Willow - Sports in XR

Inspiration

The name "Willow" comes from the wood used to make cricket bats, a nod to the sport’s history and tradition. Cricket is loved by billions across the globe, with countless fans playing, learning, and watching the game. With its immense popularity, I wanted to explore how technology like extended reality (XR) could add a fresh, immersive way for fans to experience cricket. The goal is to use virtual reality to bring the excitement of the game closer to fans, creating a more engaging and interactive way to enjoy it.

What it does

Willow is an app which enables immersive cricket watching experience. With advanced telemetry in interfaces, it allows the user to design their own broadcast experience. Instead of waiting for TV telecasters to show data metrics, now the are available on demand at your fingertips. Since all sports have an arena where they are played, this concept can be applied to other sports as well. Put the stadium on your desk and view the sport the way you want!

The app uses a virtual stadium as the canvas for all the sports action. Helps you curate your own broadcast experience. Add multiple camera streams to view them alongside. See shots and field movements in real time. You can also invite your friends to watch Cricket matches with you.

Process

Started with some doodles in sketchbook, playing out different scenarios and solving for them. Got a plan of what the final app could look like. Researched Cricket, its myriad game visualizations and terminology.

Moved to Shapes XR for rapid conceptualization. Once, I was satisfied with the explorations, I moved to high-fidelity prototyping and visualization with C4D. I had played with it earlier, but never did a detailed project in it. After what seemed to be a million tutorials, managed to create something that I think showcases the concept pretty well given the time frame. Super happy and content with all the time well spent. Finally exported and stitched all the clips in for the final trailer!

Challenges

Learning new tools was a significant challenge, but I’m proud I didn’t give up! It took time and persistence to understand their functionalities, but it ultimately allowed me to bring my vision to life. Another hurdle was grasping the complexities of Spatial Design. Navigating the intricacies of organizing and utilizing space effectively was difficult, but it was a valuable learning experience that significantly enriched my project.

Accomplishments

I completed my first XR Design project, which was a major personal achievement! I also got the hang of using ShapesXR for rapid XR prototyping, a tool that allowed me to efficiently visualize and test my ideas in an immersive environment. This experience not only enhanced my skills in XR design but also gave me the confidence to tackle even more ambitious projects in the future.

Learnings

Interfaces in XR behave very differently from traditional 2D interfaces, requiring a completely new approach to design. The immersive nature of XR means interactions are more intuitive, spatial, and dynamic, which opens up an exciting, untapped world for Interface design. I learned how to think beyond flat screens and incorporate 3D space, gestures, and depth, which added layers of complexity but also offered endless creative possibilities. This shift in perspective has completely changed how I view the potential of interactive design.

Way ahead

The next steps for Willow involve iterating on the current concept while paying close attention to spatial ergonomics to ensure a comfortable and intuitive user experience. I plan to explore how users interact with the space and refine the design to better accommodate their needs. Additionally, I’m looking to expand the project by incorporating more use cases, specifically tailored to watching Cricket in XR. This could involve creating immersive viewing experiences, interactive stats, and virtual fan engagement, all while ensuring the experience remains seamless and engaging for users.

Built With

• cinema4d
• davinciresolve
• shapesxr