Unreal Engine Team Project:

Dreaming the Prairie

Overview:

Dreaming the Prairie is an interactive Unreal Engine installation developed with Studio localStyle, exploring the threatened Bell Bowl Prairie through the perspective of the rusty patched bumblebee. The prairie was digitally reconstructed using GIS data to preserve its ecological memory.

Role:

As part of the development team, I worked as a UX designer and VR developer, focusing on interaction design and technical implementation for Oculus Quest 2.

I optimized 3D plant and terrain assets from Maya to Unreal Engine for real-time performance, developed Blueprint-based interaction systems, and prototyped immersive navigation and event triggers to guide user experience within the VR environment.

Tools:

itch.io link to the game
Gameplay Recording

VR Prototyping Player Interactions with UE5 & Oculus Quest 2

This VR prototype builds spatial interactions and event-triggered moments that guide players through a rusty-patched bumbelbee scale prairie world. Gaze-based interaction, environmental feedback, and simple VR-optimized navigation help create an immersive and intuitive experience.

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Dreaming the Prairie Exhibitions

• SAIC Galleries, Chicago IL, “Faculty Sabbatical Triennial” [25 August-12 December 2025] (v1.5.5) [Vimeo trailer]

• VGA Project Lab, MANA Contemporary, Chicago IL, [21-31 March 2025], curated by Eleanor Schichtel (v1.5.3)

• Silicon Vilstal, Erlebnisfestival 2024, Vilsiburg DE, “Virtuelle Erlebnisse mit VR-Brillen” at Augenoptik Aschenbrenner [21-22 September 2024], curated by Silke Schmidt (v1.5.0)

• Festival der Zukunft, Forum der Zukunft, Deutsches Museum, Munich DE, “XR Experiences” [27-29 June 2024], curated by Silke Schmidt (v1.5.0)

• University of South Carolina, Columbia SC, “Southern Gauge Screening Series” (IG:) @southerngauge [30 May 2024], live playthrough by Chaz Evans (v1.5.0)

• Watershed Art & Ecology, Chicago IL, “Kishwacokee Kinship: Reimagining Relatives” [16 March-13 April 2024] (v1.0.0) [documentation from the opening night]

• XRHUB Bavaria, Munich DE, “Medientage München” [25-27 October 2023], curated by Silke Schmidt (v0.5.0)

This project is partially supported by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Northwestern University, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.