Case Study . 12 min read

Case Study . 12 min read

Designing for Focus: VR or Mobile?

Designing for Focus: VR or Mobile?

Designing for Focus: VR or Mobile?

Evaluating VR and Mobile Mindfulness in Workplace Contexts

Evaluating VR and Mobile Mindfulness in Workplace Contexts

Role

UX Researcher &

Interaction Designer

Role

UX Researcher &

Interaction Designer

Tools

Figma, After Effects, Unity

Tools

Figma, After Effects, Unity

Duration

8 weeks

Duration

8 weeks

Study Type

Comparative Experimental

UX Study

Study Type

Comparative Experimental

UX Study

OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

I evaluated whether a short-form VR breathing session provides stronger emotional immersion, focus, and engagement compared to the Calm mobile app in a desk-based setting.

Key Insight:
VR increases immersion and short-term focus.
Mobile increases convenience and long-term usability.

I evaluated whether a short-form VR breathing session provides stronger emotional immersion, focus, and engagement compared to the Calm mobile app in a desk-based setting.

Key Insight:
VR increases immersion and short-term focus.
Mobile increases convenience and long-term usability.

THE PROBLEM

THE PROBLEM

Workplace mindfulness tools must balance:

Immersion
Accessibility
Habit sustainability

VR offers deep presence.
Mobile offers frictionless access.

Which actually performs better in real desk conditions?

Workplace mindfulness tools must balance:

Immersion
Accessibility
Habit sustainability

VR offers deep presence.
Mobile offers frictionless access.

Which actually performs better in real desk conditions?

RESEARCH QUESTION

RESEARCH QUESTION

How do users perceive emotional immersion, focus, and engagement in a short-form VR breathing session compared to Calm in a desk-based setting?

How do users perceive emotional immersion, focus, and engagement in a short-form VR breathing session compared to Calm in a desk-based setting?

METHODOLOGY

METHODOLOGY

Participants completed:

VR breathing session (3-5 min)
Calm breathing session (3-5 min)
Post-session Interview and questionnaire

Setting: Desk-based workspace simulation.

Measured Dimensions:

Emotional Immersion
Focus
Engagement

Participant (VR)———————Survey Question—————Questionnaire

Participant (VR)———————Survey Question—————Questionnaire

Participant (Mobile App)———Survey Question————Questionnaire

EXPERIENCE DESIGN

EXPERIENCE DESIGN

VR Experience

Immersive environment
Visual breathing cues
Environmental isolation
No external interruptions

Mobile Experience (Calm)

Guided audio
On-screen animation
Full awareness of surroundings
Immediate accessibility

Mobile Experience (Calm)

Guided audio
On-screen animation
Full awareness of surroundings
Immediate accessibility

The design strategy focused on reducing cognitive overload while reinforcing routine stability. The system behaves as a quiet assistant — intervening only when deviation from normal behavior patterns is detected.

KEY FINDINGS

KEY FINDINGS

1️⃣ Emotional Immersion

VR significantly increased perceived immersion and environmental detachment.

2️⃣ Focus

VR reduced desk-based distractions more effectively.

3️⃣ Engagement

VR felt impactful but required setup effort.
Mobile felt easier to repeat consistently.

CORE INSIGHT

CORE INSIGHT

Immersion enhances depth.
Accessibility drives sustainability.

VR is powerful for episodic reset.
Mobile is better for habitual integration.

This suggests platform strategy matters more than raw immersion.

DESIGN IMPLICATIONS

For wellness product teams:

• Use VR for deep, intentional reset sessions
• Use mobile for daily micro-practices
• Consider hybrid ecosystems
• Reduce VR setup friction

LIMITATIONS

• Small academic sample

Self-reported data
Short exposure duration
Possible novelty bias in VRUX research design

WHAT THIS PROJECT DEMONSTRATES

• Experimental UX research design
• Cross-platform experience evaluation
• Strategic product thinking
• Critical evaluation of immersive tech
• Translation of insights into product direction

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

End of page, not the end of story.

Create a free website with Framer, the website builder loved by startups, designers and agencies.