UXUI Design for VR AeroSpatial Exploration Experience
VR | Spatial Design | XR Hackathon
Designed the spatial UI and passenger experience for VR Passport, integrating intuitive interactions and immersive environments to enhance relaxation and exploration during
in-flight VR experiences, winner of 2025 Reality Hack AeroSpatial Exploration Track.
VR
Spatial Design
XR Hackathon
ROLES
UX/UI Designer
SKILLS
UX/UI Design
TEAM
2 Designers (Including Me)
1 Developer
2 3D Artists
DURATION
3 Days
Hackathon Winner
@ Reality Hack,
Turkish Airlines
DISCOVER
Ideated, aligned, and decided in two hours
With only three days for the hackathon, we spent the first two hours on focused brainstorming around the theme of aerospace exploration. Sharing our own flight experiences, we discovered common pain points, long hours of boredom and unengaging safety videos. Balancing time and technical constraints, we decided to design a VR in-flight entertainment experience that turns travel time into immersive exploration.
EXPERIENCE
Turning flights into virtual adventures
VR Passport offers four experiences in one journey: Entertainment to enjoy movies and games, Meditation to ease nerves during turbulence, Discover to virtually explore destinations and learn local phrases, and Shopping to bring souvenirs home through VR.
SPATIAL UI
Shaping intuitive interfaces in space
Unlike 2D apps or websites, spatial design requires thinking in panels and sections rather than flat screens. I prioritized using 3D models over static images and ensured all UI elements fit naturally within the user’s real headset environment.
REFLECTION
Reality Hack 2025 was my first XR hackathon, an intense and inspiring experience. From finding the final teammate to brainstorming in just two hours and building a working prototype in 2.5 days, it was truly an adventure. I was so grateful to meet my teammates and other hackers during this event.
Move fast, build early
While some teams spent a full day ideating, we started prototyping within hours and iterated ideas as we built. However, time was still tight. With only one programmer, debugging and testing were often rushed. Looking back, we realized that allocating more time for technical testing early on could have improved overall stability and polish.
Team alignment and roles
We optimized collaboration by aligning on individual strengths and dividing responsibilities clearly. This structure built trust, maintained momentum, and helped us deliver efficiently.
Technical problem-solving
Throughout development, we navigated Unity-related bugs, heavy scenes, and version mismatches. By pairing up on problem-solving and seeking mentor support, we overcame these challenges and improved our technical workflow.
© 2025 Yawen Xiao All Rights Reserved
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