Scarlett Shi is a digital media artist and researcher working across interactive narrative, spatial sound, XR, and computational systems. Her research examines how computational media shape relationships between people and systems through co-authorship, co-creativity, and relational design, combining creative practice with empirical research.
She is an MFA candidate in Sound Design at the University of California San Diego, where she works with Bobby McElver and Shahrokh Yadegari. She holds a BFA in Directing from the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing.
BIOGRAPHY
Education
MFA, Sound Design
Department of Theatre and Dance
University of California San Diego
2024–2027, expected
Advisors: Bobby McElver, Shahrokh Yadegari
BFA, Directing
Central Academy of Drama, Beijing
2020–2024
Concentration: Performing Arts Sound Design
Computational Narrative & Participatory Systems
Multi-participant narrative; distributed authorship; human-system co-authorship; information asymmetry; shared-state systems; real-time interaction; AI-mediated narrative transformation
Spatial & Embodied Media
Spatial audio; Wave Field Synthesis; WebXR; embodied and head-responsive interaction; binaural / HRTF rendering; multichannel and object-based spatialization
Perception & Empirical Research
Experimental design; spatial listening studies; auditory perception; stimulus calibration; human-subject research; regression and mixed-effects modeling
Composition & Sound
Electronic and electroacoustic composition; spatial composition; sound design across performance, film, immersive media, and interactive works
Selected Recognition
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2026 — IDEAS Grant & Artist Residency
Qualcomm Institute, UC San Diego — Meridian Tower -
2026 — Selection, 3rd Spaceout International Ambisonics Festival
University of Michigan — A Thousand Clocks -
2026 — Artist Residency Selection
Baryshnikov Arts Center — Motherloss -
2024 — Nomination, Best Artistic Expression
Xi’an International XR Film Festival — Water Disappears in Water -
2021 — Most Notable Award, Youth Competition
8th Wuzhen Theatre Festival — ASCENT
Writing
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Composing Consequence: Sound as an Operative Narrative System in Multi-Participant Interactive Digital Narrative. Shi, S. J. (2026) · ICIDS 2026, Late-Breaking Work Accepted · Forthcoming in Springer proceedings (subject to final publication)
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Quantifying Intimacy in Wave Field Synthesis: Perceptual Effects of Acoustic and Spatial Parameters. Manuscript in preparation · Targeting ICMC 2027