Principles of environmental and social psychology in UI/UX design for metaverse social games: A case study of Horizon Worlds

Design psychology and environmental and social psychology are two independent yet interconnected fields. This paper aims to integrate these fields and explore their application in user interface/user experience (UI/UX) design for metaverse social games. The principles of design psychology help understand users’ cognitive and emotional needs, enabling the creation of user-friendly interfaces and interaction designs. On the other hand, principles of environmental and social psychology provide insights into how environmental and social factors influence user behavior and psychological states. Building upon the importance and application of design psychology principles in UI/UX design, we delve into the specific environmental and social psychology factors that impact UI/UX design in metaverse social games. As a virtual global social platform, the metaverse necessitates designers to consider users’ social needs, identity expression, and personal interactions, in order to create an immersive and authentic virtual social experience. Through an in-depth analysis of Zuckerberg’s “Horizon Worlds” and its UI/UX design, we explore the comprehensive application of design psychology and environmental and social psychology principles in metaverse social games. We examine aspects such as usability, personalization, social interaction, and emotional connection in UI/UX design and discuss how visual elements, sound effects, and interactive feedback can facilitate the establishment of emotional connections and social networks within the virtual world. This research aims to provide designers with deeper insights and guidance in creating metaverse social game interfaces that align with user needs and societal adaptability. It will further expand the theoretical foundation of UI/UX design for metaverse social games and serve as a case study and reference for empirical research on the application of environmental and social psychology in game interface design.