Apple Vision Pro introduces a whole new computing paradigm — spatial interfaces, 3D UI, and eye + gesture-based interaction. But what if your team doesn’t have physical access to the hardware?
The good news: you can still build and optimize for Vision Pro effectively using Apple’s tools, emulators, and a mindset shift in design thinking.
Use the visionOS Simulator in Xcode
Apple provides a powerful visionOS Simulator in Xcode that allows developers to preview and test spatial apps in a virtual environment.
🔹 Tip: Use different room configurations, lighting scenarios, and gaze interactions to simulate real-world use.
Design with spatial UX principles in mind
Even without hardware, you can begin to design around spatial behavior:
🔹 Bold UI hierarchies: Depth, layering, and spatial grouping matter more than flat layouts.
🔹 Avoid screen metaphors: Think in terms of "spaces" and "context zones" instead of fixed screens.
🔹 Gaze, voice, gesture: Prioritize input mechanisms that feel natural in air — not taps or clicks.
Use Figma plug-ins and spatial design templates
Tools like Figma already offer plugins and templates tailored to visionOS UI components and volumetric design.
🔹 Tip: Prototype in Figma with proper field-of-view constraints and depth-based hierarchy to visualize how elements will behave in 3D.
Rely on Apple's HIG and WWDC resources
Apple's Human Interface Guidelines for visionOS are rich with patterns, behaviors, and best practices.
🔹 Watch sessions from WWDC 2023 and 2024 focused on gesture mapping, spatial transitions, and UI placement.
🔹 Learn from native apps like Safari, Mail, and Freeform to understand what Apple considers “spatially intuitive.”
Test interactions on iPad or iPhone with simulated input
If you're building with SwiftUI and RealityKit, you can simulate some aspects of spatial interaction — such as focus-based input or UI scaling in physical space — even on mobile devices.
🔹 Tip: Test eye-targeting logic with touch as a proxy, or simulate depth with zoom/scale gestures.
Collaborate with teams that have hardware
If you’re part of a wider ecosystem (agency, partner network, early access program), leverage remote testing sessions or feedback loops with teams that do have the Vision Pro.
🔹 Tip: Ask for UX recordings or shadow design reviews to catch issues you can't experience firsthand.
Summary
No Vision Pro in hand? That doesn't stop innovation. By using Apple’s simulator, designing with spatial-first thinking, and applying best practices from official resources, your app can be Vision Pro-ready — long before the hardware arrives at your desk.
