Chuanshi: VR Diary
A virtual reality archive for a home that can no longer be returned
Client
Thesis project
Duration
Sept., 2020 - May, 2021
Roles
Designer, Prototyper, Developer
Tools
Unreal, Blender, Figma
Overview
Chuanshi is an interactive VR diary of my childhood living on the Chuanshi island off the east coast of China. In this project, I recount distant, fragmented memories to explore the malleability of space in VR and examine how the body relates to, inhabits and interacts with the digital representation of a physical space. I designed, prototyped and programmed this solo project.
Context
I was born on Chuanshi, a secluded island in the East China Sea, and spent my formative years there before embracing a peripatetic lifestyle. As I drift through the world, my heart remains tethered to Chuanshi. In a year marked by fear, loss, and uncertainty, I created this project as a refuge—an intimate space for meditation, contemplation, and the pursuit of a sense of belonging. With limited archival materials at my disposal, I drew upon a collection of my early childhood memories to craft an immersive VR experience. In this virtual realm, visitors can explore a digital reinterpretation of my family home and gather fragments of my family history scattered throughout the virtual space.
Project Goals
Recognizing the subjectivity inherent in memory and its role in documenting the past, my goal is to construct a mediated space where the boundary between reality and memory becomes blurred. This endeavor seeks to explore the tension that exists between a physical space and one's recollections.
Visual Design
Mind mapping
Moodboard
Based on brainstorming and exploration, I have decided that the tone of my project will be nostalgic yet distant, with visual keywords emphasizing fragmentation and distortion. The water theme of the island complements these choices perfectly.
Prototype of the wavy water effect in Unreal
Interaction Design
I recorded several audio stories and scattered them in the virtual space. The project starts with visitors spawned in front of a calendar and hearing me recounting the day I left the island. It serves as both an intro and a tutorial for the visitors to get familiar with the navigation system. As they start moving around in the house, they will realize the colored objects are trigger points for the audio stories and the sound fades as they move away.
3D Design
I modeled the house and several 3D objects in Blender based on family photos and my memory of the physical environment.
I implemented the 3D assets in the Unreal game engine and finalized the underwater effect using Unreal’s Post Process Volume .
Impact
Chuanshi was curated for the Perfect World exhibition at FOUR-D in New York in August, 2021.
Reflections
My goal for this project is to become familiar with Unreal and conceptualize a project from 0 to 1, leaving limited opportunities for me to focus on details. Given more time, I would design an onboarding system, particularly for first-time VR players, to help them become accustomed to the navigation.
The underwater effect can lead to lagginess in VR and isn’t the most performant feature. I would like to explore ways to maintain the visual effect while optimizing the application.
I have also considered additional features that could enhance the underwater theme further, such as a swimming or floating simulation for users and physics to allow objects to float in the water.
