Visual Aesthetics

The visual design of the virtual environment combines both self-created 3D assets and selected external resources to achieve a balance between authenticity, visual quality, and performance. While a small number of environmental assets were sourced from platforms such as Sketchfab and the Unity Asset Store, the majority of the environment and objects were custom-modeled using Blender.

Most of the 3D assets in the virtual environment were created manually using Blender to better reflect the architectural characteristics and cultural elements of Museum Kota Kayang. This approach allowed greater control over the scale, form, and visual consistency of the environment compared to using pre-made assets alone.

Custom modeling was particularly important in recreating museum structures, interior layouts, and culturally specific objects, ensuring that the virtual environment closely resembles the real-world site while maintaining an educational tone.

Lighting in the virtual environment is designed to mimic a warm and natural daylight atmosphere commonly associated with tourism experiences. Soft lighting and balanced shadows are used to enhance realism while maintaining visual comfort for VR users.

The lighting setup also supports clarity in navigation and highlights key areas within the environment without overwhelming users visually.

Environmental details such as surrounding structures, vegetation, and cultural elements were added to enhance immersion and provide contextual realism. These details contribute to the overall atmosphere without distracting users from the main educational content.

To ensure smooth performance in VR, especially on standalone headsets such as Meta Quest 3, asset complexity was carefully managed through optimized geometry, controlled polygon counts, and efficient use of textures.