Final Project Avans Communication and Multimedia Design
Into the Universe and Back Again
Recreating the Overview Effect on Earth through immersive design and innovation
What if we could bring the life-changing perspective of astronauts—the Overview Effect—down to Earth?
This project began with a question: How can we convey the psychological impact of space travel in a way that inspires people to care more deeply about our planet, each other, and the future?
Driven by a fascination with the emotional responses astronauts describe after seeing Earth from orbit, I embarked on an intensive research and design process. My goal was to create an interactive experience that recreates that sense of awe, unity, and responsibility—without leaving the planet.
The Emotional Core: The Overview Effect
Astronauts often return from space with a profound psychological shift. Seeing Earth as a fragile, borderless sphere suspended in darkness leaves them deeply moved. This is known as the Overview Effect—a moment of awe and transcendence, where personal and planetary perspectives merge.
Psychologists describe it as a rare experience of “awe”: an emotional response to something vast, beautiful, and beyond comprehension. It can trigger self-transcendence, reduce egocentrism, and increase empathy and global consciousness. My research connected this directly to the ‘awe effect’—which can be replicated through sensory design.
Designing the Experience
To recreate this effect, I designed a full-body immersive installation combining virtual reality, physical simulation, sound design, and narrative flow. The installation isn’t just something to see—it’s something to feel.
Medium: Virtual Reality
VR provided the depth and realism necessary to fully simulate the view of Earth from space. I built the environment in Unreal Engine, allowing for highly realistic lighting, Earth textures, and atmosphere. The route follows a calculated ISS orbit—beginning in darkness over South America and rising into sunrise over the Pacific, eventually passing over Europe.
Physical Setup: Simulated Weightlessness
To make the body feel as strange as the mind would in orbit, I experimented with many forms of physical immersion—from waterbeds to tension rigs. I ultimately developed a counterweight harness system that subtly offsets the pressure of gravity, allowing users to feel physically ungrounded without being lifted. The feeling of returning to “Earth weight” afterward enhances the emotional shift.
Soundscape
In space, there is silence—and silence became my strongest sound. The experience begins inside the ISS with ambient room noise, before transitioning into the deep stillness of the void. I also used infrasound, low-frequency vibrations that aren’t consciously heard but are felt in the body, to create tension and immersion.
Prototyping & Experimentation
This project was shaped by experimentation. I tested dozens of ideas and materials—from immersive projection mapping to water-based setups. Each test revealed what worked and what didn’t. I iterated the orbit path for aesthetic balance, solved technical challenges in the harness build, and fine-tuned the sound design to enhance emotional resonance.
The balance of art, science, and sensory design became the foundation of the installation.
Intended Audience & Impact
The goal isn’t just to impress, but to shift perspective—especially among people in positions to drive change. That’s why the experience is aimed at:
- Innovators and experts in science, design, and policy
- Decision-makers like company leaders and local officials
- Students, who will become tomorrow’s leaders
Rather than creating a standalone event, I plan to embed the installation inside conferences and conventions like the International Broadcasting Convention or Dutch Design Week—places where people already gather around innovation. Framed as a “rest stop” for the mind, it offers quiet reflection amid busy environments.
The Takeaway
This is more than a VR simulation. It’s a carefully designed emotional trigger—a reminder of where we are, and who we share it with. For those who try it, the sensation of floating above the Earth can be grounding. It’s a moment of wonder, silence, and connection, carried back into the real world.
Even for those who don’t step into the headset, the installation’s presence sparks curiosity. And that curiosity may just be the first step toward a new mindset.
“You develop an instant global consciousness… and a compulsion to do something about it.”
– Apollo 14 Astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell
Tools & Skills Used
Unreal Engine (VR design, environment building) ✦ Physical prototyping (harness design, laser cutting) ✦ Sound design (ambience, infrasound, silence control) ✦ UX testing and iteration ✦ Interdisciplinary research (psychology, space science, storytelling)
