Calico Us
Reimagining Social Connection Beyond Stereotypes in XR
Year
2025 Dec (Ongoing)
Deliverables
Storyboards • Personas • VR Prototypes and Iterations
Role
XR Designer • UX Researcher in XR/VR Experience
Tools
ZBrush • Cinema 4D • Blender • Unity • Figma • Illustrator • Photoshop • Premiere Pro • After Effects
The Problem
“How might we design an immersive social platform that reduces appearance-based judgments and notification overload while deepening authentic connections between users?”
• Current platforms foster self-objectification, leading users to view appearance as more important than personality.
• The average user receives 46-80 push notifications daily, contributing to information overload.
• This constant stimulation leads to social media fatigue, stress, and anxiety.
The Vision
The unique and random colour patterns found on the calico cats symbolize the diversity of individuals, which extends beyond factors such as gender, age, name, race, skin colour, body shape, sexual orientation, nationality.
A “mental diet” approach to socializing focuses on nurturing slow and genuine connections among like-minded individuals who seek authentic relationships. This approach helps users feel appreciated and understood, moving away from superficial judgments.
The Solution
Calico Us is a fully immersive VR social platform that reimagines interaction beyond stereotypes. Users embody calico cat avatars and meet one new friend each day through meaningful, patient-paced connections. The notifications and daily match delivered by a messenger bird enable unique XR interactions that transcend conventional verbal and text-based communication.
01. MVP: “How might we leverage natural gestures and spatial metaphors to design notification delivery in XR experiences, moving beyond current 2D UI limitations, screens, elements and thinking?”
A messenger bird flies through the environment to deliver notifications and daily matches. Users summon it with a palm-up gesture to review messages—an ambient notification system that preserves immersion without interruptions.
02. Target Users
03. The Default Non-UI Mode for Fully Immersive Experience
04. The UI-Enabled Mode for First-Time Users and Those Uncertain about Next Steps
05. Style Guide
06. UI Element Design
This ongoing virtual reality (VR) project is in development, with more details to be released soon.