Project demonstrations: XR and Gen-AI Technologies in Design
Left: VR training on welding, Samantha Frickel. Right: Cinematic universes. Carson Edwards
Extended Reality and Generative AI in Human-Centered Design
UHP + Architecture Seminar
Date: Monday, April 28, 2025
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Location: Second Floor Lobby, UC Digital Futures Building
You are cordially invited to the final presentations showcasing exemplary student work from the University of Cincinnati’s Honors Seminar and Architecture Design Seminar. These curated demonstrations showcase multiple innovative projects intersecting emerging technologies with human-centered design.The projects include a wide range of demonstrations in the following two categories:
Future Environment
This group of projects explores imaginative and speculative environments through immersive technologies. Students and researchers have developed experiences ranging from fictional music spaces, virtual zoos, and animal shelters to emotionally responsive architectural designs and future cityscapes. These environments often incorporate interactive elements, such as Augmented Reality on mobile devices or real-time simulations of natural phenomena like flooding. Advanced material simulation is also a focus, including simulating cloth and other soft fabrics that respond dynamically to user interaction.
Training
The second category centers on Virtual Reality-based training applications designed to simulate real-world tasks and enhance learning through immersive experiences. These projects include simulations for welding, firefighter robotics, and driving and instructional environments such as baby car seat installation. Each scenario provides a controlled, repeatable setting for learners to gain confidence and skills in safety-critical and technical domains, demonstrating the practical potential of XR technologies in professional training and education.
These two interdisciplinary seminars investigate the application of Extended Reality (XR) technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR), in addressing real-world challenges. Students examined integrating human-computer interaction with immersive digital tools to create embodied, interactive experiences that enhance user engagement and understanding.
In parallel, the courses explored comprehensive design methodology—spanning research, ideation, prototyping, and evaluation—framed through the lens of generative AI and immersive virtual environments. Projects emphasized the role of AI-assisted content creation and immersive media in advancing human-centered design practices with either a fictional metaverse or reality-based digital twins.
The student work presented reflects a research-driven approach to spatial design, focusing on how digital scenarios influence human perception, emotional response, and cognitive engagement. XR was explored as a medium for fostering empathy, delivering emotional impact, and enhancing the acquisition of knowledge and skills.
We invite you to engage in these forward-thinking investigations and celebrate the creativity and scholarly inquiry of our students.
