Landmine Garden, a collective, multiplayer XR experience created by NYU ITP students and alumni, was recently presented at the United Nations Headquarters. Participants take on the role of deminers working together through slow and careful actions to clear virtual landmines. As areas are made safe, hidden stories and personal tragedies are revealed, drawing attention to an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Set in a familiar backyard environment, the project brings distant conflicts into a personal context, asking participants to reflect on how ignored dangers can exist anywhere. The project resonated with UN partners looking to enhance visitor understanding of the UN’s work, which led to an invitation to present it as part of the “Forward Not Fragmented” exhibition.
Under the guidance of Michelle Cortese , who teaches the ITP course “Hedonomic VR Design”, the group refined the project, transitioning from an early AR iPad prototype into a fully realized multiplayer XR experience.
This project was exhibited at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on December 3, 2025, and from January 2 to January 6, 2026.
Team:
Project & Tech Lead: Haoren Zhong
Creative Tech: Ivy Yiyun Jiang
Visual & 3D: Zongshuai Zhang , Xiaoxu Han
Visual & UX: Cathy Chenxu Li (ITP ‘25)
Sound Design: Keyi Ding
Special thanks to Michelle Cortese, Mimi Yin, Matt Parker
