Can reading be reimagined to resonate with modern behaviours without compromising the power of narrative?
Reimagining Literary Engagement with Verse
Reimagining Literary Engagement
with Verse
Reimagining Literary Engagement with Verse
SCOPE
SCOPE
SCOPE
Experiential Design
Brand Strategy
Motion Design
Sound Design
Experiential Design
Brand Strategy
Motion Design
Sound Design
Experiential Design
Brand Strategy
Motion Design
Sound Design
DURATION
DURATION
DURATION
12 Weeks / 2024
12 Weeks / 2024
12 Weeks / 2024
CREDITS
CREDITS
CREDITS
Interaction Designer(s) / Sakshi Suthar, Uttkarsh Mandaknale
Mentor(s) / Blake Hudelson, Nathan Shedroff
Interaction Designer(s) / Sakshi Suthar, Uttkarsh Mandaknale
Mentor(s) / Blake Hudelson, Nathan Shedroff
Interaction Designer(s) / Sakshi Suthar, Uttkarsh Mandaknale
Mentor(s) / Blake Hudelson, Nathan Shedroff
RECOGNITION
RECOGNITION
RECOGNITION
NOTE
NOTE
NOTE
Best experienced with headphones for audio immersion.
Best experienced with headphones for audio immersion.
Best experienced with headphones for audio immersion.
SKIP TO SOLUTION
SKIP TO SOLUTION
SKIP TO SOLUTION
Can reading be reimagined to resonate with modern behaviours without compromising the power of narrative?
Can reading be reimagined to resonate with modern behaviours without compromising
the power of narrative?
(1/7) OVERVIEW
(1/7) OVERVIEW
Verse is an immersive reading platform that transforms traditional books into richly layered, multisensory experiences using XR.
Verse is an immersive reading platform that transforms traditional books into richly layered, multisensory experiences using XR.
By combining generative visuals, contextual soundscapes, and spatial interactions, it re-engages younger readers accustomed to fast, interactive content without compromising the depth of narrative storytelling.
By combining generative visuals, contextual soundscapes, and spatial interactions, it re-engages younger readers accustomed to fast, interactive content without compromising the depth of narrative storytelling.
(2/7) INTENDED IMPACT
(2/7) INTENDED IMPACT
To foster long-term reader engagement while supporting scalable growth of immersive content.
To foster long-term reader engagement while supporting scalable growth of immersive content.
Improved Completion Rates
Improved Completion Rates
More readers finish chapters and full books through emotional continuity and contextual re-entry cues.
More readers finish chapters and full books through emotional continuity and contextual re-entry cues.
Sustained Reading Habits
Sustained Reading Habits
Personalised recommendations to help build consistent, long-term reading rhythms.
Personalised recommendations to help build consistent, long-term reading rhythms.
Scalable Design System
Scalable Design System
A modular framework supports various story genres and interaction types across XR platforms.
A modular framework supports various story genres and interaction types across XR platforms.
(3/7) THE PROBLEM
(3/7) THE PROBLEM
Younger audiences are growing up surrounded by interactive and fast-paced media. In contrast, traditional books often feel static and solitary, making it harder for many to stay engaged with long-form reading.
Younger audiences are growing up surrounded by interactive and fast-paced media. In contrast, traditional books often feel static and solitary, making it harder for many to stay engaged with long-form reading.
This growing gap has contributed to declining literacy rates and a weakening connection to the emotional and imaginative depth that books can offer.
This growing gap has contributed to declining literacy rates and a weakening connection to the emotional and imaginative depth that books can offer.
(4/7) RESEARCH
(4/7) RESEARCH
Interviews with young readers revealed key barriers to sustained reading and provided an understanding of their content preferences. The conversations highlighted challenges related to focus, motivation, and the reading environment, offering insights into how they engage with stories.
"I still made sure to read for at least 15 minutes every day but it sometimes felt like a task."
—Avid Reader
"I usually don’t have the patience to read so much so I often end up giving up halfway."
—Digital Native
"It [social media] gives so much entertainment in small doses. But reading takes effort. You have to pay attention."
—Digital Native
"I could really imagine the emotions, and hearing it made me feel the anger."
—Audio Book Listener
"I still made sure to read for at least 15 minutes every day but it sometimes felt like a task."
—Avid Reader
"I usually don’t have the patience to read so much so I often end up giving up halfway."
—Digital Native
"It [social media] gives so much entertainment in small doses. But reading takes effort. You have to pay attention."
—Digital Native
"I could really imagine the emotions, and hearing it made me feel the anger."
—Audio Book Listener
"I still made sure to read for at least 15 minutes every day but it sometimes felt like a task."
—Avid Reader
"I usually don’t have the patience to read so much so I often end up giving up halfway."
—Digital Native
"It [social media] gives so much entertainment in small doses. But reading takes effort. You have to pay attention."
—Digital Native
"I could really imagine the emotions, and hearing it made me feel the anger."
—Audio Book Listener
"I still made sure to read for at least 15 minutes every day but it sometimes felt like a task."
—Avid Reader
"I usually don’t have the patience to read so much so I often end up giving up halfway."
—Digital Native
"It [social media] gives so much entertainment in small doses. But reading takes effort. You have to pay attention."
—Digital Native
"I could really imagine the emotions, and hearing it made me feel the anger."
—Audio Book Listener
(5/7) OPPORTUNITY
(5/7) OPPORTUNITY
How might we design a reading experience that help readers with shorter attention spans stay emotionally and cognitively engaged throughout the story?
How might we design a reading experience that help readers with shorter attention spans stay emotionally and cognitively engaged throughout the story?
How might we design a reading experience that help readers with shorter attention spans stay emotionally and cognitively engaged throughout the story?
(6/7) THE SOLUTION
(6/7) THE SOLUTION
An immersive reading app for XR devices that elevates traditional books into rich, sensory experiences.
An immersive reading app for XR devices
that elevates traditional books into rich, sensory experiences.
An immersive reading app for XR devices that elevates traditional books into rich, sensory experiences.
Designed for deeper engagement, Verse uses responsive design principles to layer contextual audio and generative visuals that adapt in real time to the story’s events and settings.
Designed for deeper engagement, Verse uses responsive design principles to layer contextual audio and generative visuals that adapt in real time to the story’s events and settings.
Ambient soundscapes, spatial interactions, and real-time environmental changes are carefully synchronised with narrative cues to create an emotionally rich reading experience.
Ambient soundscapes, spatial interactions, and real-time environmental changes are carefully synchronised with narrative cues to create an emotionally rich reading experience.
(6.1)
(6.1)
Story with Sensory Context
Story with Sensory Context
Story with Sensory Context
Verse brings readers back into the story world by resuming not just the text but the sensory atmosphere of the narrative.
Verse brings readers back into the story world by resuming not just the text but the sensory atmosphere of the narrative.
Generative visuals and ambient soundscapes dynamically respond to the story’s events, mood, and setting helping readers quickly reconnect with the plot and emotional tone.
Generative visuals and ambient soundscapes dynamically respond to the story’s events, mood, and setting helping readers quickly reconnect with the plot and emotional tone.
(6.2)
(6.2)
Personalised Engagement
Personalised Engagement
Personalised Engagement
Recognising the varied impact of immersive technologies on readers, Verse is designed to offer adjustable sensory settings.
Recognising the varied impact of immersive technologies on readers, Verse is designed to offer adjustable sensory settings.
Rather than enforcing a fixed level of immersion, the experience adapts to individual preferences supporting both accessibility and reader autonomy.
Rather than enforcing a fixed level of immersion, the experience adapts to individual preferences supporting both accessibility and reader autonomy.
(6.3)
(6.3)
Recommendations for Sustainable Reading
Recommendations for Sustainable Reading
Recommendations for Sustainable Reading
To support long-term engagement, the app recommends what to read next based on the genres a reader already enjoys. By aligning with the user’s interests, these suggestions reduce decision fatigue and build a consistent reading rhythm.
To support long-term engagement, the app recommends what to read next based on the genres a reader already enjoys. By aligning with the user’s interests, these suggestions reduce decision fatigue and build a consistent reading rhythm.
(7/7) BRAND
(7/7) BRAND
Verse was named to reflect its connection to storytelling, drawing from the structure and flow found in written narratives.
Verse was named to reflect its connection to storytelling, drawing from the structure and flow found in written narratives.
Verse was named to reflect its connection to storytelling, drawing from the structure and flow found in written narratives.
It also suggests entering a distinct space, aligning with Verse's goal to make reading more engaging through immersive audio-visual layers.
The brand is guided by a design philosophy that prioritises comprehension and emotional connection. By combining traditional reading with modern interaction, Verse aims to support sustained engagement in an accessible and meaningful way.
It also suggests entering a distinct space, aligning with its goal to make reading more engaging through immersive audio-visual layers.
The brand is guided by a design philosophy that prioritises comprehension and emotional connection. By combining traditional reading with modern interaction, Verse aims to support sustained engagement in an accessible and meaningful way.
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