Puppy In Home
This immersive storytelling game was developed as part of a VR module coursework and features a maze-based gameplay mechanism. I collaborated with an engineer, an artist, and a 3D modeller, focusing primarily on UX/UI design and animation.
My ​Role
UX/UI Design
Animation
Team
Suyeon Lee
Yiman Liu
Zemeng Li
Arking Li
Kicky Chen
Date
Jan - Mar 2025
Concept
his is a storytelling puzzle game in which a dog saves its owner's life by solving puzzles drawn from the memories they share. The game features two main mechanisms:
1. Small Maze Ball
The user uses a controller to rotate a handheld maze ball and navigate through it.
2. Room-Scale Maze
The user is then guided into a large room-sized maze, where they must grab and rotate a red box-shaped object to rotate the entire room and progress.
Why VR ?
Breaking through limitations of traditional puzzle games.
Providing unique spatial interaction
user experience.
Offers a deeply immersive experience in a fully constructed virtual world.
User Journey
(Drawn by Suyeon and Arking)
01. Put on the VR Headset
The story begins as the player enters a fully immersive virtual environment.
02. Hear cries for help
The player wakes in a mysterious room and searches for tools.
03. Discover the Maze Ball
A key object appears: a small handheld maze ball.
04. Learn the interaction
UI instructions show how to use the maze ball.
05. Complete the puzzle
The mission ends once the ball reaches its goal.
06. Reveal the story
A door opens to unveil the hidden story.
07. Narrative twist
A dog is revealed to be the one who solved the puzzle to save its trapped owner.
Individual Contribution
UX Design
I primarily focused on UX design, following user-centered design principles to create a positive interaction between the user and the product. I conducted user testing to identify pain points, shared findings with the team, and proposed targeted solutions for each issue. Key considerations included usability, consistency and visual hierarchy.
User Testing
In the early stages of prototyping, we brought in users to experience the game firsthand.
Their feedback revealed critical insights that shaped our next design iterations.
01. Hand Tracking Issue
Problem
Early versions used hand tracking for immersion, but user testing showed it lacked precision and disrupted the narrative flow.
Solution
To improve control, we switched to controllers while keeping virtual hands for immersion and precision.
02. Navigation Challenge
Problem
Users struggled to find the ball and hesitated while rolling it, indicating unclear navigation.
Solution
Improve visual guidance through color cues, glow effects and a more intuitive icon UI system to support smoother user flow.
03. Motion Sickness
Problem
Some users experienced motion sickness during testing, as the game’s core mechanic was rotating the room within a VR environment.
Solution
By displaying only one wall at a time rather than the full room, we reduced motion sickness during gameplay.
3D Modelling & Animation
I created 3D models of the following objects and animated them using Blender. These objects represent the end goals of each game level. The animations added narrative liveliness and helped guide users toward their goals more intuitively.
Additional Feature
UI Design
I designed and directed additional UI elements to improve user guidance, while aligning with the hand-drawn visual style to maintain consistency throughout the experience.
<Gesture Icon>
<Setting page UI>
Sound Design
Also contributed to writing the storyline script and generated the narration voice and sound effects using the generative AI platform ElevenLabs. This enhanced the narrative quality of the experience, adding emotional depth and coherence throughout the gameplay.
Walk-Through Video
Reflection
Although the gameplay mechanic was fun and engaging, it required extensive usability testing to function smoothly. While we were able to reduce motion sickness through design adjustments, some users still experienced discomfort—highlighting this as an area for future improvement.
​
This project taught me the importance of balancing creative ideas with practical user experience considerations, especially in immersive environments like VR. Designing for comfort, clarity, and emotional storytelling all at once was challenging, but it gave me a deeper understanding of how interaction design impacts narrative flow and user engagement. It also reinforced the value of iteration and testing as essential parts of the design process.
More Projects
Virtual Pet, 2024
AR, XR, UX | Unity, Maya
Foundational XR Design, 2023
XR, UX, Prototyping | Bezi