Past Projects
Casual Instagram
The “Casual Instagram” project focuses on Instagram at the intersection of authenticity, well-being, and feminism by studying the posting behaviors of young female users on the platform. “Casual Instagram” represents a departure from the more curated and carefully constructed approach that has often been associated with the platform, and it describes a style of posting that prioritizes a carefree, spontaneous, and unfiltered approach to sharing content on social media.
Non-Verbal Behaviors and Digital Communication
Non-Verbal Behaviors and Digital Communication is focused on analyzing the mediating roles of social media usage and well-being among college students, specifically investigating how FoMO (Fear of Missing Out) and information overload play a role in social anxiety and ghosting behaviors on digital communication platforms. Furthermore, the project introduces new conceptualizations of “ghosting,” or non-verbal behaviors in digital response time that align with contemporary behaviors of how individuals communicate via online communication platforms.
The Social Project
The Social Project is dedicated to highlighting the work and passions of students on campus, specifically graduating seniors from the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering. The video production team handles the entire production pipeline — starting from conducting one-on-one pre-interviews with each student, preparing the filming studio and equipment, creating a casual filming environment, shooting the podcast, and finally editing the podcast and sharing it across our social media accounts. Read more.
RestlessVR
RestlessVR is an immersive virtual reality experience that delves into the manifestations of social anxiety and explores coping mechanisms through escapism and introspection. Set in a serene fantasy forest, players collect flowers while navigating the main character's socially stressful memories, offering a poignant glimpse into the challenges that might drive someone to seek refuge in escapism. Through this journey, RestlessVR provides a thoughtful perspective on the experiences of socially anxious individuals, particularly in school environments, blending storytelling and interactive gameplay to foster empathy and understanding. Watch the demo.
Polaris
Polaris is a 2D platforming game centered around ocean sustainability as the main character, Riley, traverses through a modern-day, polluted ocean environment. Control Riley as they “glide” through the water, navigating the polluted world under the ocean’s surface, clearing the water of waste, and learning more about the ocean throughout the journey. View the demo.
Heartwood
Heartwood is a first-person PC game that immerses players in a Pacific NW Forest. Witness the gradual factors of environmental change by walking through a forest and catching glimpses of the past that were once there. View the demo.
ARTS 185
As part of Brian Beams' ARTS 185: Interactive Immersive Art II course, students developed innovative virtual reality projects centered on sustainability. Each project tackled a unique aspect of sustainability, encouraging creative exploration and interactive storytelling to inspire awareness and action through immersive experiences.