Developing a VR Login Experience

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when home confinement was the new normal, my journey in augmented and virtual reality took off, fuelled by a course in AR and VR for Unity. As part of the innovative Auth0 Lab team, we toyed with the idea of developing a Virtual Reality (VR) login - an intriguing solution that could revolutionize the user experience, an idea born from our attempts to simplify logging in without using Meta.

As an advocate for new ideas within the team, I paired up with a frontend engineer, a friend who shared the same interest in Beat Saber and the exciting world of VR. With our Oculus headsets in tow, we initiated a flurry of brainstorming sessions, buoyed by our shared enthusiasm.

An expert from our company soon joined our adventurous venture, taking the helm as the project leader. After intensive discussions and analysis, we opted to craft a proof-of-concept (PoC), utilizing the "Device flow" concept, akin to the Netflix model. While the experience wasn't as smooth as we envisioned - requiring users to remove the Oculus to continue the login process on another device - it was a feasible starting point that would provide valuable insights.

My role spanned from the ideation phase to the final execution. I spearheaded the conceptualization, conducted research, interfaced with stakeholders, and designed the user experience, including wireframes and workflows. Partnering with brand designers, we carefully crafted the screens. Using Unity 3D, I implemented the project while a fellow developer integrated the Auth0 device flow code. Post-launch, I collaborated with the marketing team for project promotion, monitored the metrics, and shared them with the team.

Despite the project initially basking in the limelight, the rise of Web 3 and the crypto golden hour diverted our focus towards Verifiable Credentials, NFTs and exploring the development of an ID wallet. The VR login, our beloved project, faded into the background.

The project experience served to illustrate the essence of transforming broad, abstract ideas into valuable tools for our users. It required driving clarity in plan, strategy, and vision among product managers, engineers, researchers, and content strategists. This journey contributed to strategic decisions alongside product and executive teams, illustrating the importance of collaborative work with Product, Research, and Engineering partners from concept through to completion.

Owning the end-to-end design, from interaction to visuals, across multiple features and projects was a task that required perseverance. We strived to provide engineers with comprehensive implementation guidance, ensuring the highest quality at launch.

Our journey with the VR Login project underscored the necessity of staying informed of industry trends and emerging technologies.

This immersive experience of developing the VR Login project served as a profound learning journey, imparting several invaluable lessons:

1. User-centric Design: The need to remove the Oculus for login highlighted the importance of a user-centric design process. It taught me that technology should mold itself around the user, not the other way around.
2. Collaboration and Communication: Working in a diverse team, from front end engineers to brand designers and marketers, reinforced the significance of clear communication and collaboration. This project underlined the fact that the best results come from leveraging the unique skills and perspectives within a team.
3. Embracing Change: The shift from our project to focusing on Verifiable Credentials due to the rise of Web 3 and crypto was a vivid lesson in adaptability. The ability to change direction in response to industry trends is crucial in technology, and learning to embrace this was a key takeaway.
4. Importance of Prototyping: Developing a PoC was instrumental in learning the value of prototyping. It allowed us to test our ideas quickly and gather feedback, which ultimately helped us shape the final product.
5. End-to-end Ownership: Being part of the project from ideation to implementation to promotion taught me the importance of holistic ownership. It gave me insight into every stage of the product design process, improving my skills in each area.
6. Constant Learning: The project experience reinforced the importance of continuous learning. Staying updated with the latest industry trends, user behaviors, and emerging technologies is vital in the ever-evolving world of product design.

Overall, the VR Login project was more than just an interesting endeavor. It was a valuable opportunity to grow and evolve as a product designer, improving my ability to create user-centric, innovative, and value-driven solutions.

Recommended article for further exploration: How we designed a VR login experience by Auth0 Lab