Label Sizing and Placement in XR

In some XR cases, such as data visualization or multiplayer collaboration, the user will need to have an easy view of any labels or contextual information associated with that data. If the labels are facing different directions, the user will have to walk around or manually adjust their view to access the information. This can become frustrating and poses a risk of the user missing important data and insights.

3D data model created by Loïc Norgeot, licensed as CC BY 4.0

TL;DR Do’s and Don’ts

Do

Keep important information visible regardless of where the viewer is standing.
If multiplayer or collaborative space, have the labels face each individual from their own perspective— much like social VR applications.
Follow minimum font sizing as per the headset’s manufacturer guidelines.

Example scene of a stock chart made in Maquette VR by Microsoft with the labels facing the wrong direction. — Sample scene from Microsoft’s VR prototyping tool, Maquette.

Don’t

Don’t have important information such as chart labels for data visualization facing only one direction.
Don’t occlude the labels with objects in the environment when dealing with data visualization or remote collaboration settings.

Recommendations

When you’re not sure where the user will be standing as they look at labels, set the labels so that they always face the user — especially with multiplayer and collaboration settings.
If labels need to be visible and legible from any distance, adjust the font size according to the distance from the user.
In cases where you need labels to show at all times and there is the possibility of the labels being occluded by other digital objects, consider setting the labels on a separate dedicated layer so that they can always show above the other objects.

Learn more

3 Tips For Text Labels In VR by Eyal Shahar
Tooltip – Mixed Reality by Microsoft
Typography – Mixed Reality by Microsoft

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I’m an Immersive Tech UX Design Professional with over 22 years of experience designing for kiosks, websites, mobile apps and desktop software for many well-known and not-so-well-known companies.

I’m not speaking on behalf of or representing any company. These are my personal thoughts, experiences and opinions.