05:41:35
, Berlin
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Strangers at Home is a VR concept
2025
VR for Good
Design challenge
Strangers at Home is a VR concept
designed to highlight interactions
can create unequal experiences
for Indigenous job applicants in Australia.
Problem statement
Context & Background
My role
Challenges
How I solved the challenge
Outcome
Lesson learned
Problem Statement
Digital hiring processes often include routine questions that carry disproportionate emotional weight for Aboriginal applicants. Even seemingly neutral steps such as identity-related declarations can trigger fear of discrimination, hesitation, or self doubt. The project focuses on this vulnerable moment of uncertainty and explores how such subtle procedural interactions affect people on a personal level.o basic services such as healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.
Context & Background
Problem Statement
During my studies at Masaryk University, I spent several months living and working in Australia, where I first encountered the everyday realities faced by Aboriginal communities not only cultural richness, but also subtle forms of bias embedded in administrative and digital systems. Many of these issues surfaced in personal stories shared by people around me, often quietly and without drama. One conversation stood out. Two sisters I met through friends spoke openly about the emotional burden behind routine application steps and how one of them regretted hiding her identity in a recent job application.
The honesty and vulnerability of that moment revealed the complexity of the issue more clearly than any academic source could. To better understand whether my early assumptions reflected real experiences, I consulted with Rose an Aboriginal and African American woman from Perth. She confirmed that similar choices are common, often driven by fear of unequal treatment, limited opportunities in remote areas, and systemic barriers in education, housing, or employment.
Her perspective validated the direction of the project and helped refine its emotional framing. Combined with the VR-oriented curriculum at my university, these insights shaped the foundation of the concept. Instead of building a wide commentary on discrimination, I chose to focus on one intimate, often invisible moment that captures the emotional weight behind seemingly minor procedural decisions.
While many forms of discrimination are visible, modern digital systems often introduce bias in subtle, procedural ways. One example is an identity checkbox in job application platforms. The question appears routine, yet for many Indigenous applicants it can carry real consequences. The goal of this project was to translate this moment into an immersive VR experience that clearly shows the emotional and behavioural impact of a simple choice, without relying on dramatic storytelling or sensationalised content.
My Role
Challenges
While many forms of discrimination are visible, modern digital systems often introduce bias in subtle, procedural ways. One example is an identity checkbox in job application platforms. The question appears routine, yet for many Indigenous applicants it can carry real consequences. The goal of this project was to translate this moment into an immersive VR experience that clearly shows the emotional and behavioural impact of a simple choice, without relying on dramatic storytelling or sensationalised content.and structural anchor for the final concept.
I was responsible for the entire design and definition of the VR concept from early framing to the final interactive prototype. My work included narrative design, interaction mapping, environment structuring, and the integration of cultural feedback provided by Aboriginal consultant Rose. I created all visual and interaction flows in Figma and transferred them into Shapes XR, where I built and refined the immersive scene.
Throughout the process, I ensured that the project stayed respectful, focused, and grounded in real lived experiences rather than abstract assumptions.
Challenges
1. Narrowing the narrative without losing emotional depth
My early concept contained multiple scenes illustrating different forms of discrimination. While each was meaningful, together they created a fragmented narrative. The challenge was to reduce the scope without flattening the emotional nuance of the topic.
2. Working with technical constraints in Shapes XR
The tool offered a limited interaction model compared to full VR engines. More complex logic and multi scene transitions quickly became unstable, forcing me to rethink how much could realistically be prototyped.
3. Representing a sensitive cultural topic responsibly
Designing around Aboriginal identity required careful framing. It was essential to avoid dramatization, stereotyping, or superficial symbolism while still making the emotional weight visible and understandable to outsiders.
How I solved the challenge
1. Refocusing the concept around one pivotal moment
To avoid a fragmented storyline, I reduced the multi-scene concept to a single decision point that carried the strongest emotional weight: the moment after an identity-related choice has been made. Instead of showing multiple environments, I built a small, contained space where context is delivered through environmental cues rather than additional scenes
2. Simplifying interactions to fit the limits of Shapes XR
Instead of pushing the tool into complex logic, I shifted the narrative into lightweight, stable elements: a WhatsApp conversation, a TV news segment, a marked calendar date, and an HR chat on the laptop. These cues allowed the scene to remain rich and expressive while keeping the interaction model minimal, reliable, and technically feasible.
3. Grounding the experience in authentic lived perspectives
To avoid superficial or dramatic representation, I anchored the core narrative in a real conversation between two Aboriginal sisters. I recreated their exchange as an audio-text interaction inside the VR environment. This kept the emotional tone intimate and respectful while ensuring cultural accuracy based on my consultation with Rose.
Outcome
The final concept was presented as part of my VR coursework at Masaryk University. The instructors highlighted the strength of the narrowed narrative, the clarity of the interaction flow, and the respectful handling of a culturally sensitive topic. The project sparked one of the longest discussions in the class, with students responding strongly to the emotional subtlety of the scene. Although the prototype was not user tested, it successfully demonstrated how a small, contained VR vignette can communicate the emotional weight behind a seemingly routine administrative decision. The consultation with Rose further validated the cultural framing and confirmed that the experience resonated with real stories rather than abstract assumptions.
Lesson learned
1. Reducing scope increases clarity and impact
Focusing on a single, emotionally charged moment proved far more effective than building a multiscene storyline. The reduction forced the concept to be sharper and more meaningful.
2. Environmental storytelling can replace complex mechanics
Instead of relying on interactive features that the tool couldn’t support, small contextual cues (TV news, calendar date, HR chat) delivered the narrative just as strongly and more reliably.
3. Cultural validation fundamentally shapes the outcome
My consultation with Rose showed me how essential it is to test sensitive assumptions early. Her feedback directly influenced the emotional framing and helped avoid unintentionally harmful interpretations.
05:41:35
, Berlin
Up Next
Up Next
Strangers at Home is a VR concept
2025
VR for Good
Design challenge
Strangers at Home is a VR concept
designed to highlight interactions
can create unequal experiences
for Indigenous job applicants in Australia.
Problem statement
Context & Background
My role
Challenges
How I solved the challenge
Outcome
Lesson learned
Problem Statement
Digital hiring processes often include routine questions that carry disproportionate emotional weight for Aboriginal applicants. Even seemingly neutral steps such as identity-related declarations can trigger fear of discrimination, hesitation, or self doubt. The project focuses on this vulnerable moment of uncertainty and explores how such subtle procedural interactions affect people on a personal level.o basic services such as healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.
Context & Background
Problem Statement
During my studies at Masaryk University, I spent several months living and working in Australia, where I first encountered the everyday realities faced by Aboriginal communities not only cultural richness, but also subtle forms of bias embedded in administrative and digital systems. Many of these issues surfaced in personal stories shared by people around me, often quietly and without drama. One conversation stood out. Two sisters I met through friends spoke openly about the emotional burden behind routine application steps and how one of them regretted hiding her identity in a recent job application.
The honesty and vulnerability of that moment revealed the complexity of the issue more clearly than any academic source could. To better understand whether my early assumptions reflected real experiences, I consulted with Rose an Aboriginal and African American woman from Perth. She confirmed that similar choices are common, often driven by fear of unequal treatment, limited opportunities in remote areas, and systemic barriers in education, housing, or employment.
Her perspective validated the direction of the project and helped refine its emotional framing. Combined with the VR-oriented curriculum at my university, these insights shaped the foundation of the concept. Instead of building a wide commentary on discrimination, I chose to focus on one intimate, often invisible moment that captures the emotional weight behind seemingly minor procedural decisions.
While many forms of discrimination are visible, modern digital systems often introduce bias in subtle, procedural ways. One example is an identity checkbox in job application platforms. The question appears routine, yet for many Indigenous applicants it can carry real consequences. The goal of this project was to translate this moment into an immersive VR experience that clearly shows the emotional and behavioural impact of a simple choice, without relying on dramatic storytelling or sensationalised content.
My Role
Challenges
While many forms of discrimination are visible, modern digital systems often introduce bias in subtle, procedural ways. One example is an identity checkbox in job application platforms. The question appears routine, yet for many Indigenous applicants it can carry real consequences. The goal of this project was to translate this moment into an immersive VR experience that clearly shows the emotional and behavioural impact of a simple choice, without relying on dramatic storytelling or sensationalised content.and structural anchor for the final concept.
I was responsible for the entire design and definition of the VR concept from early framing to the final interactive prototype. My work included narrative design, interaction mapping, environment structuring, and the integration of cultural feedback provided by Aboriginal consultant Rose. I created all visual and interaction flows in Figma and transferred them into Shapes XR, where I built and refined the immersive scene.
Throughout the process, I ensured that the project stayed respectful, focused, and grounded in real lived experiences rather than abstract assumptions.
Challenges
1. Narrowing the narrative without losing emotional depth
My early concept contained multiple scenes illustrating different forms of discrimination. While each was meaningful, together they created a fragmented narrative. The challenge was to reduce the scope without flattening the emotional nuance of the topic.
2. Working with technical constraints in Shapes XR
The tool offered a limited interaction model compared to full VR engines. More complex logic and multi scene transitions quickly became unstable, forcing me to rethink how much could realistically be prototyped.
3. Representing a sensitive cultural topic responsibly
Designing around Aboriginal identity required careful framing. It was essential to avoid dramatization, stereotyping, or superficial symbolism while still making the emotional weight visible and understandable to outsiders.
How I solved the challenge
1. Refocusing the concept around one pivotal moment
To avoid a fragmented storyline, I reduced the multi-scene concept to a single decision point that carried the strongest emotional weight: the moment after an identity-related choice has been made. Instead of showing multiple environments, I built a small, contained space where context is delivered through environmental cues rather than additional scenes
2. Simplifying interactions to fit the limits of Shapes XR
Instead of pushing the tool into complex logic, I shifted the narrative into lightweight, stable elements: a WhatsApp conversation, a TV news segment, a marked calendar date, and an HR chat on the laptop. These cues allowed the scene to remain rich and expressive while keeping the interaction model minimal, reliable, and technically feasible.
3. Grounding the experience in authentic lived perspectives
To avoid superficial or dramatic representation, I anchored the core narrative in a real conversation between two Aboriginal sisters. I recreated their exchange as an audio-text interaction inside the VR environment. This kept the emotional tone intimate and respectful while ensuring cultural accuracy based on my consultation with Rose.
Outcome
The final concept was presented as part of my VR coursework at Masaryk University. The instructors highlighted the strength of the narrowed narrative, the clarity of the interaction flow, and the respectful handling of a culturally sensitive topic. The project sparked one of the longest discussions in the class, with students responding strongly to the emotional subtlety of the scene. Although the prototype was not user tested, it successfully demonstrated how a small, contained VR vignette can communicate the emotional weight behind a seemingly routine administrative decision. The consultation with Rose further validated the cultural framing and confirmed that the experience resonated with real stories rather than abstract assumptions.
Lesson learned
1. Reducing scope increases clarity and impact
Focusing on a single, emotionally charged moment proved far more effective than building a multiscene storyline. The reduction forced the concept to be sharper and more meaningful.
2. Environmental storytelling can replace complex mechanics
Instead of relying on interactive features that the tool couldn’t support, small contextual cues (TV news, calendar date, HR chat) delivered the narrative just as strongly and more reliably.
3. Cultural validation fundamentally shapes the outcome
My consultation with Rose showed me how essential it is to test sensitive assumptions early. Her feedback directly influenced the emotional framing and helped avoid unintentionally harmful interpretations.
05:41:35
, Berlin
Up Next
Up Next
Scroll Down
Up Next
Strangers at Home is a VR concept
2025
VR for Good
Design challenge
Strangers at Home is a VR concept
designed to highlight interactions
can create unequal experiences
for Indigenous job applicants in Australia.
Problem statement
Context & Background
My role
Challenges
How I solved the challenge
Outcome
Lesson learned
Problem Statement
Digital hiring processes often include routine questions that carry disproportionate emotional weight for Aboriginal applicants. Even seemingly neutral steps such as identity-related declarations can trigger fear of discrimination, hesitation, or self doubt. The project focuses on this vulnerable moment of uncertainty and explores how such subtle procedural interactions affect people on a personal level.o basic services such as healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.
Context & Background
Problem Statement
During my studies at Masaryk University, I spent several months living and working in Australia, where I first encountered the everyday realities faced by Aboriginal communities not only cultural richness, but also subtle forms of bias embedded in administrative and digital systems. Many of these issues surfaced in personal stories shared by people around me, often quietly and without drama. One conversation stood out. Two sisters I met through friends spoke openly about the emotional burden behind routine application steps and how one of them regretted hiding her identity in a recent job application.
The honesty and vulnerability of that moment revealed the complexity of the issue more clearly than any academic source could. To better understand whether my early assumptions reflected real experiences, I consulted with Rose an Aboriginal and African American woman from Perth. She confirmed that similar choices are common, often driven by fear of unequal treatment, limited opportunities in remote areas, and systemic barriers in education, housing, or employment.
Her perspective validated the direction of the project and helped refine its emotional framing. Combined with the VR-oriented curriculum at my university, these insights shaped the foundation of the concept. Instead of building a wide commentary on discrimination, I chose to focus on one intimate, often invisible moment that captures the emotional weight behind seemingly minor procedural decisions.
While many forms of discrimination are visible, modern digital systems often introduce bias in subtle, procedural ways. One example is an identity checkbox in job application platforms. The question appears routine, yet for many Indigenous applicants it can carry real consequences. The goal of this project was to translate this moment into an immersive VR experience that clearly shows the emotional and behavioural impact of a simple choice, without relying on dramatic storytelling or sensationalised content.
My Role
Challenges
While many forms of discrimination are visible, modern digital systems often introduce bias in subtle, procedural ways. One example is an identity checkbox in job application platforms. The question appears routine, yet for many Indigenous applicants it can carry real consequences. The goal of this project was to translate this moment into an immersive VR experience that clearly shows the emotional and behavioural impact of a simple choice, without relying on dramatic storytelling or sensationalised content.and structural anchor for the final concept.
I was responsible for the entire design and definition of the VR concept from early framing to the final interactive prototype. My work included narrative design, interaction mapping, environment structuring, and the integration of cultural feedback provided by Aboriginal consultant Rose. I created all visual and interaction flows in Figma and transferred them into Shapes XR, where I built and refined the immersive scene.
Throughout the process, I ensured that the project stayed respectful, focused, and grounded in real lived experiences rather than abstract assumptions.
Challenges
1. Narrowing the narrative without losing emotional depth
My early concept contained multiple scenes illustrating different forms of discrimination. While each was meaningful, together they created a fragmented narrative. The challenge was to reduce the scope without flattening the emotional nuance of the topic.
2. Working with technical constraints in Shapes XR
The tool offered a limited interaction model compared to full VR engines. More complex logic and multi scene transitions quickly became unstable, forcing me to rethink how much could realistically be prototyped.
3. Representing a sensitive cultural topic responsibly
Designing around Aboriginal identity required careful framing. It was essential to avoid dramatization, stereotyping, or superficial symbolism while still making the emotional weight visible and understandable to outsiders.
How I solved the challenge
1. Refocusing the concept around one pivotal moment
To avoid a fragmented storyline, I reduced the multi-scene concept to a single decision point that carried the strongest emotional weight: the moment after an identity-related choice has been made. Instead of showing multiple environments, I built a small, contained space where context is delivered through environmental cues rather than additional scenes
2. Simplifying interactions to fit the limits of Shapes XR
Instead of pushing the tool into complex logic, I shifted the narrative into lightweight, stable elements: a WhatsApp conversation, a TV news segment, a marked calendar date, and an HR chat on the laptop. These cues allowed the scene to remain rich and expressive while keeping the interaction model minimal, reliable, and technically feasible.
3. Grounding the experience in authentic lived perspectives
To avoid superficial or dramatic representation, I anchored the core narrative in a real conversation between two Aboriginal sisters. I recreated their exchange as an audio-text interaction inside the VR environment. This kept the emotional tone intimate and respectful while ensuring cultural accuracy based on my consultation with Rose.
Outcome
The final concept was presented as part of my VR coursework at Masaryk University. The instructors highlighted the strength of the narrowed narrative, the clarity of the interaction flow, and the respectful handling of a culturally sensitive topic. The project sparked one of the longest discussions in the class, with students responding strongly to the emotional subtlety of the scene. Although the prototype was not user tested, it successfully demonstrated how a small, contained VR vignette can communicate the emotional weight behind a seemingly routine administrative decision. The consultation with Rose further validated the cultural framing and confirmed that the experience resonated with real stories rather than abstract assumptions.
Lesson learned
1. Reducing scope increases clarity and impact
Focusing on a single, emotionally charged moment proved far more effective than building a multiscene storyline. The reduction forced the concept to be sharper and more meaningful.
2. Environmental storytelling can replace complex mechanics
Instead of relying on interactive features that the tool couldn’t support, small contextual cues (TV news, calendar date, HR chat) delivered the narrative just as strongly and more reliably.
3. Cultural validation fundamentally shapes the outcome
My consultation with Rose showed me how essential it is to test sensitive assumptions early. Her feedback directly influenced the emotional framing and helped avoid unintentionally harmful interpretations.