision without relying on extensive programming, leveraging prototyping tools to bring our ideas to life.

What we learned

This project gave us valuable insights into prototyping XR experiences without relying on code. We learned how to translate abstract concepts into tangible designs within a short period. Additionally, we gained a deeper understanding of how to leverage the strengths and limitations of different prototyping tools for effective visual communication.

What's next for Virtual Drawer

Our next step is to bring the Virtual Drawer to life by implementing our design in Unity. This involves building a functional prototype to demonstrate core features, such as dynamic widget interactions and spatial adaptability to different workspaces. We also aim to refine the gesture-based controls to ensure they feel intuitive and natural in XR environments.