As individuals, we all experience the world in diverse ways. Whether it’s a walk through a forest, a night out at a restaurant, or a thrilling ride on a rollercoaster, each experience is unique, a mix of sensory inputs, and memory engrams that elicit emotional responses like fear, happiness, or nostalgia. While some experiences are random or unplanned, some are not, designed by someone to produce an emotional response. For instance, a bus shelter is designed to help protect commuters from the elements, provide route schedules, and signal a location in space allocated for public transit.
The goal of an experiental design (EXD) is to distill the essential components of a desired experience into a physical form that includes audio, visual, and cognitive inputs. This is why EXD borrows from disciplines like exhibit design, architecture, and production design to craft stories and design a narrative that replicates the elements of a personal experience into something that can be shared with other people.
From the development of books, movies, and games, imaginary worlds give us a glimpse of reality that merges with our individual experiences. This section introduces the themes and issues in designing virtual simulations. We also look at how digital prototypes are used to test environments and concepts without the risk and cost of real-world counterparts.
In this introduction video, Architect DamiLee explores how virtual and augmented reality could radically reshape our world—not just through escapism or digital novelty, but by transforming how we experience space, identity, and community. She raises provocative questions about how VR and AR might alter our perception of reality, blur the lines between physical and digital environments, and even affect our mental states, social behavior, and architecture. Through concepts like "subjective space" and examples such as Apple Vision Pro's EyeSight, she illustrates both the exciting potential and eerie ambiguity of a future mediated through personal, wearable tech—where shared spaces may never be experienced the same way twice
These videos show example of virtual reality spaces and interactions using projection screens and headsets like Microsoft Hololens
Source: 11fiftyseven design https://www.11fiftyseven.com/blog/experiential-design/#Process