ANFF Virtual Reality Microfabrication Experience
Interaction Design & UX for Immersive Learning | 2025 | Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), University of Adelaide | Role: UX Designer & Experience Lead
Overview
This VR experience introduces students to the highly technical processes inside a microfabrication lab. Developed at Think Digital Studios in collaboration with ANFF and the University of Adelaide, this project aimed to improve student understanding through immersive learning.
My Role
- Mapped user journeys and created experience flow diagrams based on microfabrication process steps provided by the client.
- Designed UX wireframes and prototyped the entire immersive experience.
- Created detailed asset lists for development handoff and collaborated with 3D artists and developers to build accurate environments.
- Designed the user interface in alignment with ANFF’s brand guidelines.
- Participated in user testing, iterated on interaction models, and coordinated implementation changes with developers.
- Ensured clarity and consistency of the user experience throughout the VR application.
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Identifying the Need
Create a step-by-step, user-friendly VR simulation that accurately reflects microfabrication processes while being intuitive, engaging, and visually consistent with ANFF’s branding.
Primary users
Students coming to the ANFF laboratory and winter school in Australia.
Process & Strategy
1. Research and goals
Worked with client-supplied documentation to define the goals of the experience and key learning checkpoints.
2. UX & Interaction Design
Created wireframes and UX flows in Figma and FigJam, emphasizing intuitive navigation and engagement.
Original process from client
Interaction tables informed detailed VR flow mapping
Translated process documentation and POV footage into FigJam flow diagrams that mirrored the lab’s physical sequence, and iterated with client to refine steps.
POV videos
Lab layout 360 photo
Initial experience flow diagram
Refined interactions and system behaviours, iterating the process diagram. Expanded detail on triggers, feedback responses, and affordances to ensure accuracy and usability in the VR simulation.
Final experience flow and map
Interaction sample test in VR
Interaction sample test in VR
3. Asset Coordination & 3D Development
Built asset lists and collaborated with technical teams to model the lab and instruments.
Step mapping with assets
Assets list
4. Interface Design
Developed user interface designs, incorporating ANFF’s visual identity and accessible UI principles.
User interactions guidelines
UI sample
5. Iterative Testing & Updates
Collaborated in user testing sessions, analyzed feedback, and adjusted interactions in collaboration with developers.
PROJECT OUTCOMES
The VR experience is currently implemented as part of ANFF-SA’s Microengineering Winter School, where students use it to learn complex microfabrication processes in a simulated environment. The project expanded access to highly specialised lab training, allowing both in-person and remote participants to engage with cleanroom procedures through immersive learning.
The experience contributed to improved engagement and understanding by enabling students to explore processes in a safe, repeatable, and interactive setting, supporting more effective preparation before entering real laboratory environments.
Insights and Growth
This project strengthened my ability to translate complex, real-world procedures into structured immersive interactions, balancing technical accuracy with usability and learning outcomes. It reinforced the importance of designing for clarity within spatial environments, particularly when guiding users through precise, sequential tasks.
It also expanded my experience leading cross-functional collaboration, aligning design, development, and 3D production to ensure the final experience remained consistent with the intended user journey and learning objectives.