FloraFun
fostering empathy, ecological awareness, and emotional engagement in digital spaces
Yanjia Yi
Project Description
Human interaction with plants is often silent, yet digital games provide an interactive storytelling medium to reestablish this connection. In most games, plants serve as passive elements, functioning as background aesthetics or resources rather than active emotional entities. This study explores how plants can be integrated as meaningful narrative and interactive components, fostering empathy, ecological awareness, and emotional engagement in digital spaces.
By redefining plants as dynamic, expressive beings, this research moves beyond their conventional static roles, transforming them into interactive elements that respond to player care and actions. Through FloraFun, a role-playing game featuring interactive plant mechanics, this study examines how plants can engage with human emotions, memory, and well-being.
Ultimately, this research seeks to bridge the gap between humans and nature, deepening understanding and appreciation of plant life in both virtual and real-world environments.
BIO
Yanjia was once a programmer and is now a 3D artist, with a future goal of blending computer science and digital art to create engaging digital media projects. She is currently a graduate student in the Digital Futures program at OCAD University, exploring how storytelling and emotions can be conveyed through digital games. Fascinated by emerging digital art technologies, she dives into new tools and techniques with enthusiasm. Yanjia believes that art comes from a love for life and keen observation, and she’s on a journey to transform these inspirations into creative works.