Inspiration

As we were graduating, we faced the pressure of a shifting social identity and the uncertainty of how to navigate our place in the world. However, in a culture so competitive, most of us were forced to push forward, driven by fear of falling behind others even without a clear direction or goal. Inspired by this, I collaborated with visual designer Ruei-Ting Shang and interaction designer Yu-Tung Wu to explore the topic of peer pressure as part of our capstone project. We designed an VR experience with spatial sound design where participants are immersed in the virtual space, being pressured to run along.

The work aims to evoke feelings of hesitation and uncertainty in viewers, as they witness others around them running relentlessly, seemingly heading nowhere, prompting them to decide whether to conform blindly.

Process

During the creation process, we divided our work into three distinct parts and collaborated closely with each other. For the visual production, Yu-Tung utilized her visual arts expertise to create 3D models, characters, and various environments, all designed to immerse participants in a unique world. Rei-Ting, on the other hand, focused on researching procedural animation techniques to construct an endless map, where participants' physical movements directly influence their actions within the virtual space, simulating an ongoing journey through an ever-evolving landscape.

I was responsible for the sound design, which features original background music that evolves from calm to increasingly intense motifs, mirroring the emotional transitions participants experience as they navigate the scene. Immersive sound effects, such as footsteps and environmental sounds, dynamically respond to the participant’s movements, enhancing the sense of presence. Moreover, interactive sound effects are triggered by specific actions within the narrative, such as the dispersal of sand upon touch, further deepening the participant's engagement with the environment and enriching the overall experience.

Reflection / Learning

As part of the National Tsing Hua University BFA of Arts and Technology Program, we had the opportunity to showcase our work in the 3rd Graduation Exhibition "Acquiring Your Signal" at the Taiwan Contemporary Culture Lab. Through this exhibition, we gathered valuable feedback from viewers about their experiences. Many viewers resonated with the feeling of uncertainty, which triggered a primal instinct to follow the crowd blindly. Some viewers even interpreted their experience through personal stories. For instance, one participant shared that the experience of being still while others rushed forward symbolized the daily pressures of life. However, within this experience, they also found a sense of release and relief.

This open-ended viewer experience was exactly the outcome we hoped to achieve after collaborating and discussing the project. By only providing viewers with instructions on how to interact with the piece and withholding the background motivations, we allowed them to project their own emotions and perspectives onto the experience, enhancing the immersive effect.

After the exhibition, we also identified areas for technical improvement. For example, we encountered performance issues, particularly with machine overheating when handling large crowds, which we plan to address in the future. As for the sound design, while the majority of viewers found the music captivating and catchy, a small number of participants mentioned that the interactive sound effects lacked intuitive cues, making it difficult for them to trigger certain actions during the experience.