Depression is still a topic that many people know very little about. With this project, we want to give insight into the inner emotional world of people living with depression, in order to create understanding. Depression is different for every person and is experienced in many individual ways, which means not everything can be represented accurately. Still, we aim to offer a general impression.
Depression is an illness. It affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People who are affected often feel deeply sad, empty, or exhausted, even when there is no obvious reason. Things that once brought joy can start to feel meaningless. These feelings are not a choice and are not a sign of weakness. People with depression cannot simply control their emotions or perceptions. They need empathy, support, and often professional help.
At the bottom of the page, you will find links to websites that provide information about helplines and support services.
A mixed reality installation lasting approximately 9 minutes. The experience can become quite dark, so we would like to include a trigger warning. If you are personally affected by depression, the experience may feel overwhelming. Our primary audience consists of relatives of people with depression, as well as anyone who wants to engage more deeply with the topic.
You will be guided virtually through the stages of a depressive episode - from initial attempts at distraction to the feeling of slowly drowning in emotions. You will encounter your inner demons and, hopefully, leave the installation without feeling completely crushed. Nearby, you’ll find informational material, as well as a small support area where you are welcome to ask us questions or talk with others.
We began by doing extensive research on the topic, followed by interviews with people who are affected by depression. At first, we were unsure whether the installation should exist as a physical space or purely in a virtual form. Ultimately, we chose mixed reality, as it offered more creative freedom and allowed us to make the experience more immersive.
We then created a storyboard, which we revised multiple times, before starting to work with Unity and familiarizing ourselves with the software.
We also recorded a full backing show video, which you can watch below if you’re interested. In addition, we asked several people to lend their voices to represent inner thoughts and voices. After searching for suitable atmospheric, royalty-free sounds, the installation finally came together. Of course, it wasn’t quite that simple - Unity caused many technical issues and there were some frustrating moments along the way. With Pablo’s help, however, we managed to overcome them.
We hope you enjoy our installation. Perhaps you were able to learn something new and leave this experience with a changed perspective.
