An immersive Virtual Reality experience by Aylar Fakherian exploring how interactive systems can create meaningful encounters with intangible cultural heritage through embodiment, narrative, and digital experience design.
https://aylarfakheriyan.github.io/Simurgh-RtD/
Simurgh is a Research through Design project investigating how immersive Virtual Reality experiences can support encounters with intangible cultural heritage by moving beyond passive observation toward interpretation, engagement, and embodied experience.
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Project | Simurgh — Interactive VR Experience |
| Research Approach | Research through Design (RtD) |
| Research Domain | Digital Cultural Heritage |
| Medium | Virtual Reality (Unity + Blender) |
| Status | Prototype · Conference Paper Under Review |
How can immersive Virtual Reality experiences support meaningful encounters with intangible cultural heritage?
Conference Paper: Submitted to ArtsIT 2026 (Under Review)
This repository documents the research process, design iterations, prototype development, and research outputs of the Simurgh project.
The Simurgh has existed for centuries across Persian literature, miniature painting, architecture, and collective imagination.
Rather than digitally reconstructing or representing a mythical creature, this project explores how immersive interaction can create new possibilities for engaging with cultural narratives.
Using the Simurgh as a case study, the project applies Research through Design (RtD) and Practice-Based Research (PBR) approaches to investigate how culturally informed VR experiences can influence interpretation, engagement, and embodied interaction.
The project combines:
- Research through Design (RtD)
- Practice-Based Research (PBR)
- Cultural narrative analysis
- Character and environment design
- Interactive VR prototyping
- Qualitative experience evaluation
This project explores an RtD approach for designing immersive cultural experiences by integrating:
- Cultural analysis
- Narrative interpretation
- Character design
- Interactive system development
- User experience evaluation
The research investigates how Virtual Reality can move beyond passive visualization of heritage and support embodied encounters with symbolic meanings, cultural narratives, and collective imagination.
The current prototype explores:
- Interactive Virtual Reality environment
- Narrative-driven exploration
- Environmental storytelling
- Character-based cultural interaction
- Spatial interaction
- Immersive audiovisual experience
The prototype was explored through qualitative user sessions focusing on:
- User engagement
- Sense of immersion
- Interaction experience
- Cultural interpretation
- Overall experience
Insights from evaluation informed iterative refinement of the research prototype.
Rather than asking:
How can Virtual Reality visualize cultural heritage?
This project explores:
How can immersive experiences participate in the interpretation, engagement, and continued evolution of cultural knowledge?
- Unity
- Blender
- XR Interaction Toolkit
- OpenXR
- C#
- Git & GitHub
- Interactive VR Prototype
- Conference paper submitted to ArtsIT 2026
- Research documentation
- Design iterations
- Prototype development archive
Research through Design · Practice-Based Research · Human-Centred Design · Virtual Reality · XR · Digital Cultural Heritage · Immersive Experiences · Interactive Systems · Cultural Engagement · User Experience
Future updates will include:
- Research documentation
- Design process
- Prototype architecture
- Unity project files
- Design reflections
- Evaluation insights
- Publications
- Media assets
Behance:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/253057297/Simurgh-Interactive-VR-Experience
Vimeo:
Design and Evaluation of an Interactive Virtual Reality Experience for Transmitting Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of the Simurgh Myth
Submitted to ArtsIT 2026 (Under Review)
Citation information will be added following the publication process.
This repository is actively maintained as part of an ongoing Research through Design investigation into immersive experiences, XR, and digital cultural heritage.