The Other Side
Preserving memory and connection across generations
2017
With Bora Kim, James Zhou, and Stephanie Lee
Role: Concept Development, Experience Prototyping, Storytelling & Narrative Design, Brand Identity
The Challenge
How might we reimagine the connection between the living and the
deceased in modern cemeteries? Traditional graveyards often limit
interactions to static, one-directional visits, creating an emotional
distance between visitors and their departed loved ones. This project
explored ways to transform this experience into something more meaningful
and intimate
Understanding the context
The project began by examining the limitations of traditional cemetery interactions and their impact on the grieving process. Research focused on understanding how multi-sensory experiences could create a more profound sense of connection with the deceased.
Multi-sensory VR experience
Building on these insights, we developed a virtual reality prototype using the HTC Vive platform, combining 360-degree videos with carefully crafted physical elements. The design incorporated multiple sensory touchpoints: heat lamps for warmth, gentle breezes, a sand pit for texture, carefully selected scents, and physical objects like rocks that visitors could hold.
Guided emotional experience design
Special attention was paid to the narrative journey, with the experience designed to help visitors gradually build an emotional connection through guided imagination and memory recall.
Where we landed
"The Other Side" emerged as an afterlife service that transforms the traditional cemetery visit into an immersive, multi-sensory experience. Unlike conventional tombstones or cemetery plots, the service creates an environment where visitors can feel a genuine sense of presence and peace. Through the combination of virtual reality and physical sensations, it offers a new way for people to maintain ongoing, meaningful relationships with their departed loved ones while finding comfort in their memories.
