Umbra

Andrew Zhou

Trumbull, CT

BA (Web/Interactive Media Design)

Advisor: Sue Huang

Web-based interactive narrative
Link to Umbra

Umbra is a surreal short story in the form of a nonlinear interactive narrative about growth and stagnation. It revolves around exploring a strange, impossible house, meeting its inhabitants and discovering its secrets. Umbra is a story about trauma and depression, exploring what it means to face an uncertain future while dealing with the past. Inevitability, anxiety, and the struggles of finding a place in the world are at the heart of the story, and it is the writer's hope that people can find something in the story to relate to amidst the strangeness of the narrative.

Umbra was made with Twine and features branching paths and a freeform format that supports a personal exploration of the narrative. Decisions made by the reader affect the flow of the story. Going beyond a simple choose-your-own-adventure story, this project utilizes interactivity and a digital format to enhance and change the story as it is read.

Artist Bio

Andrew Zhou is currently a senior at UConn Stamford, Digital Media & Design with a concentration in Web/Interactive Media Design. In addition, he previously attended UConn at the Storrs campus. He has an interest in game design and storytelling, and during his studies at Stamford, has also further developed interests in video editing and graphic design. He enjoys gaming, reading, and in some cases, learning entirely too much about things that he'll never use.

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