Computers and Composition Mar 2026 Open Access

Building narrative layers in virtual reality via multimodal user experience

Kathryn Lambrecht ; Claire Lauer ; Stephen Carradini ; Poorva Ketkar ; Danielle Storey

Abstract

People working at the intersection of composition and user experience often serve as the connective material that binds content to use. In merging fundamental skills of both in multimodal UX, practitioners position themselves as essential mediators connecting technical information, storytelling, and technologies that carry impactful messages across disciplines, audiences, and contexts. Building on previous work that advocates for the power of narrative in AR/VR storytelling, we demonstrate how combining the composing strategy of narrative layering with user testing can guide the creation of inclusive, community-centered VR experiences. To illustrate the power of this capacity, we ground our analysis in the design of a Virtual Reality experience about advanced water purification, outlining a method for how narrative layering and UX testing can be woven together to address a variety of perspectives through interdisciplinary, layered storytelling. In doing so, we argue that multimodal UX is most powerful when it blends the needs of a range of audiences to build stories that communicate complex information in an inclusive and engaging way.

Journal
Computers and Composition
Published
2026-03-01
DOI
10.1016/j.compcom.2025.102961
Open Access
OA PDF Hybrid
Topics
multimodality technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

Cites in this index (10)

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    Computers and Composition
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