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. This project focuses on that vulnerable moment of uncertainty and explores how subtle procedural interactions can affect people on a deeply personal level, including their access to basic services such as healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.
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.
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.
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.
First modelation in Shapes XR
How I solved the challenge
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.
Final spaces on Shapes XR
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.
Recording from the virtual space
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.
VR for good intro concept
