Esc

Samir Lee

New Haven, CT

BFA (Web/Interactive Media Design)

Advisor: Samantha Olschan

WebVR
Link to Esc

Esc, is an interactive WebVR experience that focuses on interconnecting mind and body and explores the positive benefits of virtual spaces on mental health. The user explores interactive items, colorful scenery, and a beautiful soundscape in this meditative virtual environment.

I chose to explore mental health through WebVR because I personally struggle with depression, and so the idea of creating a temporary escape from those issues is therapeutic for me. Many of us stumble through the day-to-day with no time to truly decompress. Esc, is an experience that allows and encourages the user to unwind. Research on meditation and self-awareness went into its design and development, drawing inspiration from ASMR and guided relaxation videos. The virtual space was designed through personal reflection and drawing from cognitive psychology, focusing on positive reinforcement through motivational quotes. I wanted to develop a safe and easy step-by-step process for those who have never practiced meditation before while also experimenting with the user journey, giving the individual total freedom to roam about without following a specific path and seeing how one becomes acclimated to the space.

Along with the user journey, this VR experience is my own personal time capsule, filled with ephemera representative of who I am and how far I've come. This project is a culmination of my fondest memories, experiences and dreams throughout the years. I hope that I help each individual find balance and appreciation for meditation in this chaotic world we live in. Relaxation should be rewarding and so I encourage users to explore this world to the fullest!

Artist Bio

Samir Lee is a Digital Media & Design student at the University of Connecticut interested in web and interactive media and world building. Lee is from New Haven, a city in Connecticut with one of the highest crime rates. Constantly moving to different homes to escape the violence around him, he pursued the arts as an outlet for creative expression. He draws inspiration from his endless need to create and address sensitive subjects that most shy away from. Throughout his creative and educational journey, Lee has had the courage to dream and an unwillingness to conform. Despite everyone trying to fit him inside a box, Samir Lee pressed forward with a smile. He believes art has no limitations and that the only limits are the ones we place on it.

https://samirlee.wixsite.com/projectescape

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