First Resort was a VR mental wellness app developed by RealizedCare (formerly BehaVR). I was the design lead on the Early Access release.
My work centered on a series of core activities that taught users to identify and challenge destructive thoughts through cognitive reframing techniques. In addition to designing these experiences, I contributed as a 3D artist, creating environments, props, animations, and VFX while leading optimization efforts to ensure smooth performance in VR.
First Resort was released in November 2022 and was selected as a finalist for "Best Health Game" by Games For Change in 2023.
Role: Lead Designer, 3D Artist
Responsibilities: Concept development, storyboarding, prototyping, white-boxing, interaction design, level design, gameplay design, sound design, writing (tutorial dialogue), modeling, texturing, animation, VFX (shaders, particles), lighting, and graphics optimization
Target Platform: Meta Quest and Meta Quest 2
Copyright © RealizedCare / BehaVR
This activity encourages users to acknowledge the feelings and behaviors that come up in response to their thoughts, and practice labeling these thoughts as "distortions".
Next, users learn to challenge the accuracy of their thoughts by gathering evidence for and against them.
The final exercise involves users identifying their core beliefs, and examining if those beliefs are preventing them from achieving their goals.