Virtual open garden : Spatial storytelling in digital and physical exploration

Sammanfattning

Spatial storytelling provides a powerful method to convey environmental narratives by integrating storytelling with the medium’s spatial aspects. This thesis explores how spatial storytelling can be used to convey narrative through environmental design and to connect real-world exploration with digital experiences. The Open Garden project is a video game prototype in which the player must locate lost items belonging to the garden's owner using a camera. It was also used as the artifact for this study. This thesis explores how spatial storytelling can be used to convey narrative through environmental design and connect real-world exploration with digital experiences. The Open Garden project is a video game prototype in which the player uses a camera to locate lost items belonging to the garden's owner. The prototype also served as the artifact for this study. A qualitative evaluation was conducted using an integrated questionnaire and Unity Analytics with seventeen participants. The findings suggest that spatial and text-based storytelling can effectively communicate narrative and atmosphere, particularly for participants familiar with real gardens. However, the artifact lacked emotional impact for some participants, revealing limitations in static narrative elements and low interactivity. Future improvements should focus on increasing emotional engagement through stronger narrative hooks, interactive storytelling components, and enhanced sensory design.