Apple Vision Pro has established spatial computing as a legitimate platform for brand experiences. With the developer ecosystem maturing rapidly, now is the time for forward-thinking brands to establish their presence in spatial computing.
The visionOS development paradigm differs fundamentally from mobile. Instead of 2D screens, you're designing for 3D space. Apps can be 'windows' (flat panels floating in space), 'volumes' (3D objects within a bounded space), or 'immersive' (full environment takeovers).
For most brand applications, the 'volume' style is ideal. Product showrooms, configurators, and demonstrations work beautifully as 3D volumes that users can walk around and interact with using eye tracking and hand gestures.
Eye tracking is the primary input method, and it changes UX design fundamentally. Users look at elements to select them and use pinch gestures to interact. Hover states need to be clearly visible from a distance. Target sizes should be generous — at least 60pt equivalent.
Performance requirements are strict. Vision Pro renders stereo at 4K per eye at 90fps minimum. Your 3D assets need to be heavily optimized. We recommend staying under 100K polygons per visible scene and using LOD (Level of Detail) systems aggressively.
RealityKit is the recommended framework for 3D content. It handles physically-based rendering, spatial audio, hand tracking, and scene understanding out of the box. For complex experiences, you can also use Unity with the visionOS plugin.
Spatial audio is not optional — it's essential. Sound sources should be positioned in 3D space relative to the content. When a user moves around a virtual product, audio cues (like a motor sound or music) should appear to come from the product's position.
SharePlay integration enables shared spatial experiences. Multiple Vision Pro users can interact with the same 3D content simultaneously, making collaborative product reviews and virtual showrooms possible.
Our advice for brands entering spatial computing: start with a product showcase volume that lets users examine products at 1:1 scale in their physical space. This is the 'hello world' of brand spatial computing and delivers immediate wow factor.