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Claire Hu's MFA Thesis Project

May 2021 - April 2022

My Roles in this Project: Designer

Hedge Hug:
An Interactive Exploration on Low Self-Esteem and Social Anxiety

The Question: How to represent emotional struggles and negative internal distortions through interactive metaphors to help players recognize low self-esteem's destructive effects and reflect on the importance of self-care?

Project Goals and Experience Goals: Throughout the gameplay, players will feel struggle and frustration like the protagonist, Emna, does; understand what low self-esteem and social anxiety feel like in relatable daily life situations; and become emotionally connected and empathetic towards the character's externalized inner struggles as well as self reflect, gaining new perspectives.

Thesis Paper Link

Project Main Page Link

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