Breaking Barriers in Hybrid Meetings

Life-Size Virtual Participants

As part of Mitsui Fudosan’s initiative to explore the future of work, we designed and developed a next-generation meeting room proof of concept.

Issue

Virtual Participants Face Barriers to Engaging in Discussions

The hybrid work era has reshaped meetings, but a key challenge remains—online participants often struggle to fully engage in conversations. Their small on-screen presence reduces visibility, making it harder for them to participate actively.

Creation

Enhancing the Presence of Virtual Attendees

To create a more immersive and balanced meeting experience, we projected virtual participants at life-size, allowing them to blend naturally into the physical space.

Additionally, we introduced a real-time status display on the meeting table, enabling on-demand invitations to discussions. This fusion of virtual and in-person elements not only strengthens engagement but also demonstrates the potential of next-gen hybrid collaboration.

In the planning phase, we used narrative prototyping to explore multiple future scenarios, selecting the most viable concept for near-term implementation.

Future

With discussions around the virtualization of real estate gaining momentum, the 2020s mark a shift in office culture. Remote work has become the norm, and the pursuit of seamless hybrid work environments continues. To delve deeper, we interviewed Mitsui Fudosan’s project team on their vision for the future of workplace well-being and efficiency.