Designing with Immersion: Storytelling, Training, and Spatial Understanding

DescriptionIn this episode of Innovation By Design, Evan Troxel and Candace Kitchen talk with architect and educator Ming Tang, director of the XR Lab at the University of Cincinnati, about extended reality and the rapidly changing tools that make immersive experiences more accessible than ever.

Ming breaks down the differences between VR, AR, and mixed reality, shares the origin story of their own journey from early CAD and 3D rendering to immersive media, and explains why embodied, interactive experiences can communicate spatial intent in ways 2D drawings and screens cannot.

The conversation also introduces the D‑I‑C‑E framework (Dangerous, Impossible, Counterproductive, Expensive) for deciding when digital simulation is the right tool. Ming shares examples ranging from VR egress training and safety scenarios to historical reconstruction and storytelling in immersive environments, plus practical guidance around motion sickness, session length, and using physical locomotion to improve comfort.

Key TopicsDefining XR: VR vs AR vs mixed reality, and why the boundaries often blur in practiceWhy immersion changes how people understand space (and why 2D is often not enough)D‑I‑C‑E (Dangerous, Impossible, Counterproductive, Expensive): when simulation creates real valueVR for egress, fire/smoke, and safety training (and how behavior can differ from the real world)Motion sickness and comfort: session length, latency, sensory mismatch, and physical locomotionCreation workflows: 3D modeling → Unity/Unreal → deploy to headsetsAR/MR on site: overlays for construction, manufacturing, and medical contextsStorytelling, memory, and historic reconstruction in immersive media (including generative AI support)

About the guestMing Tang is an architect, educator, and director of the XR (Extended Reality) Lab at the University of Cincinnati. His work explores the intersection of architecture, digital media, game design, and immersive technologies, including VR/AR/MR applications for design communication, simulation, training, and storytelling.

LinksMing’s website: Ming3dUniversity of Cincinnati (DAAP): https://daap.uc.edu/