Exploring Virtual Reality Application in Conceptual Design: A pilot experiment with engineering students

The development of virtual reality-based technologies brought significant change to the product design and development processes, enabling designers to visualise and interact more naturally with digital concepts in an immersive three-dimensional environment. However, despite these inherent advantages, there seems to be limited research on their integration into industrial design processes, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper explores the application of Virtual Reality (VR) in the conceptual design process through a pilot experiment involving postgraduate and undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students. A mixed method approach is employed in this study, involving questionnaires, interviews, and observational data collected from 10 participants. Findings indicate that VR significantly enhances visualisation capabilities, increases engagement, and fosters creative design solutions, with postgraduate students adapting more quickly and demonstrating higher satisfaction. Furthermore, the findings highlight the transformative potential of immersive technologies in the learning environment, providing a roadmap for future utilisation in developing nations. Future research should focus on developing user-friendly VR applications and frameworks to help accelerate the adoption of these immersive digital technologies in design education.