Written by Kathy Ha, Toaster Ambassador and Product Design Student

Virtual reality (VR) is expanding its influence beyond gaming, finding applications in industries like education, healthcare, and design. To understand how VR is shaping innovation at the Toaster Innovation Hub, I interviewed Charlie Heinz, a VR expert with over a decade of experience in digital media and VR. I also had the chance to explore VR myself, realizing its transformative potential in product design.

Charlie’s Journey into VR

Charlie’s passion for gaming naturally led him to VR. “I’ve always been a gamer,” he shared, explaining how he started working in the library maker space about 9-10 years ago, focusing on media production. His first hands-on experience with VR professionally came in 2016, when the maker space introduced the technology. A vivid early memory was visiting Victoria Falls in VR, an experience that demonstrated the immersive power of the platform. Today, he helps students, staff, and faculty discover the power of VR for innovation, teaching, research, patient care, and wellness.

VR’s Applications Beyond Gaming

Charlie is particularly excited about VR’s expanding role in education, healthcare, and product design. He mentioned one project where VR was used to model dying coral reefs from a fish perspective, raising environmental awareness. He emphasized that VR can create empathy and understanding in ways that traditional media often cannot.

At the Toaster, tools like Gravity Sketch are helping students, especially those in product design, reimagine how they approach 3D modeling. “VR offers a more immersive experience than traditional design software,” Charlie noted, pointing out how the technology is revolutionizing not just the design process, but also how students collaborate on projects.

My Experience with VR in Product Design

As a product design student, I had the opportunity to explore VR alongside Charlie. One of the most exciting moments for me was using Gravity Sketch for the first time. A fellow student designed and modeled a shoe in VR, which was later 3D printed. Hearing how we could translate a virtual model into a physical prototype was awesome to hear.

When I tried Gravity Sketch, I realized how it could shape the future of product design. The ability to create and manipulate 3D models in real-time, while potentially collaborating with others in the same virtual space, was a breakthrough. VR opens up new ways to interact with designs, speeding up the process of iteration and prototyping.

The Future of VR in Product Design

Charlie believes the future of VR is moving toward mixed reality (MR), where users interact with both the physical and digital worlds. Tools like Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro are pushing MR forward. In product design, MR could enable designers to prototype products in a virtual space while interacting with the real world, enhancing collaboration and innovation.

Getting Started with VR

For those interested in VR, Charlie’s advice is simple: experiment. The Toaster offers workshops and access to VR tools like Gravity Sketch, making it easy for beginners to dive in and start creating. It’s an exciting way to explore new possibilities in design.

My experience with VR and insights from Charlie showed me how VR is revolutionizing product design. From creating 3D models to fostering real-time collaboration, VR is opening new doors for innovation. Ready to explore? Visit the Toaster Innovation Hub today!