The way we experience technology is shifting, and it’s not just happening on screens anymore. With Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR), we’re stepping into a space where digital meets physical in ways we’ve never experienced before.

For UX designers, this means rethinking the basics. Forget flat interfaces and neat containers. We're now designing for movement, perception, depth, and emotional response. These technologies open powerful possibilities, but they also ask us to step up and design with more awareness, intention, and empathy.

But first, what’s the difference?

Let’s break it down:

· Augmented Reality (AR) adds digital layers onto the real world. Think of it as enhancing what you see and not replacing it.

· Virtual Reality (VR) pulls you into a fully digital environment. It's immersive and all-encompassing.

· Mixed Reality (MR) blends both digital and physical elements that interact with each other in real time.

Each one offers a different design challenge.

Designing for Augmented Reality (AR) 

AR overlays digital content onto our real-world surroundings. It’s subtle but powerful. Here, context is everything. The goal isn’t to dominate reality but to support it with useful, intuitive enhancements.

A few ways AR is being used today:

Learning made visible: Apps like SkyView help users explore constellations by simply pointing their phone at the sky, blending real-time, location-specific information with beautiful, responsive visuals.

Smarter navigation: Google Maps Live View overlays arrows and directions on the streets you’re walking through. No more second-guessing turns.

Decision-making in retail: IKEA Place lets users see how a sofa fits in their space before buying. It’s a game-changer for e-commerce UX.

Designing for AR means thinking about how people move through the world. UX decisions must factor in lighting, space, and motion.

Designing for Virtual Reality (VR) 

VR drops users into an entirely digital world. There’s no “real-life” backdrop; it’s full immersion. And that comes with a lot of creative freedom and responsibility.

Where VR is making waves:

Entertainment: Devices like the Apple Vision Pro and Meta’s Oculus are pushing visual fidelity and interaction design to new heights. UX here means crafting environments that are not just beautiful but instinctive to navigate.

Gaming: PlayStation VR transforms the act of play. Now it’s not just about clicks and taps; it’s about motion, gesture, and immersion. UX designers have to rethink everything from menus to movement.

Healthcare: Platforms like Osso VR offer safe, immersive spaces for surgical training. Designing here means balancing realism with ease of use, always keeping the learner in mind.

In VR, accessibility, ergonomics, and emotional safety aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re core parts of the design.

Designing for Mixed Reality (MR) 

MR is where digital and physical worlds actually interact. It’s not just an overlay, and it’s not total immersion. It’s a hybrid. Designing for MR means building experiences that respond to space, touch, and behaviour.

How MR is changing the game:

Design & prototyping: Microsoft HoloLens lets designers and engineers view 3D models as if they were physically in the room. Iterations become faster, and collaboration becomes seamless.

Creative education: Tools like Magic Leap and Wacom are teaching art and design in entirely new ways, hands-on, intuitive, and fully interactive.

Historical preservation: Projects like Rome Reborn recreate ancient cities, letting users walk through history.

MR calls for layered UX thinking. How do you balance complexity and clarity? How do you create digital systems that respect physical space?

Designing with Ethics in Mind 

The more immersive our experiences get, the more personal data they touch. From environment scans to body tracking, we’re designing at the edge of privacy.

So how do we build with care?

Consent comes first. Be clear about what you’re collecting and why. No dark patterns. No fine print tricks.

Well-being matters. Motion sickness, mental fatigue, sensory overload—designers must build in breaks, comfort features, and customisation.

Bias & accessibility. These technologies can’t be just for the tech-savvy or the able-bodied. Build for real-world diversity. Test with real users.

Cultural sensitivity. You’re building spaces people live in, digitally. Be thoughtful. Bring in perspectives. Design responsibly.

So, what’s next?

UX design is evolving. With AR, VR, and MR, to do it well, we need to stay curious, collaborate across disciplines, and most importantly, keep humans at the centre of it all. Whether you're in a UI/UX design studio or exploring product interfaces on the other side of the world, this shift demands new skills, new mindsets, and a deep respect for what it means to truly design for experience.

At Mellow, as one of the few UI/UX design studios in Bangalore actively exploring this space, we’re asking: what could tomorrow feel like? The future doesn’t come with a guidebook, but good design might just be the closest thing.

‍