13-04-25 FMP Reflection Journal

13/04/25 – Reflection & Project Status

Right now, I'm feeling a bit disjointed in how I'm putting everything together. Progress isn't moving as fast as I'd hoped, but I am still building, still creating—just not in a linear way.

🎥 Media and Visual Development

I've started work on the introductory video and completed over half of one of the immersive rooms. A recent highlight was creating an animated visual to explain the misconception of ADHD as a linear spectrum. Instead, I illustrated it as a kind of radial wheel or spider diagram—showing how executive dysfunction presents differently in each individual. It may not resonate with everyone, but it was a valuable exercise in clarifying the concept and challenging outdated perspectives.

I used Keynote for the animation—not ideal, but decent for basic motion. I'd love to eventually learn proper 2D animation software, though that's not realistic within the current project timeline.

🛠 Technical Setbacks

A recurring issue: the walls in the immersive software don't align with the actual room dimensions. This mismatch causes major layout problems when I position visual assets—what fits perfectly in the design software doesn't line up in the physical space. I've procrastinated on escalating this, but it clearly needs to be addressed via a support request. If I'm struggling with it, others will too—especially if I'm training staff on how to use the system.

Part of the frustration is the sense that I'm carrying more of the creative load, while others with the same job title aren't aligned on expectations or approach. There's tension—whether unspoken or mutual—but collaboration hasn't felt particularly cohesive.

😔 Creative Fatigue

The project has ballooned in scale. I'm starting to question whether I even want to push it all the way through—or whether this has become more of a personal learning journey than a product with a guaranteed destination. If it can be both, that's ideal. But right now, I've lost some of the original excitement. Criticism, obstacles, and constant tweaks have slowed my momentum.

Still, I'm hoping that once I get locked into a specific part of the build again, my drive will return.

🔊 Environmental Considerations

I'm increasingly concerned that the four-walled immersive pod—the space I envisioned as central to the experience—may be too intense. Reports of migraines and overstimulation can't be ignored.

While the original goal was to create a sense of controlled overwhelm—to simulate aspects of emotional dysregulation for the sake of building empathy—I may have gone too far. I wanted people to feel it, not be incapacitated by it. Moving some of the heavier moments to more open rooms might be a better solution, allowing participants breathing space and flexibility.

🧩 Reframing Through Play

On the upside, I've found more freedom and creativity in puzzle design now that the narrative has evolved. I'm drawing inspiration from Wonderland-like logic puzzles, spiral motifs, hidden clues, blacklight pens—elements that are standard in escape room design, but still feel fresh and immersive here.

It's a shift from the clinical, heavily factual approach I started with. This format allows for story-led learning, engagement, and emotional connection—far more powerful than a list of statistics.

✅ Immediate Actions

• Begin assembling a "Problem + Solution" table: tracking technical, narrative, and user-experience challenges with how I'm addressing them

• Finish building the remaining immersive rooms

• Follow up on the immersive wall-alignment issue (stop working around it—solve it)

• Continue building out plot elements in PowerPoint, where edits are easier before committing to the immersive software

• Keep working on the immersive training content (separate from this project, but still relevant)

• Accept that flexibility is key: build iteratively, not perfectly

I may not be moving as quickly as I hoped—but I am moving. And that counts.