School of Communication VR Tour
Giving You a Spin at the U’s Savviest School.
SoC VR Tour Playthrough (18 mins)
STUDENT LEADS:
Lejie Lin (Team Leader, Unity Developer, 360° Video Shooting, Drone Footage, Video Editing, Concept & Storyboard, Technical Support)
Alejandro Galego (Voiceover Script, Narration Recording, UI Button Design)
Jack Ketchum (Drone Shot Assistant, Presentation)
Daniele Montefiori (Unity Development Assistant)
INTRODUCTION
This School of Communication VR Tour is an interactive virtual reality experience that introduces prospective students to the University of Miami’s School of Communication.
Created as the final project for the “Immersive Media” course, I led our team to design this experience using 360° video and drone footage to guide users through the School’s buildings, bringing it to life beyond traditional descriptions and photos.
A personable graduating senior narrates the tour with relatable insights that build a welcoming connection. The experience concludes with an interactive quiz to reinforce users’ knowledge, helping them feel familiar with the campus and confident about joining the University of Miami.
Showcase at 2025 Miami XR Day
As an Interactive Media student, I had the honor of presenting our VR project at the 2025 Miami XR Day, engaging with both professionals and enthusiasts in the XR community. The presentation offered valuable insights into the development process and impact of our interactive experience.
XR Day Trailer (Video Sourcing & Editing)
In addition to my individual work, I contributed as a student member of the VESL Lab, part of the university’s main XR initiatives. My contributions included editing the Mangrove City trailer, 3D modeling for Stress Tester, and supporting the creation of promotional trailers and 360° video content. I’m grateful to the VESL Lab faculty for their guidance, which allowed me to gain valuable experience in interactive media.
Mangrove City Trailer (Video Sourcing & Editing)
Storyboard & Brainstorming
Rising Action [Comms Intl.]
Pathway Overview
Exposition
Rising Action [Whitten Building]
Top-Down Map
Rising Action [Wolfson]
Questions & Answers
Experience Planning Sheet
Process & Challenges
Throughout the course of the project, we convened virtually every weekend to check on our progress and plan the next steps, also working during class on designated workdays.
Original Idea:
The initial vision for the project was to create a fully immersive VR tour of the university, integrating drone shots, 360° videos, and detailed 3D models to enhance the user experience.
Challenges Encountered:
As the project size grew, issues arose with compiling the build, forcing us to scale down the scope. The high-quality 3D models caused significant lag in the VR headset.
Technical Adjustments & Final Product:
To address performance issues, we replaced the 3D models with optimized 360° videos, which provided a smoother VR experience. The final product retained immersive storytelling, with a captivating drone shot introduction and navigation through the campus.
Managed video sizes to fit within APK limits without compromising video clarity.
Implemented smooth scene transitions and easy-to-use navigation buttons.
Ensured balanced audio and video synchronization for a consistent experience.
Optimized UI for clarity and responsiveness, along with improved frame rates for smoother performance.
Enhanced VR interaction with refined button highlights and pointer animations.
Collaborative Efforts:
Streamlined workflow by resolving role conflicts and managing time constraints efficiently.
Documented code for future scalability and ensured compatibility with both VR controllers and desktop devices.
Self-Reflection
Throughout this project, my interdisciplinary technical skills allowed me to step in as a "door keeper" when some ideas proved unfeasible. I ensured the project kept moving forward while effectively mobilizing the team.
If I could start over, I would conduct feasibility testing earlier. This would allow more time for Unity work and debugging. Without enough time, it’s frustrating to have a good idea but be unable to implement it. Going forward, creating a rough prototype early to test feasibility would help improve efficiency.
Another key lesson was the importance of communication. At times, I hesitated to speak up due to my lack of confidence in spoken English. However, I learned that making the effort was enough, as my teammates were always supportive. Clear communication greatly enhances team efficiency.
In conclusion, this course gave me valuable lessons through trial and error. Despite the challenges, we completed the project successfully, and this reflection has helped me pinpoint areas for improvement. I’m eager to apply these lessons in future projects.
