happy place, 2021

An interactive game experience that reflects on the metaphorical symbolism of loss, and the invasion of depression in the mind of a child.

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The overall concept of Happy Place is a metaphor for grief. Everyone experiences grief differently, but the feeling of a void left by the being you loved so deeply is universal. The main character of Happy Place is a little girl named Blue. Blue is lost in her own mind, but soon she explores this new land as she battles shadowy figures called the Deprimiert who are taking over, especially in the residents' safe haven, My Happy Place. With the help of her mindful residents, the Mems, also known as her memory ghosts, and her helpful cat, Heiter, Blue overcomes her fears to come against her ultimate enemy, Herzteer, to take back My Happy Place before it is completely consumed by darkness and depression.

I mainly used the software Unity to create the first level of Happy Place. The digital concept art is all created using Adobe Fresco. I chose the different colors of Blue's world to reflect how she feels in the moment. Blue, a color that is mainly associated with serenity signifies dissonance. I also chose to incorporate German words into this story because although these words may be foreign to most, they will be recognizable to some. This mimics the recognition that people who share mental health conditions may experience amongst themselves while the larger world goes on unnoticing. I also used the software Blender for character rendering.