Aika

Abstract

This research-creation document examines interactive design and audiovisual narratives as mechanisms for social visibility and emotional catharsis within the PIXELES research group (2026). The core of the study is centered on "Aika," a creative-research project addressing future-oriented hopelessness and generational distress among university students aged 20 to 24. Grounded in Beck's Cognitive Model and the structural pressures of globalization, a mixed-methods diagnostic phase revealed that 78.1% of the sample experiences hopelessness and 70.3% suffers from chronological anxiety. As a plastic response, a silent animated short film was structured around the "Hero's Journey" framework, leveraging character design and concept art as vehicles for resilience and the symbolic translation of psychological distress. In tandem, the creative praxis incorporates "Leyva's Odyssey," a gaming prototype addressing touristification in Villa de Leyva, Colombia. Based on local testimonies, the video game implements meaningful interaction mechanics to prompt ethical dilemmas and foster empathy toward native residents. Collectively, this work demonstrates the capacity of artistic practice and conceptual design to transmute psychosocial and territorial conflicts into aesthetic discourses of high critical density.