Cindy Nakhammouane
You Can Grow Here
Overview
You Can Grow Here is an immersive VR experience developed for and exhibited at the CAVE2™ environment in the Electronic Visualization Laboratory at the University of Illinois Chicago, aligning with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health and Well-Being. In response to the mental health challenges intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project explores how interactive storytelling, ambient sound, and 3D typography can support emotional reflection, explore modes of group therapy, and teach anxiety coping strategies. Built in Unity with custom assets from Blender and Maya, the experience differs from most clinical VR programs, allowing users to independently explore emotions, manage anxiety, and practice evidence-based calming techniques within a safe, narrative-driven space that builds emotional resilience.
Context
VR Application and Research Paper (SIGGRAPH 2025 Convention and HCII International 2026 Conference)
Role(s)
Equal contributing VR Developer and UI/UX Designer along side 3 other interdisciplinary students from computer science and design backgrounds: Hope Jo, Gaeun Lee, Khin Yuupar Myat
Skills
Virtual Reality Development, Human-Computer Interaction, Prototyping, 3D Modeling, User Testing, Field Research, Scripting
Tools
C#, Unity, Blender, Maya, Figma
Concept Video
Project Overview
Problem
Anxiety continues to be one of the most prevalent and growing mental health challenges, with 43% of adults in 2024 reporting increased levels of anxiety compared to the previous year.
While traditional therapeutic approaches remain vital, there is a growing need for accessible, engaging tools that promote emotional awareness and coping strategies. Key challenges in mental health support include:
Inaccessible Emotional Support
Inconsistent access to therapy due to financial, geographic, or social barriers, impersonal tools, and strictly clinical tools limit access to emotional support.
Lack of Engaging and Emotionally Reflective Tools
There's a need for interactive, sensory-rich experiences that help users sustain engagement and encourage deep emotional reflection.
Difficulty Building Emotional Awareness
Internalizing and applying coping mechanisms in real-life situations can be hard without spaces for safe exploration and guided practice.
Solution
You Can Grow Here (YCGH) was developed to be a narrative-driven virtual reality (VR) experience that leverages interaction, storytelling, and design to foster emotional reflection and support mental well-being.
Documentation Video
SIGGRAPH 2025 Convention
ACM SIGGRAPH is the world’s premier international conference of computer graphics and interactive techniques, known for its competitive selection process and global prestige.
After being accepted, my team put together a research poster to present at the SIGGRAPH 2025 Convention in Vancouver over the course of 5 days for over 12,000 attendees.
Outcome
Our project received significant attention at SIGGRAPH 2025, sparking engaging discussions about the future of AR/VR in mental health and adjacent fields. The positive feedback from attendees highlighted the potential impact of our work in making anxiety management more accessible and effective through immersive technology.
"The experience is emotionally engaging, using gentle gameplay mechanics, environmental storytelling, ambient sound, and evolving typography."
— Reviewer
"While VR for mental health isn’t new, the focus on narrative, improvisation, and user interaction makes this project stand out. It’s a thoughtful blend of disciplines with potential for real-world impact."
— Reviewer
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