At **SXSW 2025**, the discussion panel titled *”Aesthetic Access for VR: Centering Disabled Artistry”* unveiled *Territory*, an innovative **virtual reality** experience that illustrates how accessibility is essential to artistic creation rather than merely an add-on.

Created by **Kinetic Light** and **Double Eye Studios**, *[Territory](https://kineticlight.org/territory)* is the pioneering VR experience crafted to be entirely “aesthetically accessible.” Instead of retrofitting accessibility features like captions and audio descriptions later in the process, the team integrated them into the artistic development from the outset.

>”Access is no longer an accommodation that retroactively makes an experience accessible to disabled audiences,” stated **Laurel Lawson** from Kinetic Light during the discussion. “Instead, access is the providence of art itself.”

### An All-Encompassing and Accessible VR Adventure

Set against a **post-apocalyptic backdrop**, *Territory* conveys its narrative through a fusion of **aerial dance, haptic feedback, and spatialized audio**. Users assume the role of a “witness,” feeling the presence of barbed wire both literally and metaphorically. The experience utilizes **custom haptic motifs**, employing vibrations to express movement and sentiment—an advancement that greatly boosts accessibility for users with visual impairments.

Even **captions** have been reinvented. Rather than fixed text, *Territory* incorporates **dynamic captions** that flow with the characters and poetically interpret musical and sound elements. “Most of the caption systems that we evaluated couldn’t achieve the level of detail [we desired], so we had to build something from the ground up,” shared **Kiira Benz**, executive creative director at Double Eye Studios.

### Transforming Accessibility in VR

Although accessibility in VR continues to develop, *Territory* sets a **new standard**—one in which accessibility goes beyond mere inclusion to signify **innovation**. By integrating accessibility as an artistic element, **Kinetic Light** and **Double Eye Studios** invite creators to rethink how VR can be genuinely immersive for every user.

Lawson stressed that accessibility should never be an afterthought:

>”Access is not backfilling.”

Instead, she proposed that designing with accessibility in focus from the beginning **enhances artistic expression** and expands creative limits.

With *Territory*, VR advances significantly—demonstrating that accessibility and artistry can coexist harmoniously.