Sanya Salehi

Digital Direction (MA)

Since its 1899 publication, Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" has sparked significant discourse on censorship due to its provocative themes and portrayal of a protagonist challenging societal norms. The novel's controversial reception, including bans and book burnings, underscores the ongoing struggle to protect literary freedom. In contemporary society, with over 4,240 books targeted for censorship in the United States alone in 2023, innovative methods are needed to educate and advocate for literary diversity and freedom. "Augmented Reality and The Awakening: A Digital Exploration into Book Censorship" uses augmented reality to create an engaging and impactful exploration of literary censorship. By providing immersive historical contexts, interactive learning opportunities, and advocacy tools, AR enhances public understanding and engagement with issues surrounding book censorship. This project highlights the importance of protecting literary freedom and highlights the potential of AR as a modern, accessible, and compelling medium for education and advocacy.

Mirage offers a unique multi-screen immersive experience that vividly illustrates the alarming depletion of natural resources through land degradation, deforestation, and desertification. Utilizing virtual production, mobile virtual reality (VR) 360-degree video, and 3D soundscapes, Mirage engages audiences in a powerful exploration of this pressing issue. With over 75% of the world’s land degraded—a figure projected to rise above 90% by 2050—land degradation poses significant global challenges. These include threats to food security, increased food prices, contribution to climate change, exacerbation of environmental hazards, and loss of biodiversity. Through mobile VR, the audience replaces the real world with a virtual one, eliminating physical distractions and allowing complete focus on the content. The exhibition primarily targets educated young adults but has the potential to reach a broader audience through its LED screens, sparking a passion for action against land degradation. The goal is to depict the potential future of this critical issue and demonstrate how audiences can take positive steps toward change.

"The End of the World" project aims to digitize the history and storytelling of at-risk cultures, with a focus on the extinct Selknam indigenous community of South America, whose vibrant culture was eradicated by European settlers. This project seeks to revive and preserve the Selknam's legacy through poetry, imagery, illustrations, and visuals, emphasizing the importance of cultural preservation. Collaborating with indigenous voices, such as Sergio Marihuan, and consulting historians and indigenous artists, the project ensures authenticity and avoids cultural appropriation. Utilizing augmented reality and immersive soundscapes, the project offers an interactive and educational experience. The final product includes a zine, a web page, and a virtual space representing the Selknam's homeland, aiming to evoke a deep emotional connection and inspire conversation about cultural preservation. (Project created in collaboration with Cami De Paul)

About

Sanya Salehi is a multi-disciplinary designer and experienced creative with a penchant for pushing the boundaries of storytelling through innovative mediums. With a strong background in film and television design, Sanya’s work skillfully integrates architectural themes with immersive technologies, demonstrating a remarkable ability to translate abstract ideas into tactile, visually captivating creations. Her research has primarily focused on the fusion of augmented reality and post-digital mediums, exploring the dynamic interplay between traditional design and cutting-edge technology.

After completing her B.F.A. in Production Design and Visual Effects at the University of North Carolina, School of the Arts, Sanya was selected to be a part of the prestigious Art Director’s Guild Initiative. This opportunity led her to Los Angeles, CA, where she contributed to a variety of high-profile film and television projects for major companies such as Hulu, Apple TV+, Disney, and Amazon Prime. During this period, she honed her skills in set design and visual storytelling, gaining invaluable experience in both the creative and technical aspects of production.

Driven by a desire to deepen her understanding and expand her creative horizons, Sanya relocated to London to pursue an M.A. in Digital Direction at the Royal College of Art. Her focus at RCA has been on combining augmented reality with post-digital mediums, investigating how these technologies can be leveraged to enhance narrative experiences. This research has allowed her to develop a unique methodology that emphasizes the gamification of everyday experiences, using interactive and immersive elements to convey critical stories in engaging and impactful ways.

Her work continues to explore new frontiers, seeking to redefine how stories are told and experienced in the digital age.

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