NXC
New Extended Creation is an XR hardware and interaction system designed to give 3D creators a more flexible and tangible way to work.
Graduation Project · 2023
Industrial Design · Creative Hardware
Appearance Prototype
Overview
NXC combines a lightweight HMD, an ambidextrous controller, and interchangeable task modules into one creative ecosystem.
The system adapts its hardware and controls to different creative tasks, from quick spatial sketching to more demanding production workflows.
Question
How can XR creation become more precise and flexible without relying on game-controller conventions or hand tracking alone?
Observation
Most VR controllers are shaped around entertainment, while controller-free hand tracking feels natural but may not provide the precision and physical feedback needed for detailed creative work.
Bulky headsets and abstract gestures can also create physical and psychological distance between creators and the work in front of them.
Reframing
NXC reframes XR input as a hybrid system: one hand uses a physical controller for task-specific precision, while the free hand remains available for broader and more natural spatial gestures.
Instead of relying on one fixed headset configuration, the HMD can shift between a lightweight setup for casual creation and a supported configuration for more demanding sessions.
System Exploration
Light Mode keeps the HMD visually and physically lightweight for activities such as 3D sketching and drawing.
Performance Mode adds rear support and an external hardware module, exploring how additional components could be introduced while distributing the system more evenly around the head.
Together, the two configurations allow the hardware to adapt to different levels of creative activity rather than forcing every task into the same setup.
Controller Exploration
The symmetrical controller was designed to work in either hand and explored in both standard and pen-like grips.
Physical mock-ups were used to study grip, scale, button placement, and the transition between different holding positions before the form was refined digitally.
Interchangeable task modules connect to the controller through a magnetic interface, allowing the physical controls to change according to the creative task while maintaining one consistent base device.
Resolution
The final proposal combines tangible controls, natural hand gestures, and modular hardware so creators can configure the system around the task rather than adapting every task to a single controller.
A slim HMD, adaptable support structure, and interchangeable input modules establish one coherent visual and interaction language across the product family.
Reflection
NXC explores how professional XR hardware could balance precision, flexibility, and physical interaction while reducing the complexity often associated with immersive creative tools.
The project received an Honorable Mention at the Design Intelligence Award 2024.
Designed in collaboration with Taehyuk Kim.
