VR Design Lead /
Architectural Designer
I'm Ash, a VR innovation strategist. My primary focus lies in crafting VR applications with meaningful interactive experiences for human engagement in the realm of Virtual Reality. I bring to the table expertise in conceiving and shaping solutions that harness the potential of virtual reality technology. I have led the complete lifecycle of VR products, shepherding them from initial ideation and conceptualization through environment creation, all the way to the meticulous oversight of the application's development process.
With a background that spans more than a decade in architectural design, I possess a robust foundation to seamlessly transpose my grasp of spatial design, adept project management skills, and adept team leadership from diverse sectors into the dynamic landscape of VR application design and development.
Greg Viggiano, PhD PMP
Executive Director, Museum of Science Fiction
Ash has been on the Museum of Science Fiction VR Museum project for about a year. During this time, she quickly established herself as one of the most talented 3d model designers and VR developers on the team. She is very easy to work with and consistently delivers excellent designs with astonishing accuracy. It's hard to overstate her contributions to the project and our overall progress due to her efforts.
Daniel Cuartas
Engineering and
Mentalist
Ash was a fundamental piece in our XR development team, her design skills skyrocketed the quality of our app.
great communication between the designer and developer team, It was a pleasure working with you. Lucky whomever works with you in the future.
Neil Bhatt
President,
nbj Architecture
Aishwarya (Ash) Balagopal worked at nbj Architecture from 2017 to 2021, wearing many hats. She was an Architectural Staff Member designing and detailing various projects. At the same time, she also helped obtain LEED certification for multiple projects and spearheaded the firm's marketing-business development efforts. She is a very talented person and has impeccable professional integrity and dedication to her work. She will be an asset to any organization
PORTFOLIO
HarmonyVR
HarmonyVR stands as the brainchild of Virtual Apprentice, embodying a distinct and innovative method for Implicit Bias training. Serving as the VR Creative Strategist, I have orchestrated the complete conceptualization and design of this application, while also guiding its development process and contributing to its go-to-market strategy. Our Proof of Concept (PoC) has been successfully realized, propelling us into the active phase of product development. For further insights into HarmonyVR, including an exclusive sneak peek, please explore more here:
Peirama
Peirama emerges as a pipette training solution, meticulously crafted by the team at Virtual Apprentice for the esteemed BioTechnical Institute of Maryland, Inc. (BTI). Under my conceptualization and design, Peirama is currently in its developmental phase, aimed at furnishing learners with an immersive alternative to conventional in-person sessions. Within this Virtual Reality realm, students engage with comprehensive lessons and exercises, mirroring real-world scenarios. The curriculum encompasses an array of topics, encompassing diverse components, uses, functions, and proper methodologies associated with pipette utilization within laboratory settings. For deeper insights into Peirama and to hear firsthand feedback from students, please follow the link below.
WAYFARER - 360 IMAGE in VR
Architecture serves as a reflection of the era in which it exists, capturing the spirit of its time. Wayfarer was conceived as a means to deeply engage users in the treasure trove of historical architectural knowledge. This application was created as a component of my academic coursework, with me serving as the principal designer and collaborating with two developers. The prototype you're currently viewing offers users an immersive glimpse into the evolving landscape of New York City, showcasing the area that is now occupied by the magnificent WTC station designed by Calatrava
The application uses a 360 image to immerse users and consists of a gamified questionnaire in conclusion to engage users.
POE MUSEUM - WebXR
In the year 2023, Richmond's Edgar Allen Poe Museum commemorated a century of its existence with fervor. In honor of this monumental milestone, the museum embarked on an ambitious endeavor—to create an immersive webXR platform that would serve as a digital extension of their legacy. This visionary project unfolded across two distinct phases, and I had the privilege of contributing as a consultant VR Designer.
In the inaugural phase, my creative endeavors took form in the meticulous design and modeling of an authentic replica of the physical museum, a glimpse of which can be seen here.
The culmination of this ambitious journey will undoubtedly contribute to the museum's rich legacy, offering visitors a novel and immersive perspective on the world of Edgar Allen Poe and his indelible impact on literature and culture.
KINDLING
Within the framework of the XR Terra designer course, our team embarked on a collaborative journey to conceive and actualize a Virtual Reality game tailored for the Oculus platform. Serving as the designated designer, my role encompassed the intricate task of conceptualizing and crafting the game's immersive realm.
Marking my inaugural foray into the realm of Virtual Reality, this endeavor presented an enriching learning experience that propelled my skills to new heights. The design process yielded a captivating array of distinctive elements, notable among them the imaginative creation of terrain adorned with surreal bioluminescent textures, as well as the innovative application of visual effects to conjure ethereal orbs.
NATURE TRAIL
Within each VR endeavor, the immersive landscape to which the player is transported stands as a pivotal factor, fundamentally shaping the player's encounter. The construction of this particular terrain served as an instructive tutorial, elucidating the process of crafting visually stunning landscapes within the Unity framework. The foundation of this project was established by integrating textures and elements sourced from Unity's extensive Asset store.
The journey of creating these terrains within Unity posed its own set of challenges. Among these, addressing the persistent pink shader issues emerged as a primary concern. Furthermore, meticulous attention was devoted to curbing the potential for texture and element saturation, which could otherwise hinder the seamless and lag-free VR experience that players seek.
If the allure of this nature walk piques your curiosity, a click below will unveil the intricate artistry that went into its creation.
TREE - UNITY
The artistry behind this marvel unfolded within Unity, meticulously utilizing lifelike textures to adorn both leaves and branches. An artful touch of wind effect was masterfully infused to impart an organic sway, evoking the tree's natural essence. Should this creation intrigue your senses, an exclusive glimpse into the creative process awaits at the click below.
CAMPFIRE - UNITY
This animated flame and smoke were created using Unity's particle effect system.
ARTSTER - UI/UX
This project was created as a part of Google UI/UX certification project. The App was created to allow users to virtually access Art Galleries through phones. The key elements in the app include virtual walk through the art galleries, a feature to socialize with groups and arrange virtual tours for groups, the ability to shortlist and save works of art for future references and the ability to chat with curators and artists to know more about the artwork. The prototype was created in FIGMA.
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE FICTION
Embarking on an enthralling and delightful journey, I have breathed life into The Museum of Science Fiction within a virtual realm. This ongoing endeavor has seen me meticulously crafting and designing the captivating images that constitute an integral facet of the final museum. Leveraging the dynamic trio of Blender, Unity, and Photoshop, I have sculpted and shaped each image with care.
As this project continues to unfold its wondrous potential, I am committed to sharing regular updates to keep you engaged and intrigued. Stay tuned to witness the evolution of this remarkable creation.
3D MODELLING - Architecture
Few 3D models generated in Sketchup 3D max and Rhino in the past. I have used several plugins such as Vray and Artlantis for rendering 3D models. A few of these images were created for course works and competitions and depict structures that have abstracts shapes and forms. I have also generated 3D models for both daylight analysis and artificial lighting analysis along with Energy modelling for BIM analysis.
