Tridome VR
Year:
2018
Role:
UI/UX Designer, Web developer
Tools:
A-frame, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro
App link:
Tridome VRTridome VR app design
Tridome is a VR web app that I build as a final project for my bachelor studies at the design institute Palladio in Verona. The app consists in designing and developing a virtual reality world where you can enter different ambients and stream immersive 360° videos.
The entire project was done in less than 3 months and included a book, the video collection, and creation while recording with real athletes. The web app built with A-frame allowed browsing the app by using the phone inserted in google cardboard or a similar device. It’s a pretty simple experience, but I’m really proud of myself for what I could do at that time.
App design
I had never designed a VR app before then, and there wasn’t many examples on how the VR world worked, so to start out, I bought different books to somehow grasp the basics of VR design. I did plenty of research on the various technologies and the hardware that were available.
Once I got to know the basics, I tried to apply what I learned to what I had in mind, I sketched on paper the structure of the world and then move it on Illustrator to show the sketches to my thesis curator. In the meanwhile, I started to play around with A-frame to see how complicated it was and if the project was actually feasible.
Development
Luckily, the app's development was pretty smooth, A-frame is straightforward to be used, and they have excellent documentation. The only issue was the browser support and the devices you used the app on.
My development skills were way lower than now, and the app should be refactored to avoid destructive behaviors like exiting VR mode every time you change the page. And also, A-frame evolved, so I should sooner or later take the time to make the improvements needed.
Video creation
For the video creation, I had to buy a 360° recording action camera, at that time, there wasn’t much good quality once, and they weren’t water-resistant or rugged to mount on the helmets of the athletes. I was lucky again, and GoPro released their fusion camera, which was perfect for what I was trying to do.
Once I found my camera, I reached out to local people doing exciting sports. I found a group of BMX riders called Fat One and Francesco Zeitler is a wakeboard surfer. When I contacted them, they were all happy to participate in the project, so we met. I put the 360° cam on their helmets and recorded their sports sessions.
Book design
To complete the experience, I also designed a little book to describe the research, the tools, and the overall experience of creating the app. I made it with InDesign, and it was the first complete book I have ever made and which I sent to print.
Graphic design was part of the three-year curse program that I have made, but we didn’t really focus on print. So, in the end, it wasn’t the most remarkable result, but I was super happy about it and how it came out.
Project evolution
Initially, I tried to collaborate with Red Bull since they had a packaging that took the form of google cardboard. I prepared a presentation with my plan and the whole app structure. But I didn’t have success… Even by trying to reach out to people on LinkedIn to get any direction on who to ask, I always got bounced around from one person to the other. Till I finished the app, I tried to contact them but never got an answer :(
