CONFERENCES
E&PDE 2026 - 28th International Conference on Engineering & Product Design Education
The Conference will bring together representatives from education and industry interested in sharing new perspectives on design education.
Knowledge Base Repository
In addition to research papers, the Design Society is developing several valuable resources for those interested in the study of design. These include a repository of PhD theses, a library of case studies and transcripts of design activities, and an archive of our newsletters. Please note that these resources are accessible exclusively to Design Society members.
UNLOCKING SPATIAL FLUENCY: A SCAFFOLDED APPROACH TO VR VISUALIZATION IN FOUNDATIONAL DESIGN EDUCATION
Soni, Piyush; Boro, Dhiru; Malhotra, Sugandh; Vats, Shivam
Type:
Year:
2026
Editor:
Buck, Lyndon; Brisco. Ross; Bohemia, Erik
Author:
Series:
E&PDE
Institution:
IDC School of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Page(s):
546 - 551
DOI number:
ISBN:
978-1-912254-24-8
ISSN:
3005-4753
Abstract:
This paper presents a novel pedagogical approach designed to teach fundamental design principles and advanced ideation techniques specifically to engineering students—a cohort often challenged by traditional, manual sketching methods. The core of this scaffolded framework is a deliberate progression that guides students from foundational, analogue 2D skills to immersive 3D conceptualization using cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) tools. By integrating platforms such as Gravity Sketch and Open Brush, the curriculum directly addresses the inherent difficulties non-designers face with visual expression. The VR environment serves as a powerful mitigation strategy, significantly reducing the intimidation and steep learning curve associated with freehand drawing. Through this immersive experience, learners systematically develop critical spatial awareness and familiarization with the three-dimensional representation of form, shape, and the complex nuances of virtual lighting, topology management, and texture. This method not only empowers students to produce high-fidelity, artistic conceptual models but also dramatically enhances both the speed and the clarity with which they can communicate complex design concepts across interdisciplinary teams. The course, spanning a 16-week academic semester, involved 79 engineering students and culminated in individual final projects that robustly validated the efficacy of the analog-to-VR progression. The findings affirm that this structured approach successfully equips students with the essential spatial and visual reasoning skills now indispensable for modern, collaborative engineering and design practice. Technical Implementation and Learning Outcomes: Establishing an Industry-Standard Workflow.
Keywords:
