Building Digital Campfires: Creating Community Spaces in VR

As the world increasingly moves into virtual spaces, the importance of good community design has never been greater. Building digital campfires, small, inviting spaces where people can gather and connect, mirrors many of the best practices found in office design and collaborative environments. By borrowing from these real-world lessons, we can create virtual worlds that feel natural, welcoming, and alive.

The most successful physical collaboration spaces often have an open-plan design with many smaller zones within them. In VR, we can recreate this by building a large central environment where people can see each other from a distance but still break away into smaller groups.

This approach serves two important functions:

This is the essence of a digital campfire, not forcing interaction, but allowing it to spark naturally.

When designing VR spaces, it is important to think about how people physically position themselves relative to each other. Two main styles emerge:

Good VR spaces offer both options.

Some areas should encourage sitting face-to-face for deeper discussions, while others allow people to sit side-by-side, facing a common view or shared activity. This flexibility caters to different communication styles and social comfort levels.

Not every interaction in a virtual world needs to be loud or busy. People also need quiet spaces to decompress, reflect, or simply exist without the pressure to constantly interact.

Adding small nooks, such as a quiet garden, a private library corner, or a scenic lookout, gives users permission to recharge. These spaces are essential for maintaining a healthy, welcoming atmosphere.

Another powerful tool is to build around a central activity or theme.
It could be as simple as:

These small activities break the ice and give people something to bond over, even if they are strangers.

Rather than forcing awkward introductions, a shared focus invites natural collaboration and conversation.

An emerging concept in physical office design is the office neighbourhood. It is built around clustering individuals with similar roles or projects into dedicated zones, fostering collaboration and a sense of belonging. This idea can also be adapted to virtual environments to further enhance community building.

In a VR setting, it translates to creating distinct areas or “neighbourhoods” where users can engage in specific activities or discussions relevant to their interests or tasks. The environment itself encourages this movement, as people are naturally drawn to spaces based on their design and purpose. This structure not only promotes collaboration but also mirrors the flexibility and adaptability found in modern office design.

A vibrant, welcoming space must also feel safe.

To foster real connection, users must trust that they are entering a supportive environment where harmful behaviour will not be tolerated. This means setting clear guidelines that promote respect, inclusion, and kindness.

Without these safeguards, even the best-designed VR environment risks becoming cold or hostile. Strong community guidelines protect the campfire and ensure everyone feels safe to contribute, collaborate, and belong.

Whether physical or digital, a well-designed space does more than look good. It facilitates human connection.
In VR, where people cannot rely on subtle body language cues as easily, space design takes on even greater importance. Thoughtful layouts, different engagement options, areas for decompression, shared activities, and a strong foundation of trust all contribute to creating genuine, lasting communities.

As we continue to build the future of digital spaces, remembering campfires is essential. When everyone can see the flames, drift in and out of conversation, and feel the warmth of being part of something greater, we create spaces that feel alive, human, and connected.

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