TL;DR
STRV delivered a production Vision Pro app for real estate visualization, enabling immersive property walkthroughs with customizable 3D environments. Key visionOS development lessons include the importance of high-quality USDZ models, the limits of simulator testing, and why companion iPad apps are essential for first-time user onboarding in B2B contexts. Spatial UX design requires moving beyond Figma-first workflows and testing directly in real-world environments. Vision Pro performs best in B2B showrooms and design studios where the investment supports sales workflows. The app is live with real customers, demonstrating STRV’s hands-on experience in spatial computing.
When Vision Pro Became Real
When Vision Pro was announced in 2023, we already knew spatial computing would open entirely new ways of building digital products. We got the device on release day, built multiple POCs and shipped a Vision Pro version of our meditation app, Float. That early exploration set the foundation for our first real client project in this space: a real estate visualization platform that lets prospective buyers walk through future properties in fully immersive 3D.
Building a Real-Estate Experience in Spatial Computing
The vision behind the product was straightforward: People struggle to imagine unfinished or off-plan homes. With Vision Pro, they can walk through a realistic, fully furnished 3D version of their future home and customize materials, flooring, furniture and more.
To support this experience, we built:
- A Vision Pro app that enables full-scale immersive property walkthroughs
- A companion iPad app connected via peer-to-peer connectivity that allows staff to guide the experience
In B2B scenarios, Vision Pro devices are shared by many users every day. Most people try the device for the first time without knowing how to control the interface. The iPad controller solves this problem. A staff member can stand next to the customer, guide navigation and adjust settings in real time.
This combination of spatial immersion and guided control proved to be a strong fit for showrooms, sales centers and design studios.
3D Assets Make or Break Vision Pro Apps
One of the clearest lessons from the project is simple: a spatial app is only as good as its 3D models inside it.
- Models must be high-quality. Sloppy topology or poor lighting ruins immersion instantly.
- They must be well-structured and properly named so materials and variations can be updated at runtime.
- They must be in USDZ format, which is now supported by most major 3D editors and easy to convert when needed.
Close collaboration with designers and 3D artists also was essential. We iterated on models multiple times to match the performance, realism and structural requirements of visionOS.
Designing for 3D Is Hard Until You Actually Use It
Designing spatial apps in 2D tools like Figma works only up to a point. What looks good on a flat mockup often doesn’t work in 3D space.
- UI elements that feel well sized in Figma can appear too large or too small in front of the user.
- Eye-anchored interfaces that seem fine in the simulator may feel unnatural on the real device.
- Interactions that look intuitive in mockups often need to be redesigned after hands-on testing.
Many UX decisions only became obvious once we tested them directly on Vision Pro. Spatial computing forces teams to rethink distance, scale, depth, lighting and how people naturally move in physical space.
Why the Simulator Isn’t Enough
The Vision Pro simulator is great for prototyping, but it cannot replace real device testing.
- Spatial anchoring behaves differently on hardware.
- Lighting, reflections, shadows and depth do not translate to a 2D display.
- Performance characteristics vary, especially with complex 3D scenes.
- Subtle comfort issues like eye strain, motion and gesture fatigue only appear on device.
A spatial app needs to be experienced, not just viewed.
Where Vision Pro Shines: B2B Use Cases
While the consumer market for Vision Pro is still forming, B2B use cases are already delivering measurable value. This project proved that Vision Pro is ideal for shared environments such as showrooms, galleries, exhibition spaces and design studios. Businesses can justify the investment because the device supports sales workflows, improves decision-making and differentiates the customer experience.
The companion iPad app plays a major role here. Guided workflows make the technology accessible to first-time users and reduce friction during live demos. The client has already deployed the solution in real-world environments and is seeing tangible impact. And that’s the best validation of the platform and our approach.
Vision Pro is still available only in a limited number of countries. Some features require an Apple ID from a supported region, which is important to consider when planning B2B rollouts.
Key Learnings From Our First Vision Pro Client Project
- Video is not enough: spatial experiences cannot be sold through 2D recordings. Live demos are essential.
- 3D asset quality is critical: investing early in high-quality USDZ assets directly affects the final experience.
- Companion apps unlock B2B usability: guided control significantly improves onboarding and comfort.
- Design must happen in 3D: expect to redesign many UI elements once it is tested in real space.
- Device testing is mandatory: simulator ≠ reality. Test early, test often and test on device.
- Spatial UX requires new thinking: depth, comfort, reachability and scale all behave differently in 3D.
Beyond Traditional Experiences
Our first Vision Pro project was a real success. It’s shipped to production and already being used by real customers. Spatial computing requires new skills, new thinking and a tight collaboration between engineers, designers and 3D artists. But when all the pieces come together, the result goes far beyond traditional mobile experiences.
This is only the beginning, and we are excited about what comes next in spatial computing.
