WildVERSE
WildVerse: Immersive Experience Design for Animal Conservation
Sarah Anil | Vrushti Mehta | Vidhi Shah | Palak Jhaveri | Tridib Saha
Mentors: Dr. Manoj Nikam | Prof. Kshitija Katare | Prof. Mariam Dholkawala
My Role: Narrative Design, Brand Identity, Video Editing, Hologram Interaction & Spacial Design
Duration: 2 Months
Software Used: AR Mattercraft, MIT Face Tracking, Figma, Unity
Secondary research reveals that global wildlife populations have plummeted by an average of 73% since 1970. Meanwhile, over 47,000 species face extinction.
This poses a severe threat to biodiversity, making it critical to inspire the next generation as environmental stewards for a sustainable future.
Domain:
Immersive Tech Conservation
Ed-Tech
Target Audience:
Urban Youth (Gen Z in Mumbai)
Tech Enthusiasts
Conservation Organizations
Design Focus:
Immersive Experience
Gamification
Behavioral Design
Olive Ridley Turtle
Lesser Flamingo
Forest Spotted Owlet
Leopard
Humpback Dolphin
Smooth-Coated Otter
Problem Statement
Despite the rapid decline in wildlife, urban youth lack engaging, relatable experiences that inspire long-term commitment and action for conservation.
We developed an AR filter campaign on Instagram that led to our website to create initial awareness and drive traffic.
Hologram Journey
Users meet Mayor Aira Bhandari from 2095, who gives them a mission to travel to the past and save endangered animals across three diverse ecosystems.
Hologram Journey
In this interactive journey, you engage with holograms of six endangered species by performing unique gestures to save them from glitching (aka disappearing from existence).
Virtual Reality Journey
Players are onboarded into a dystopian future with a mission to time-travel and save endangered species by disarming poacher traps in a wildlife corridor.
Virtual Reality Journey
After freeing captured leopards, players witness their return to the wild, restoring balance to the environment.
Virtual Reality Journey
The experience culminates by nurturing empathy and prompting the player to choose their next mission, linking virtual success to real-world impact.
The Mumbai Chapter
WildVERSE
Point and press right trigger to teleport
My role encompassed narrative design, branding, and immersive experience design, from the VR game storyboard to hologram interactivity and user journey mapping.
The project demonstrated immersive tech’s potential for engaging experiences, it underscored the challenges of executing large-scale immersive projects with limited resources and team size, yet highlighted the rewarding outcomes of perseverance, and changing my perspective on conservation
