Rachna VR
An immersive VR puzzle where players assemble ‘Tamil Girl with Her Parrots’ in a Gothic cathedral, blending Indian art heritage with technology.
Game Design
Exhibition
Virtual Reality
Rachna VR
An immersive VR puzzle where players assemble ‘Tamil Girl with Her Parrots’ in a Gothic cathedral, blending Indian art heritage with technology.
Game Design
Exhibition
Virtual Reality
My Role
My Role
My Role
Experience and 3D Designer
Experience and 3D Designer
Experience and 3D Designer
Collaborative Project
Collaborative Project
Team of 3
Team of 3
Team of 3
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
1 Week
1 Week
1 Week
Overview
Rachna VR is an immersive installation that reimagines S. Elayaraja’s “Tamil Girls with Her Parrots” as a virtual reality puzzle. Set in a Gothic cathedral, users assemble oversized pieces to reveal the painting. Created in just seven days for Crea 5.0’s Industrial Design Exhibition (theme: Indian Design Heritage), the project offered intuitive exploration for children and a first-time VR experience for adults.
As the 3D designer, I created the UV-mapped puzzle pieces and the cathedral environment in Blender, adapting them for VR by scaling, positioning at eye level, and preparing for Unity’s interaction triggers.
Achievement
This VR installation was exhibited at Crea 5.0’s Industrial Design Exhibition and later showcased at Ahmedabad Design Week (ADW 6.0).
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Project Highlight
Project Highlight
Snapshots from Crea 5.0 and Ahmedabad Design Week (ADW), where Rachna VR was showcased to diverse audiences.
Snapshots from Crea 5.0 and Ahmedabad Design Week (ADW), where Rachna VR was showcased to diverse audiences.
Detailed Case Study
Detailed Case Study
Background Context
Background Context
Our journey began with an open ideation session for Crea 5.0’s Industrial Design Exhibition, themed Indian Design Heritage. We explored multiple ideas for an interactive installation, but soon realized the unique opportunity to attempt something never done before at Crea, a VR installation, built within just one week. After discussions and feasibility checks with our faculty, we refined the concept into a VR puzzle game that would be both engaging and respectful of its cultural roots, ultimately bringing S. Elayaraja’s “Tamil Girls with Her Parrots” to life in a virtual Gothic cathedral.
Our journey began with an open ideation session for Crea 5.0’s Industrial Design Exhibition, themed Indian Design Heritage. We explored multiple ideas for an interactive installation, but soon realized the unique opportunity to attempt something never done before at Crea, a VR installation, built within just one week. After discussions and feasibility checks with our faculty, we refined the concept into a VR puzzle game that would be both engaging and respectful of its cultural roots, ultimately bringing S. Elayaraja’s “Tamil Girls with Her Parrots” to life in a virtual Gothic cathedral.
Brainstorming the First Concepts
User Interaction Blueprint
User Interaction Blueprint
Leveraging UX design methodologies to architect and blueprint the end-to-end user interaction flow, mapping every touchpoint between user actions and system responses to ensure intuitive VR gameplay for non-VR-native users.
Leveraging UX design methodologies to architect and blueprint the end-to-end user interaction flow, mapping every touchpoint between user actions and system responses to ensure intuitive VR gameplay for non-VR-native users.
1
1
Initialization
Initialization
User Action
User Action
User puts on VR glasses
User puts on VR glasses
System Response
System Response
Cathedral environment renders with game setup in center
Cathedral environment renders with game setup in center
• Base with jumbled puzzle pieces (5x normal size)
• Canvas for puzzle assembly
• Reset button below canvas
• Base with jumbled puzzle pieces (5x normal size)
• Canvas for puzzle assembly
• Reset button below canvas
2
2
Navigation to Game Setup
Navigation to Game Setup
User Action
User Action
Controllers to move through the cathedral to the game setup
Controllers to move through the cathedral to the game setup
System Response
System Response
Update Position
Update Position
User reaches game setup area - ready to interact
User reaches game setup area - ready to interact
User Interaction loop STARTS
3
3
Main Gameplay Loop
Main Gameplay Loop
User Action
User Action
Picking Up Puzzle Piece using controller to grab from platform
Picking Up Puzzle Piece using controller to grab from platform
System Response
System Response
Piece follows controller movement
Piece follows controller movement
Piece Attached to Controller
Piece Attached to Controller
Decision Point
Decision Point
Did user accidentally drop the piece?
Did user accidentally drop the piece?
YES - Piece Dropped
YES - Piece Dropped
YES - Piece Dropped
Anti-Gravity Physics Engaged
Anti-Gravity Physics Engaged
Anti-Gravity Physics Engaged
Piece floats in space (doesn't fall)
User can easily re-grab piece
Makes experience seamless for VR beginners
Piece floats in space (doesn't fall)
User can easily re-grab piece
Makes experience seamless for VR beginners
Piece floats in space (doesn't fall)
User can easily re-grab piece
Makes experience seamless for VR beginners
NO - Still Holding
NO - Still Holding
NO - Still Holding
Piece follows controller movement
Piece follows controller movement
Piece follows controller movement
Piece remains attached to controller
User continues to canvas
Piece remains attached to controller
User continues to canvas
Piece remains attached to controller
User continues to canvas
User Action
User Action
Move the piece toward the canvas to find its correct position
Move the piece toward the canvas to find its correct position
Snap Logic Check
Snap Logic Check
Is piece within 1m radius of correct position?
Is piece within 1m radius of correct position?
YES - Within 1m Radius
YES - Within 1m Radius
System Response
System Response
Piece SNAPS to correct position
Piece locks in place on canvas
Piece SNAPS to correct position
Piece locks in place on canvas
NO - Outside 1m Radius
NO - Outside 1m Radius
System Response
System Response
Piece does NOT snap
Piece floats when released
User can try again
Piece does NOT snap
Piece floats when released
User can try again
Decision Point
Decision Point
Did user place all 6 pieces at correct position?
Did user place all 6 pieces at correct position?
YES - Completed Puzzle Displayed
YES - Completed Puzzle Displayed
YES - Completed Puzzle Displayed
System Response
System Response
Highlight “Reset Button”
Highlight “Reset Button”
No - Incomplete Puzzle
No - Incomplete Puzzle
No - Incomplete Puzzle
System Response
System Response
Step 3 in loop
Step 3 in loop
4
4
Reset Game
Reset Game
User Action
User Action
Press reset button located below canvas using controller buttons
Press reset button located below canvas using controller buttons
System Response
System Response
Restart Game
Restart Game
Return to Stage 1 - Puzzle pieces return to platform in jumbled state
Return to Stage 1 - Puzzle pieces return to platform in jumbled state
Development Pipeline
Development Pipeline
Working as a team of three, I primarily focused on 3D design and UX mapping; creating the cathedral environment, puzzle pieces, and documenting user interaction blueprint. My teammates concentrated on Unity development, implementing the technical gameplay mechanics.
Working as a team of three, I primarily focused on 3D design and UX mapping; creating the cathedral environment, puzzle pieces, and documenting user interaction blueprint. My teammates concentrated on Unity development, implementing the technical gameplay mechanics.
3D Setup in Blender
3D Setup in Blender
As the 3D designer, I created all assets in Blender, from UV-mapped puzzle pieces to the cathedral environment. I scaled pieces to feel realistic in VR, set the puzzle at eye level, and resolved challenges with origin points and rotations to ensure smooth Unity integration.
As the 3D designer, I created all assets in Blender, from UV-mapped puzzle pieces to the cathedral environment. I scaled pieces to feel realistic in VR, set the puzzle at eye level, and resolved challenges with origin points and rotations to ensure smooth Unity integration.
Unity Testing
Unity Testing
After importing the 3D assets into Unity, we tested interactions like grabbing, rotating, and snapping puzzle pieces. Several issues with scaling, colliders, and alignment required multiple Blender-Unity iterations, but this process helped fine-tune the gameplay for a smooth VR experience.
After importing the 3D assets into Unity, we tested interactions like grabbing, rotating, and snapping puzzle pieces. Several issues with scaling, colliders, and alignment required multiple Blender-Unity iterations, but this process helped fine-tune the gameplay for a smooth VR experience.
Thrilled to showcase Rachna VR at Crea 5.0 and Ahmedabad Design Week 6.0, during the World Design Organization’s first visit to India, bringing S. Elayaraja’s “Tamil Girls with Her Parrots”
to life through immersive VR
Thrilled to showcase Rachna VR at Crea 5.0 and Ahmedabad Design Week 6.0, during the World Design Organization’s first visit to India, bringing S. Elayaraja’s “Tamil Girls with Her Parrots”
to life through immersive VR
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If you’d like to explore my work further or exchange ideas on design, I’d be happy to connect!
If you’d like to explore my work further or exchange ideas on design, I’d be happy to connect!
2025 All rights reserved.
Open to New Role
2025 All rights reserved.
Open to New Role
2025 All rights reserved.
Open to New Role
2025 All rights reserved.
Open to New Role