As a human, you’re not born with an intuitive knowledge of what a teapot does, or how to use it. Luckily, it’s a classic example of affordance. This means that its physical appearance guides how you use it. Its handle looks grabbable and its spout doesn’t, so you always grab the right end. This is a really simple example, but a powerful one – because affordances are everywhere, and they control your life.

Intuition is a dangerous word in the world of design. No two people have the same intuitions, but we all build expectations based on the physical world. In the real world, we never think twice about using our hands to control objects. We instinctively know how. By thinking about how you experience this in everyday life, you can bring this power into VR.

Affordances help bridge the gap between the real and the digital. Leap Motion and VR open up the potential to combine traditional UX principles with more physical affordances. But while it’s important to take inspiration from the world around you, don’t be limited by it. Bridge the gap!

• User interface elements should be fully interactive, with obvious potential and active states. For example, buttons should appear “pushable,” and respond physically when interacted with.
• Classic 2D design principles can be adapted for hand tracking in VR in unexpected ways. The important thing is to provide dynamic visual feedback that guides users to make the right actions, and avoid errors.
• Sci-fi interfaces often set cultural expectations about how futuristic UIs should make us feel. Take them as inspiration, but don’t fall into the “movie magic” trap – start with basic interactions and build your way up.
• In the absence of touch feedback, sound is a powerful way to make virtual interactive objects “feel” more physical. This is especially important when you user isn’t looking directly at the object.

Further Reading

• Leap Motion VR Design Best Practices
• 4 Design Problems for VR Tracking (And How to Solve Them)
• 4 Ways to Unleash the Power of Sound in VR
• Introducing Widgets: Fundamental UI Elements for Unity
• Hovercast VR Menu: Power at Your Fingertips
• How Do Fictional UIs Influence Today’s Motion Controls?
• The Design of Everyday Things by Donald Norman

Alex Colgan

Alex is the head writer and blog editor at Leap Motion, where he stands as the final bulwark against bad grammar. Want to share your Leap Motion project? Email acolgan@leapmotion.com or PM leapmotion_alex on Reddit.