First Day Protocol
VR Narrative Experience
Date of completion: December 2025
Tools: Unreal Engine, Blender
Collaboration: This project was completed in team of 2
Role: UX Designer, Level Designer
Trailer
Full GamePlay
Problem
First Day Protocol is a VR narrative experience set in a workplace environment that explores feelings of uncertainty and alienation. Because the experience takes place in VR and avoids traditional UI elements, players must rely primarily on environmental cues to understand where to go, what actions are possible, and how to progress through the space.
The challenge was designing an environment that communicates interaction possibilities and guides player behavior without relying on explicit instructions or interface prompts, while still maintaining immersion and narrative tone.
Design Goal
The goal was to create a clear and intuitive player experience using environmental design as the primary UX tool. Through spatial flow, visual signaling, and carefully placed interactive elements, the design aims to guide players naturally through the environment while supporting exploration and narrative discovery.
By prioritizing readability, affordances, and subtle player guidance, the experience encourages players to learn interactions organically and remain immersed in the world.
The moodboard was developed to define the emotional and visual tone of the experience. The game explores feelings of uncertainty and alienation in a workplace environment, so the visual direction focused on sterile office aesthetics, muted color palettes, and controlled lighting.
These references helped establish an atmosphere that feels both familiar and slightly unsettling, reinforcing the narrative theme while maintaining clarity for player navigation.
Environmental UX Direction
In the absence of traditional UI, environmental cues were used to guide player behavior and support intuitive interaction. Spatial layout, lighting contrast, and object placement were designed to naturally draw player attention toward key areas and interactive elements.
By controlling visual hierarchy within the environment, the design encourages exploration while reducing confusion, helping players understand where to move and what actions are available without explicit instructions.
Spatial Layout & Navigation Strategy
The office was designed as a readable, looping environment where familiar workplace spaces gradually guide the player toward more unsettling discoveries.
