
A modular haptic suit paired with a VR headset that allows users to experience the texture, weight, and temperature of items in virtual environments.
Role
UI/UX Designer
Researcher
Video Editor
Project Duration
13 weeks
Team
4 UI/UX Designer
and Researcher
Online shopping offers unmatched convenience, yet one persistent limitation remains: users cannot physically interact with products before making a purchase. This gap leads to hesitation, dissatisfaction, and high return rates, especially in categories like clothing and furniture, where the feel of the material plays a crucial role in decision-making.
User Findings and Research
Majority users prefer online shopping but avoid items requiring a sense of "touch".
Purchasing decisions are based on reviews, real images, & return policies.
Returns are common due to discrepancies between expectations & received products.
Users want a system that convincingly replicates physical qualities of a product.
Defining Our Scope
With the data we gathered from all the extensive interviews, we created user personas that resembles the needs and wants of the interviewees mentioned.
The Fashion Enthusiast
Emily Carter
Age: 26
Occupation: Social Media Influencer
Tech Savviness: High
The Practical Shopper
Sophie Smith
Age: 28
Occupation: Interior Designer
Tech Savviness: Medium
Along with this flowchart, for our next scheduled interview, we prepared low fidelity mockups to understand the needs and wants of a user to make our product adaptable, comfortable and accessible.
Lo-fi User Testing & Feedback
we conducted "think aloud" interviews to get feedback on our lo-fi mockups.
Users were concerned about the weight of the VR headsets.
Users reported that changing of temperature added a noticeable sense of realism and made it easier to imagine what the product would feel like in real life.
There were mixed opinions about using a full-body suit. Some users found it too bulky and preferred a more modular design that could be worn in parts.
Users responded positively to the idea of personalization, particularly the option to adjust feedback strength based on personal comfort or sensitivity.
Our Solution
Reflecting on the feedback gathered, we settled for a modular haptic suit integrated with a VR shopping system. It allows users to:
The suit is designed using breathable, lightweight lycra with embedded actuators and sensors. The VR headset includes gesture navigation, voice commands, and built-in accessibility features for people wearing glasses.
For our final round of interviews, we created a high-fidelity prototype and produced a demonstration video to showcase how our solution works in practice. This allowed interviewees to better visualize the functionality, interact with the concept indirectly, and provide more informed feedback on its usability and effectiveness.
Hi-fi User Testing & Feedback
we conducted "think aloud" interviews to get feedback on our hi-fi mockups.
Users appreciated the ability to adjust feedback intensity in real time, which allowed them to tailor the experience to their comfort level.
The comfort and lightweight design of the VR headset was a key talking point.
The modularity of the suit, with its easy zip enclosure that makes it quicker and more convenient to put on, was appreciated.
Users valued the availability of different input types, such as gesture control, voice commands, and traditional VR controllers which gave them greater flexibility.
Reflection
VRTouch demonstrated that haptic integration can increase trust in online shopping, reduce hesitation, and help users make more confident purchase decisions. For me, the biggest learning was the importance of translating abstract user needs into tangible design features. The project showed how crucial iteration and user testing are in shaping solutions, and that modularity, comfort, and adaptability are key when designing for emerging technologies.

















