From Walls to Worlds: Exploring Individual and Collaborative Virtual Sketching for Neurodivergent Creators

Sketching has long served as a powerful tool for communication and expression throughout history, from early cave drawings to Renaissance masterpieces. From childhood, many of us have sketched on surfaces frowned upon by guardians—walls, furniture, or school desks. This natural inclination to create and communicate through drawing underscores sketching’s fundamental role in human development. Today, digital technology has revolutionised sketching, offering dynamic, interactive experiences with tablets and styluses that enhance creativity and accessibility.

For individuals with disabilities, especially those who are neurodivergent—such as those with autism, ADHD, or dyslexia—sketching becomes a unique mode of communication and self-expression. Visual mediums like sketching offer a pathway to express complex thoughts and emotions that words may not easily convey. However, traditional sketching environments often lack accommodations for sensory sensitivities or physical disabilities.

Individual vs. Collaborative Sketching

Sketching individually allows creators to find a private space for self-expression, enabling them to articulate thoughts and emotions visually without external pressures. In contrast, collaborative sketching fosters the exchange of ideas and perspectives, promoting innovation and creative problem-solving. It also nurtures peer support and learning opportunities, boosting collective knowledge and experiences.

When Virtual Reality (VR) Meets Sketching

Digital platforms, while flexible, can fall short of providing the personalised support that neurodivergent users require. However, the integration of advanced technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) in HCI offers new possibilities for exploring sketching in immersive environments. Customised VR sketching environments can cater to the specific needs of neurodivergent users. It can simulate calming, distraction-free spaces conducive to individual sketching, enhancing focus, reducing sensory overload, and potentially improving social interaction and cooperative skills.

This PhD research will delve into a comparative exploration of individual versus collaborative sketching in VR environments tailored explicitly for neurodivergent sketchers. It aims to investigate various VR tools and platforms, assessing their effectiveness in meeting their unique needs.

Join the project supervisors in exploring how VR can transform sketching from a solitary activity into a collaborative, inclusive experience that empowers neurodivergent users to express their creativity.