11-4-25 FMP Reflection Journals

11/04/25 – Reflection and Technical Progress

I've been working on various components of one of the immersive rooms—mainly focusing on hiding clues and building in narrative layers. Although I'm not working in a linear sequence, this more scattered, intuitive approach seems to suit me better. It keeps the project engaging and helps me generate ideas more organically. When I try to follow a step-by-step process too rigidly, I get stuck, overthink, and lose momentum.

🖼️ Design Workflow & Visual Quality

One technical discovery that's improved my output:

• When I save images from PowerPoint as PNGs and upload them into the immersive suite, the image quality drops significantly.

• However, if I use the Mac's screenshot function to capture visuals and upload those instead, the image retains much higher resolution and readability.

I tested this in the immersive room yesterday, and the results were great—clear visuals, positive feedback from Amy and Shannon. They were impressed. I still need to upload a version of the 3D-style, false-perspective wall I've created; they haven't seen that yet.

🔊 Audio Issues & Subtitles

The sound in the pod remains a serious problem. Most videos only play from one speaker, creating a disorienting and underwhelming audio experience. Based on testing, I suspect the issue is not with the hardware, but with how I'm exporting the video files. iMovie seems to output limited-channel audio.

To address this, I'll likely need to shift over to Adobe Premiere for both:

• Higher-quality audio mixing, and

• Adding subtitles, which iMovie doesn't support.

Subtitles are especially important for accessibility. They've been requested more than once, and I recognise their value in making the experience more inclusive.

⚠️ Sensory Overload and Content Tone

One important piece of feedback: for some users, especially in the fully enclosed pod, the intensity of the videos and content caused overwhelm—even physical reactions like migraines. That's a red flag.

While I still stand by the value of immersive emotional disruption (the "tripping point" moment), I now realise the delivery needs more pacing. I don't intend to "chunk" the content in a didactic way, but I can spread it across rooms to give participants space to breathe and process.

The four-wall pod creates a boxed-in effect, while the other rooms (with three walls and more open space) provide a psychological outlet. I'll need to leverage that difference.

Questioning Content Choices

I'm also reflecting on a potentially problematic decision: including actual CCTV footage of a real incident on campus—a violent event involving a knife. It drew gasps during testing. While the footage involves me and felt relevant, I now realise others may not have seen it before, and it could be traumatising or triggering.

Including it without context or warning was an impulsive move, and I may need to remove or reframe it. This is a reminder to prioritise not just the story, but the emotional safety of viewers—even when the content is personal.

Working Iteratively: Try, Fail, Improve

This process has been demanding. It feels like I may have leapt too far ahead, only to realise I need to walk some of it back. But that's okay. I'm leaning into a "fail better" model:

• Try something → get feedback → iterate

• Don't build a full structure before testing the foundation

From now on, I'll make a point to gather feedback more frequently to avoid having to completely redo large chunks of the project.

The original prototype will now serve as a "proof of concept" or experimental schedule—a working model I can refine and build upon, rather than the final product.