Industrial Design Beyond the Physical: An Autoethnographic Investigation into Virtual Product Development Practices Using Unreal Engine

Abstract

This research explores how virtual products, which are never physically manufactured, can be conceptualized, iteratively refined, and evaluated within a real-time 3D environment, using an autoethnographic methodology. Leveraging Unreal Engine’s capabilities for high-fidelity visualization, AI-driven behavior simulation, and interactive prototyping, the study examines the unique challenges and opportunities presented by designing products that exist only in virtual spaces. For this, the study experiments with the development and design process of an Intelligent Social Companion Product, a fully virtual, interactive entity, intended exclusively for use within Unreal Engine-powered projects, such as video games, simulations, and computer-generated media. Numerical data from design iterations, simulation performance, and reflective analysis are employed to assess efficiency, usability, and experiential quality. Findings reveal how virtual-only product design expands the boundaries of industrial design, reduces development costs, and enhances creative freedom while posing new considerations for user engagement and design validation. The research contributes to the understanding of the role of virtual environments in the future of industrial design education and practice.

Keywords

• Industrial design
• virtual product development
• Unreal Engine
• autoethnography
• digital prototyping.

Fizikselin Ötesinde Endüstriyel Tasarım: Unreal Engine Kullanılarak Yürütülen Sanal Ürün Geliştirme Uygulamalarına Yönelik Otoetnografik Bir İnceleme

Abstract

Bu araştırma, sanal ürünlerin gerçek zamanlı bir 3B ortamda nasıl kavramsallaştırılabileceğini, yinelemeli olarak geliştirilebileceğini ve değerlendirilebileceğini otoetnografik bir yöntemle incelemektedir. Unreal Engine’in yüksek gerçeklikte görselleştirme, yapay zekâ destekli davranış simülasyonu ve etkileşimli prototipleme yeteneklerinden yararlanarak, yalnızca sanal ortamlarda var olan ürünlerin tasarımına özgü fırsatlar ve zorluklar ele alınmaktadır. Bu amaçla, çalışmada Unreal Engine tabanlı projeler—video oyunları, simülasyonlar ve bilgisayar üretimi medya içerikleri gibi—için özel olarak tasarlanmış, tamamen sanal ve etkileşimli bir ürün olan Zeki Sosyal Yoldaş Ürün’ün (ADA) geliştirme süreci deneyimlenmiştir. Tasarım yinelemeleri, simülasyon performansı ve yansıtıcı analizlerden elde edilen sayısal veriler kullanılarak süreç verimliliği, kullanılabilirlik ve deneyimsel kalite değerlendirilmiştir. Bulgular, yalnızca sanal ürün tasarımının endüstriyel tasarımın sınırlarını genişlettiğini, geliştirme maliyetlerini düşürdüğünü ve yaratıcı özgürlüğü artırdığını, ancak kullanıcı etkileşimi ve tasarım doğrulaması açısından yeni sorular doğurduğunu göstermektedir. Bu çalışma, sanal ortamların endüstriyel tasarım eğitimi ve pratiğindeki gelecekteki rolüne dair kavrayışa katkı sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Endüstriyel tasarım
• sanal ürün geliştirme
• Unreal Engine
• otoetnografi
• dijital prototipleme.

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