Welcome
Welcome to FÍS 2025: Inspiring Innovations!
Step into a world where students’ dedication and creativity reach new heights as they come together for a remarkable occasion. This exhibit showcases the culmination of their hard work, reflecting their unwavering passion for embracing the limitless possibilities of technology. Join us on this exciting journey as we witness the exceptional talents of these students, eagerly anticipating the impact they will make as they embark on their professional careers.
Prepare to be captivated by a diverse array of projects that highlight the genuine skills of these talented individuals. Each exhibit offers a unique perspective, providing a glimpse into the innovative minds at work. Let us introduce you to some of the fascinating projects on display:
Next Year
This immersive escape-room-style installation transports visitors to an abandoned office in a post-collapse future. Through interactive storytelling, spatial audio, and atmospheric design, participants piece together the story of a world changed by climate catastrophe, war, and societal breakdown. A single rocket remains—a final chance for humanity. Will you stay or choose to leave?
Milk?
An interactive 20-page magazine that takes a creative and critical look at milk consumerism in Ireland. Fusing black-and-white film photography, illustrations, GIFs, and interviews with dairy and plant-based producers, Milk? explores cultural, economic, and environmental shifts, inviting readers to reflect on the evolving identity of this everyday commodity.
A Neurodivergent College Life
Built in Twine, this interactive storytelling game follows five neurodivergent friends navigating their second year of college. With a focus on social anxiety and everyday challenges, the game highlights the importance of support, choice, and empathy. Every decision shapes the characters’ experiences, offering players a heartfelt journey through friendship and identity.
Phoenix
A visually rich digital installation that brings the mythical Phoenix to life through 3D modelling in Maya and Blender, accompanied by motion tracking and reactive sound. Set in the ancient Egyptian city of Heliopolis, users can interact with the Phoenix while choosing between a poetic narration or a musical experience. Phoenix is a celebration of transformation, spirituality, and artistic immersion.
Growing Pains: A Queer Story
Growing Pains: A Queer Story delves into the evolving societal attitudes towards queer people in Ireland over the past three decades. Told through three distinct stories, each representing a different decade, the project invites users into the lives of individuals who grew up queer in Ireland. As they immerse themselves in these personal narratives, users are encouraged to explore an interactive set, where objects trigger key moments that drive the story forward.
The goal of Growing Pains is to transport users into a nostalgic environment that enhances their understanding of the stories being told. By creating an emotionally engaging and immersive experience, the project seeks to educate people about the queer experience and foster empathy towards the prejudice faced by queer individuals throughout their lives.
Ciara Wilde: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciarawilde/
Alice Daly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicenoa/
Ronan Kirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronan-kirk101/
Link to project site
Milk?
Milk? is an interactive 20-page magazine that explores the transformation of milk consumption in Ireland through a creative lens. This innovative project combines black-and-white film photography, illustrations, GIF animations, and interviews with representatives from both dairy and plant-based milk brands. Through these mediums, Milk? examines the cultural, economic, and environmental shifts surrounding dairy consumption and the rise of plant-based alternatives.
Led by Creative Director Sara Horakova and Project Manager Karyn Tricia, Milk? encourages readers to question and engage with the evolving role of this everyday commodity, inviting reflection on its significance in today’s society.
Sara Horakova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-horakova/
Karyn Tricia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karyn-tricia-4517602b6/
Rhythm Rewind
Rhythm Rewind is a nostalgic journey through the music, fashion, and social trends of the 80s, 90s, and 00s—decades we didn’t live through, but grew up experiencing through media. As Gen Zers raised on reruns, retro soundtracks, and vintage styles, our perceptions of these eras are shaped more by pop culture than firsthand experience.
Our interactive game explores how youth today interpret and reimagine the past. To deepen our understanding, we interviewed people who lived through each of these decades, capturing their memories and stories. We also spoke with our own generation to discover how stereotypes, assumptions, and second-hand media influence our view of that time. Rhythm Rewind invites players to explore how history, nostalgia, and media intersect—and how each generation rewrites the past in its own image.
Siân McGuinness: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siân-mcguinness-522163363/
Ellen O’Reilly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elle-o-reilly-326186226
Madalina Leach: http://www.linkedin.com/in/madalina-leach
Link to project site
Czech Folklore
Czech Folklore is a beautifully illustrated digital book that brings to life four iconic Czech stories: Bivoj, Krakonoš, Knights of Blaník, and Salt Over Gold. These tales explore enduring themes such as courage, humility, respect for nature, and personal responsibility. A lion—an emblem of the Czech nation—guides readers through each narrative, serving as a symbolic and visual anchor.
Every story concludes with a reflective question, inviting readers to connect the folklore to their own experiences. This encourages both self-reflection and meaningful intergenerational conversations, blending tradition with contemporary thinking. Through a modern digital format, Czech Folklore offers a fresh way to explore cultural heritage while fostering deeper personal and communal learning.
Jan Labut: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-labut
Klara Popelkova: http://www.linkedin.com/in/klára-popelková-19448459
Link to project site
Digital Frontier
Digital Frontier is an interactive web-based documentary that explores the evolution of the open world video game genre across five decades—from its early roots in the 1980s to the expansive, immersive worlds of the 2020s. This project highlights how the genre has transformed over time, reflecting shifts in technology, design philosophy, and player expectations.
Each decade features a curated selection of three influential games that showcase key developments in open world design. The documentary combines video commentary with concise written summaries, offering both visual insight and accessible context for each title. Embracing the spirit of exploration at the heart of open world games, Digital Frontier lets users choose any decade to start with, navigating the timeline in whatever order they prefer.
Aleksander Dobrzynski: http://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-dobrzynski-275362363
Leo Mullen: http://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-mullen-383539363
Link to project site
https://groupcadocumetryaleksandleo.wordpress.com/?_gl=1*1r00e8i*_gcl_au*NjQ2MjI3MDAyLjE3NDU5MTY3MTI.
Times Keep Changing
In their collaborative project, Andrew, Megan, and Eden explore how politics can influence personal relationships and shape broader social dynamics. Through a combination of research, interviews, and data analysis, they examine the ways in which differing political beliefs can both strain and strengthen connections between individuals, families, and communities.
The project highlights how political values can act as dividing lines, but also how they can foster meaningful dialogue and growth. By contrasting the polarizing and uniting aspects of political discourse, the team underscores the importance of empathy, respectful communication, and active listening. Their work encourages viewers to reflect on how we navigate political differences—not just in society at large, but in our everyday relationships.
Megan Mills: http://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-kay-ann-mills
Eden Emerson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-skopinska-28657a1a5?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
Andrew Nathanael:
Next Year
Next Year is an immersive, escape room-style installation set in the remnants of a 2020s-era office, abandoned in the aftermath of war, climate collapse, and societal breakdown. Participants step into a world on the brink, guided by a mysterious video message from an officer of the elusive Next Year company. As they solve clues, unlock hidden video segments, and piece together the fate of humanity, a haunting story unfolds.
Through rich physical set design, reactive lighting, interactive elements, and spatial audio that moves dynamically around the participant, Next Year creates a fully enveloping narrative experience. The story reveals that some escaped Earth for a distant exoplanet—leaving behind one final rocket. The experience ends with a powerful choice: remain, or leave everything behind for a new beginning.
Blending speculative fiction with urgent themes, Next Year is a compelling reflection on choice, survival, and the long-term consequences of inaction.
Natalie Mertova http://www.linkedin.com/in/natálie-mertová
Ciaran Shields https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-shields-229158363/
Nicola Janasova https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-janasova-233901336/
Equilife
Four Creative Media students from Dundalk Institute of Technology present Equilife, an innovative interactive film that challenges viewers to consider how everyday choices impact the planet’s future. Premiering at the annual Fís showcase on May 29th at DkIT, the project merges immersive storytelling, POV-style filmmaking, and real-time decision-making to explore the delicate balance between comfort, cost, and environmental responsibility.
Set in a speculative future, viewers step into the role of a job applicant interacting with the Equibox—a futuristic device that visualizes potential outcomes based on lifestyle decisions. The experience is brought to life through cinematic visuals by Katrin Podracký, striking 3D animations by Karolína Špráchalová, and a custom-built interactive platform developed by Andrea Urmínová.
“We wanted to create something that hasn’t been done before,” says project manager Lucie Lenfeldová. “Not to dictate, but to invite reflection on what balance really means.”
Lucie Lenfeldová – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucie-lenfeldov%C3%A1-b26171227/
Katrin Podracký – https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrinpodracky/
Andrea Urmínová – https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-urminova/
Karolína Špráchalová – http://www.linkedin.com/in/karolína-špráchalová-3272a8335/
Link to project site
Ashes Reborn
Phoenix is an immersive digital installation that explores the theme of metamorphosis through the legendary myth of the Phoenix. Using 3D software tools Maya and Blender, the team has created a visually rich depiction of the mythical bird and its symbolic home—Heliopolis, the ancient Egyptian city associated with rebirth. Integrating TouchDesigner, the experience incorporates interactive audio and real-time motion tracking to deepen user engagement.
Visitors to the installation can choose between two narrative paths: a spoken-word journey that explores the Phoenix’s life cycle and its spiritual symbolism, or a dynamic musical experience that invites them to interact with the Phoenix through movement. As users engage with the bird, it responds in real time, creating a unique interplay between sound, motion, and digital form.
Phoenix invites reflection on transformation, rebirth, and the power of mythology in the digital age.
Kayla Minto http://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-minto-721baa336
Niamh Mc Cormick https://www.linkedin.com/in/niamh-mccormick-60b62b336/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Nikola Wylot http://www.linkedin.com/in/nikola-wylot-7b9220363
Shivanee Selva Mohan https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivanee-sri-0211b0223/
Link to project site
Half a Mind
Half a Mind is a powerful VR experience that immerses viewers in the everyday life of a university student living with mental health challenges. Designed to foster empathy and understanding, the project offers a first-person perspective on struggles that are often invisible from the outside.
Set in a modest student apartment, the experience begins each day with a finite amount of energy. Every task—whether attending class, making food, or even brushing your teeth—drains this limited resource. Once it’s depleted, there’s no way to recover it until the day ends. This mechanic mirrors the exhaustion and frustration many people with mental health difficulties face, where even the simplest routines can feel overwhelming or impossible.
By placing the viewer in this emotionally and physically taxing space, Half a Mind encourages reflection on how mental health affects daily life—and why compassion and awareness are so vital.
Pavlína Hrachovcová
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavl%C3%ADna-hrachovcova-900783189?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
A neurodivergent college life
A Neurodivergent College Life is an interactive narrative game built in Twine that follows the lives of five neurodivergent friends—Aria Baba, Yachi Baba, Jamie Kano, Kyle Nishida, and Am Uchiyama—as they begin their second year of college. The story centers on Aria and Jamie, offering a heartfelt look at the challenges of navigating college life with social anxiety.
Players make choices that influence the characters’ dialogue, actions, and emotional journeys, shaping how the story unfolds. While the college environment can be overwhelming, the friends’ support for one another is a core part of the experience. Through branching narratives and emotionally honest storytelling, the game captures the highs and lows of campus life for neurodivergent students.
A Neurodivergent College Life invites players to reflect on empathy, friendship, and the power of everyday choices in building a more understanding world.
Katie Fearon
EESH Magazine
Eesh is a bold and creative magazine made for Ireland’s youth. It celebrates the vibrant, ever-changing world of young Irish creatives, covering everything from streetwear and nightlife to how social media shapes identity. The name Eesh comes from the Irish word aois, meaning “age,” which reflects the magazine’s focus on today’s generation and their unique voices. Designed with eye-catching visuals, photography, and a fresh layout, Eesh feels fun, real, and relatable.
At its core, the magazine aims to spotlight the energy and talent coming out of Ireland’s creative scene, while also encouraging readers to think, feel, and get inspired. Whether it’s a deep dive into social trends or a showcase of local artists, Eesh blends fun storytelling with real insight. Made for those who love art, music, fashion, and expressing themselves.
Naomi Gatta
https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomigatta?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
You got this!
You Got This is a handmade illustrated book that explores the impact of motivational quotes on individuals’ lives. By gathering life advice, thoughts, and perspectives from people of diverse backgrounds, the book creates a rich tapestry of wisdom and encouragement. Through a mix of typography, graffiti, and vibrant illustrations, You Got This sparks self-reflection and invites readers to engage with the content on a personal level.
The book not only encourages readers to think more deeply about their own experiences but also offers a space for them to add their own thoughts and reflections, making it an evolving, interactive journey toward positivity and growth.
Magdaléna Kamarádová
Pixel Isolation
Pixel Isolation is a web-based digital art installation that examines the psychological appeal of video game worlds as a form of escapism. Using 3D models and Google’s Model Viewer, the project immerses viewers in a stylised environment that reflects the captivating, sometimes addictive, nature of video games. Targeted towards young people, Pixel Isolation explores how these virtual worlds can, in some cases, become more appealing than reality, offering a sense of control, identity and escape. However, this preference for the virtual world can lead to unintended consequences.These may include emotional withdrawal, social isolation, and behaviours that resemble a hikikomori – a condition characterised by extreme reclusion from society.
This project does not condemn escapism, instead it offers a thoughtful and significant perspective. It recognises the comfort that gaming can provide, while also encouraging a critical reflection on how we balance digital immersion with real-world connection. Through visual storytelling and interactive code, Pixel Isolation invites audiences to consider how far one might retreat into a virtual world and what it means to return.
Nicole Martin
Taekwondo in AR
AR Taekwondo explores the intersection of martial arts and immersive technology, offering an innovative approach to training through Augmented Reality. Designed to support both new and experienced Taekwondo practitioners, the project introduces a functional AR system that visually demonstrates techniques using interactive overlays.
By merging traditional martial arts with cutting-edge technology, AR Taekwondo aims to enhance learning, improve technique, and make training more accessible. The system serves as a dynamic proof of concept—not only for Taekwondo—but for potential adaptation across various martial arts and sports disciplines. This project highlights the power of AR to transform physical training into an engaging, efficient, and visually intuitive experience.
Man Hin Sy
Threads of Identity
Threads of Identity is a beautifully illustrated book that explores the rich history and cultural significance of traditional Vietnamese female clothing across the North, Central, and South regions of the country. Spanning from feudal dynasties to the modern day, the project captures how women’s attire has evolved—while still preserving the essence of Vietnamese heritage.
Focusing on iconic garments such as the Áo Tứ Thân (four-piece dress), Áo Tấc (five-piece dress), and Áo Nhật Bình (royal court dress), the book weaves together detailed illustrations, traditional decorative patterns, and contemporary design sensibilities. Each page is a celebration of craftsmanship, identity, and the enduring beauty of Vietnamese fashion.
This project is a testament to cultural storytelling through visual art—bridging past and present, tradition and innovation.
Minh Phuong Vo https://www.linkedin.com/in/riley-w?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Behind the Numbers
Behind the Numbers is a poignant mixed media animation that explores the emotional toll of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Blending live-action footage with expressive hand-drawn animation, the piece brings to light the human experiences often hidden behind headlines and statistics.
The project focuses on the quiet struggles—loneliness, disconnection, and uncertainty—that defined the lockdown experience for so many. The interplay between raw filmed sequences and fluid, emotive animation blurs the line between reality and emotion, capturing the surreal atmosphere of a global crisis.
Through its layered visual narrative, Behind the Numbers invites viewers to reflect on the unseen emotional weight of collective trauma, encouraging empathy and a deeper understanding of the silent battles faced by individuals around the world.