AuraAid
Sept 2023 to May 2024
Thesis Advisor:
Timothy Furstnau
Customisable virtual environments dedicated to mindfulness
Unity, Blender, Figma, Meta Quest 2, Adobe Creative Suite, Mozilla Hubs
Product Design
Branding
Research & Strategy
UI/UX Design
AuraAid is a platform for customisable virtual environments dedicated to mindfulness that addresses access barriers and stigma while promoting inclusivity and privacy amongst immigrant communities.
With collaborative designs explored themes of diaspora, identity, and intergenerational trauma, ensuring VR therapy sessions address the diverse needs of specific targeted audiences. These images capture moments within our VR environments, depicting serene landscapes, traditional motifs, and moments of introspection, inviting users to embark on a journey of healing rooted in their cultural heritage.
Awarded Parsons Graduate Student Research
Fund by the Dean’s Council
Bridging the Gap: Overcoming Disconnect, Cultural Incompatibility, and Access Barriers in Mental Health for Immigrant Communities
Immigrants often experience disconnect and stigma in traditional therapy settings. This lack of cultural accommodation and limited access to personalised environments excludes many from receiving effective mental health care.
Therapy
Disconnect
Immigrants can’t connect with traditional therapy, which fails to address their unique cultural context and emotional needs.
Cultural
Incompatibility
Mental health services fail to accommodate diverse cultural backgrounds
Access
Barriers
Limited access to personalised, inclusive, and private therapeutic environments affecting quality of mental health care
02 RESEARCH QUESTION
How can we create a customisable, culturally relevant VR platform that addresses acculturation stress and promotes mental well-being in immigrant communities?
User
Interviews
Qualitative insights from immigrants on therapy barriers
Surveys
Quantifying the prevalence of acculturation stress
Competitive Analysis
Reviewing existing mindfulness platforms
Cultural
Research
Studied the therapeutic needs of diverse cultural groups.
KEY INSIGHT 1: Cultural Disconnect
Traditional therapy often fails to address the unique cultural contexts and emotional needs of immigrant communities, leading to a lack of connection and effectiveness.
KEY INSIGHT 2: Barriers to Access
Limited access to personalised, inclusive, and private therapeutic environments prevent many immigrants from receiving adequate mental health care.
KEY INSIGHT 3: Customisation and Inclusivity
Immersive, customisable VR environments tailored to diverse cultural backgrounds can bridge the gap, promoting inclusivity and privacy in therapy sessions.
Over Zoom, she can’t read my body language or how I am doing and I feel like it’s a front.
I’ve always felt hesitant about seeking therapy, I don’t want to be diagnosed with words I don’t understand
A third party perspective on everything helped frame my day to day in a different perspective.
The reason that family and the community wasn’t enough is that grief is a personal thing and it doesn’t feel right to share.
I feel better in person session but doing it through in zoom is the best option since I live in NY. And, I want to work with a Turkish therapist.
In Indian culture, it is a challenged to become comfortable with a therapist off the bat, to ease it in it is better to have a therapist from the same background so no need to explain cultural context.
It felt like my cultural identity was overlooked, and, I struggled to connect with my therapist.
I did go to the community and they directed me to think about therapy. My culture is hybridised, they think in both ways traditional and western, best of both of those worlds.
I did go to the community and they directed me to think about therapy. My culture is hybridised, they think in both ways traditional and western, best of both of those worlds.
I, like Peter, hate Zoom therapy. Even here, online therapy with Better Help is sucky.
04 FINAL PROJECT GOAL
Create a customisable VR mindfulness platform tailored to immigrants’ cultural backgrounds.
FEATURE 1
Immersive therapy sessions
FEATURE 2
Customisable VR Environments
FEATURE 3
Personalised dashboard for managing care
Building the Foundation: The low-fi prototype introduced immersive VR environments from waiting areas to private and therapeutic spaces,
Crafted in Blender and hosted on Mozilla Hubs. This stage laid the groundwork for addressing user needs, fostering engagement, and refining the design through real-world testing and feedback.
Crafting Connection: Harnessing technology and environment, AuraAid delivers customisable VR experiences designed to meet the unique needs of its users.
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Customisable VR environments tailored to individual needs
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Immersive therapy experiences designed to address acculturation stress
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Personalised support to guide users through their therapeutic journey
STAGE 1: FREE ONBOARDING SESSION
A member of AuraAid's team will come to the home of a potential user to assess if they are suitable for immersive therapy through the free onboarding session.
STAGE 2: SETTING UP AN ACCOUNT
Through the free onboarding session the candidate proceeds to set up their account.
STAGE 3: ONBOARDING QUESTIONNAIRE
Allows the candidate to choose their appointment type, participant preference, and therapeutic approach. Ensuring a unique therapeutic experience tailored to individual preferences and goals.
STAGE 4: PERSONALISED DASHBOARD
AuraAid generates a personalised dashboard with user summaries, care team details, medication history, and upcoming appointments, enabling streamlined communication and therapy management.
STAGE 5: CONSTRUCTING VR ENVIRONMENT
During the session, users are matched with a culturally trained therapist who guides them in creating a personalised VR environment, offering choices for scenery, pre-designed rooms, photo scans, furniture, and other customisations, ensuring a tailored therapeutic setting.
AuraAid's prototype was showcased at two public exhibits in New York City inviting attendees to experience its immersive, customisable, therapeutic environments.
Feedback from participants provided valuable insights into user interaction, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the design, helping refine the platform to better address the unique needs of diverse communities. These exhibits marked a crucial step in AuraAid's development, bridging innovative design with real-world application.
