A multi-sensory installation where blindfolded players interact with an animatronic creature within its nest. Guided only by touch and sound, players navigate a tactile, responsive maze that shifts and reacts to their movements. As they reach the creature, its animatronic body breathes, pulses, and responds to touch, creating an intimate and immersive encounter that blurs the line between environment and living presence. Exhibited in USC Game Expo 2025.
Role: Designer & Engineer
Genre: Immersive Experience & Installation
Team: 10 students working over a year
Length: 10-15 mins
Contribution
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Co-designed and implemented core systems, including a pressure-sensitive soft mat that captured touch input, responsive tentacle interactions, and a huggable wing system.
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Collaborated on building the tactile maze with wooden walls, prop placement, and themed entertainment set design to shape the overall player journey.
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Developed and integrated custom touch sensors on soft foam surfaces, including circuit soldering and hardware implementation.
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Took on the challenge of creating a wholesome, intimate hugging experience, building a 2-meter high wing system with a wooden frame, soft foam, and integrated water pipes to create light, foldable, huggable wings covered in fur and feathers.
Experience Layout
Animatronic Creature Head
We built Omu’s “neural network” through a central server and complex state machine, allowing it to recognize touch, tilt its head, nod, and lean into your hand.
Breathing Skin
Motors simulate the creature’s breathing and heartbeat, providing lifelike feedback that intensifies the sense of presence and tension.