InWorks
AR/VR Solution
Design 215
2020 Spring
Phase I - March-June
Phase II - July-August
Yichen Xie | Yuna Shin | Joanne Chen |
Olivia Quesada | Julia Kolde
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Team
Research + Usability tests
Project duration: 5 months

Research + early stage usability tests:
Joanne Chen, Julia Kolde, Olivia Quesada, Yuna Shin, Yichen Xie

AR usability test: Yichen Xie

Prototype and Design
Static prototype: Joanne Chen, Julia Kolde, Olivia Quesada, Yuna Shin, Yichen Xie

AR prototype: Yichen Xie
UI Engineering: Yichen Xie
Visual language: Yichen Xie
3D Modeling: Yichen Xie
Tools
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Figma
Cinema 4D
Apple ARKit
InWorks is a collaborative communication tool for 3D projects, which enables people to interact with the 3D object in a virtual setting.
Background
With many schools transitioning to remote learning due to COVID-19, access to school facilities became a problem for many students, especially those in studio-based classes.
Target
Our team identified studio-class students as our target, and we used multiple design methods to conduct research and provide a solution to the problem with an interactive prototype.
Contextual Inquiry
We learned during COVID-19, 3D based students felt significantly less effective
Methodology
We first sent the survey to students taking studio classes remotely and interviewed some of the participants to learn how they felt.
Findings
Most of the studio-based students encounter different levels of difficulties during online sessions, 3D based students felt significantly less effective.
What makes it so hard for 3D studio classes to adapt to online mode?
We found out that 2D based classes have tools like Figma to share their media, and viewers can zoom on the canvas.

Whereas for most 3D class presentations, viewers cannot interact with objects. For virtual settings, it is very hard for presenters to show 3D objects on a screen.
2D
Online Studio Class
3D
Online Studio Class
Students in 2D classes can use tools like Figma to view other people's projects, where they can easily edit, comment, and navigate.
Students in 3D classes
- cannot show high quality work
- cannot see different angels with their own will
- lose sense of scale (which is very important to 3D projects)
- no interaction with objects
How Might We
design an interactive tool that facilitates a collaborative experience for users working on 3D projects in virtual settings?
Our Approach
A platform that allows users to present and interact with 3D files.
AR/VR Solution
VR enables users to move, drag, or spin the object and  easily leave a comment on a component. And AR could help viewers gain an actual sense of scale in the real life environment.
Design Principles
01
Accommodating 
Accessible across different using environment and living situations.
02
Fluent
Easily integrated with other virtual communication tools.
03
Immersive 
Engages students in class projects and critiques.
Introducing
InWorks
An interactive collaboration tool for 3D project
Interactive Critique
During the live presentation, users can interact with the object presented on your viewport. Select components, then you can leave some comments for peers.
Camera Views
A quick way to switch between the three-view. Click the camera view button and the perspective will automatically switch. 
Selection Tool
The selection tool is a very precise way to emphasize certain parts of the model when you present an object. Components in the range will appear on the left hand side for users to highlight.
See Comments
When viewing comments on the project, users may sort comments chronologically or by object components.
Timeline
Timeline is designed for both presenters and viewers. This enables audience to quickly compare the project with history versions.
AR Viewport
AR viewport enables users to see the object in real life environment with a great sense of scale.
Design Language
+ Branding
Acknowledgement
Instructor
Oscar Murillo
UW Design
Project team: Joanne Chen, Julia Kolde, Olivia Quesada, Yuna Shin, Yichen Xie

Thanks to UW IxD class of 2022 for critiques and feedback
Participants
Many thanks to 24 participants helped us who are from
‍
ArtCenter College of Design (Pasadena, CA)
Edmonds College (Lynnwood, WA)
Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, IL)
Pratt Institute (Brooklyn, NY)
Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI)
University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
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©Yichen Xie 2022