Haunted Hallows

UI/UX | GAME UI | PROTOTYPING | MOTION GRAPHICS

Entelechy 2024
🏆 Winner for Best Video Prototyping
🏆 1st Runner-Up for Best Mobile App UI

Haunted Hallows is a groundbreaking augmented reality (AR) experience developed in collaboration with "Ghosts & Gravestones." This innovative project transforms Savannah's historic streets into an interactive game, blending the thrill of an escape room with the intrigue of a treasure hunt.

Participants leverage their smartphones to navigate the city, encountering captivating augmented reality elements interwoven with the chilling legends of Savannah's past. Haunted Hallows is a captivating adventure designed to enthrall history buffs, horror enthusiasts, and anyone seeking an unforgettable exploration of Savannah's haunted heritage.

UX researcher, UI/UX designer, visual design, motion graphics designer (Splash screen and logo reveal)

MY ROLE

1 month (Academic Project)
May 2023 - June 2023

TIMELINE

UI/UX designers:
Kasturi Koli, Madhurika Ramesh & Trsna Bhatt

THE TEAM

Figma & Adobe XD (Wireframing, Prototyping, Visual Design)
Adobe Illustrator (Illustration & Iconography)
Adobe Photoshop (Image Editing)
Cinema 4D (3D Modelling, Rendering Scene)
Adobe After Effects (Video Editing, Composition, Sound)

TOOLS FOR DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT

USER PERSONA

THE HAUNTED HALLOWS APP

SPLASH SCREEN ANIMATIONS

VISION VIDEO

LEARNINGS FROM THE PROJECT

Conducting interviews with past participants likely revealed valuable insights into what people enjoy and dislike about existing ghost tours. This can be crucial for improving the overall experience.

✏️ Importance of User Research

The project explores how AR can be used to enhance storytelling and create a more immersive experience for participants. This could reveal valuable insights into the effectiveness of AR for weaving historical narratives and horror elements within a real-world setting.

✏️ Engaging Storytelling Using AR

he project demonstrates how historical landmarks can be integrated into an AR experience. This could provide learnings on how to utilize the unique features and history of a location to create engaging gameplay and atmosphere.

✏️ Leveraging Existing Landmarks

Filming the vision video on location likely proved effective in capturing the essence of Savannah and its haunted history. This could highlight the importance of using authentic visuals to market a location-based AR experience.

✏️ Power of Evocative Visuals

BEHIND THE SCENES

A hauntingly beautiful cinematic trailer sets the stage for Haunted Hallows. We follow a Savannah local who stumbles upon the AR app while exploring a ghost tour. The trailer showcases the immersive experience: hunting clues on walking tours and tackling an augmented escape room within a haunted house. A final, chilling challenge leaves viewers eager to brave the streets of Savannah and solve the city's spectral secrets.

STORYBOARD

Our storyboard served as a roadmap, capturing key moments and user interactions throughout the Haunted Hallows experience – from joining a Ghost Tour to fully immersing themselves in the AR game. This visual guide not only streamlined shot direction for the vision video, but also illuminated the ideal product launch strategy to captivate our target audiences.

STYLE GUIDE

IDENTIFIED GAMEPLAY

PROBLEM STATEMENT

To understand the current ghost tour experience from a user's perspective, we conducted in-depth interviews with past participants. Their insights and candid feedback proved invaluable. This research allowed us to pinpoint areas for improvement and identify the key challenges that needed to be addressed when revamping the ghost tour experience.
How might we create an interactive experience while integrating real-world locations to make ghost hunting games more engaging.

Ghost & Gravestones Tours

This is ghost tour through Savannah's haunted history. A trolley rides takes you to sites like cemeteries and haunted mansions. Expert storytellers reveal chilling tales of restless spirits and the city dark past.

As interesting as it was, you were constantly under supervision and had no freedom to explore.

No freedom to explore

This is a terrible tour. The tour guide had bad storytelling. Scariest thing about this tour is the waste of time and money.

Lacks narrative

Wasn't interesting and couldn't understand what our tour guide was saying. It sounded like Charlie Brown's teacher.

Lack of interest

They seemed like they were trying too hard to be scary and didn’t seem to justice the $28 I spent.

Entertaining but not scary

WHAT DO THE TOURIST HAVE TO SAY?

WHAT IS GHOST TOURS?

Through deep dives, we mapped out the core gameplay, challenges, and interactive experiences players will encounter as they explore the virtual world.

To capture the essence of Haunted Hallows, our vision video takes viewers on a chilling journey through Savannah's iconic landmarks. Filmed on location at Colonial Park Cemetery and other haunted squares along the Ghosts & Gravestones route, the video offers authentic on-the-ground perspectives. We transport viewers through these legendary sites, known for their otherworldly atmosphere, igniting their curiosity to experience Savannah's ghostly secrets firsthand.

🎮 1. AR scavenger hunt incorporated with the walking tours

🎮 2. Interact with ghosts around haunted spots to collect clues

🎮 3. Enter escape room and solve puzzles with your friends