In this latest instalment of our blog series on the Virtual Innovation Hub, we take you behind the scenes to explore how this immersive space came to life. Designed as a digital 3D proof of concept, the Hub features four zones, each addressing key themes and challenges in further and higher education.
As this is the third blog in our series, we invite you to read ‘Introducing the Virtual Innovation Hub‘ and ‘Why Did We Build It?‘ before diving into the details of how design shaped this innovative space.
Design Principles Shaping the Hub
From the beginning, we knew that thoughtful design would be key in transforming the Hub from a functional tool into an engaging and immersive experience. Keeping in mind that great design begins with understanding the user we crafted every detail around a central question – how can this Hub empower users to collaborate in meaningful ways?
As a result, the Hub is built on key design principles prioritising user-centred design, interactivity and engagement and was shaped by years of experience working with virtual environments and learning first-hand what makes them successful.
Applying 17 Years of Virtual World Experience to VIH
Having worked in virtual environments since 2008, I’ve seen them evolve from static, functional spaces to dynamic, interactive worlds designed for engagement. Early virtual worlds often prioritised technical functionality rather than user experience, but I quickly learned that effective design is much more than technology, instead it is understanding how these spaces shape behaviour, collaboration and immersion.
Through my work on various projects throughout the years, I’ve explored different approaches to user-centred design.
- Seamless Integration – A project linking a virtual world with a learning platform demonstrated how immersive 3D spaces could enhance education, emphasising the need for intuitive design and early accessibility considerations.
- Authenticity in Simulation – In a virtual role-play environment for child and adolescent psychiatry training, realistic, interactive settings enabled practitioners to rehearse sensitive conversations effectively—something traditional training couldn’t replicate.
- Gamification for Engagement – A project using competitive, team-based challenges to simplify complex engineering concepts illustrated how game mechanics can make learning both engaging and memorable.
- Exploring Societal Issues – Designing a virtual world to explore the Northern Ireland conflict demonstrated how immersive spaces can offer new perspectives, fostering deeper understanding of complex historical narratives.
These insights shaped the Hub, ensuring it wasn’t just a virtual space but an immersive, interactive environment designed for meaningful collaboration.
Collaborative Design Process
To ensure the Hub met user needs, we took a collaborative approach. The process of bringing the space to life involved a diverse team of designers, developers and subject matter experts. This ensured that the final design was a dynamic, user-driven space, incorporating insights from various disciplines. Some examples of our approaches included:
Interviews & Mood Boards
We wanted to create a space that resonated with its users, to support these efforts we carried out interviews with colleagues across various Jisc teams. By gathering qualitative data from diverse perspectives, we ensured the final design addressed a broad range of requirements and expectations. To complement this, we used mood boards in Miro to visually capture the emotions, atmosphere and experiences we needed the Hub to evoke. These mood boards became a powerful tool for aligning the entire team around a shared vision, helping us ensure the design choices, for example, colour schemes, audio, layout. 
Specialised Expertise
The collaboration across Jisc teams was crucial in shaping the key spaces of the Hub. Each team shared with us their specialised knowledge that helped us create the four zones within the Hub.
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- The Utopian/Dystopian Campus: This zone integrates sustainability and future-focused thinking. The Jisc Innovation Team, with their expertise in horizon scanning, identified key trends such as the evolving nature of education, technological innovation and the climate emergency. Their insights allowed us to create a space that explores these challenges while delivering hard-hitting messages about the future of education.
- The Extended Reality (XR) Showroom: Led by Jisc’s XR community, this space highlights the real-world applications of immersive technology in education. The showroom features six distinct areas showcasing 3D models of VR headset tech, immersive classroom solutions and practical examples from UK institutions already using XR in teaching.
- The Cybersecurity Zone: Developed with Jisc’s Cybersecurity Team, this zone immerses users in the experience of a ransomware attack. It highlights the importance of cybersecurity products and services, offering real-world case studies from the sector to demonstrate how collaboration and proactive solutions can protect educational institutions from emerging threats.
- The Virtual Innovation Lab: Shaped with insights from Jisc’s Innovation Team, this digital twin of the Jisc’s innovation Hub based in our Bristol office, allows users to explore cutting-edge technologies in digital learning and beyond. The lab serves as a hub for showcasing ongoing projects and future innovations.
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Before diving into the technical aspects, we engaged with a talented creative designer, Lauren Cooper, within Jisc to ensure the visual design of the Hub was thoughtfully crafted from the outset. This approach allowed us to focus on creating an aesthetically appealing, user-friendly environment that would foster engagement and enhance the user experience. By prioritising design first, we could align the look and feel of the space with its intended purpose, ensuring that the technology would seamlessly support and enhance the overall experience, rather than drive the design decisions.
Co-Design Workshops
To foster a truly collaborative design process, we held co-design workshops with users and stakeholders throughout development. This ensured the Hub was shaped by the very people who would use it, enabling us to anticipate and address specific needs while ensuring the design was in tune with their expectations. These workshops also promoted a shared sense of ownership in the final product.
Iterating Through Feedback: A User-Centred Evolution
Designing an effective virtual space is an iterative process—one that thrives on continuous refinement through user feedback. As a result, from the earliest stages of development, we engaged with users to understand their expectations, identify challenges and refine key design elements to enhance both functionality and engagement.
Through structured feedback loops and collaborative design, we made critical adjustments to ensure that the Hub was not only visually compelling but also intuitive, accessible and adaptable.
By placing users at the centre of the design process, we’ve created an space that is not just innovative but also practical, welcoming and deeply attuned to how people interact in digital spaces.
The Future of Virtual Design
The design of the Hub is everything we hoped to achieve. Each design element—from vibrant colours to ambient audio and intuitive layouts—was crafted with one goal in mind: to create a space that would empower users to connect and collaborate in meaningful ways.
Through the thoughtful design of spaces like the Hub, shaped by the expertise and feedback from Jisc’s specialised teams, we open new doors to the possibilities of the metaverse, where collaboration, creativity, and imagination can thrive. I look forward to seeing how it will inspire new opportunities and further push the boundaries of immersive virtual design.
As philosopher David Chalmers suggests:
“virtual worlds are something that really have to be experienced in order to be understood”
So, to learn more about the intersection of design, technology and education, we invite you to explore the Virtual Innovation Hub.