BrainDance

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Project Type: Master’s Research Project (Solo)

Engine: Unity 6

Platform: Virtual Reality, PCVR

Focus: Affective UI/ UX and Onboarding, Player Perception, Germane Load, Emotional Realism, Voice Interaction, Accessibility

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Overview

BrainDance is a solo-developed VR prototype created as part of a University research project at Abertay. The experience is designed as a training tool for medical professionals to show first hand how people interpret social situations under conditions of uncertainty and misaligned perception, using voice-driven interaction and experiential gameplay rather than traditional mechanics.

The project is not a therapeutic tool, but an exploratory design exercise that sits adjacent to reflective and empathetic game design.

My Role

• Designer, Programmer & Researcher
• Designed the core interaction systems and experience structure
• Implemented the prototype in Unity for VR
• Authored narrative structure and player scenarios
• Defined ethical boundaries and framing for sensitive subject matter
• Conducted design-led research into player perception and interpretation

Design Intent

The central research question was:

• How do psychosis-like distortions of perception affect a person’s ability to judge reality, interpret social feedback, and understand the consequences of their actions?

The experience was designed to:

• Create uncertainty without explicit failure states