RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) Students Shine at Imagine RIT Festival 2026, Named Among Winning Teams
Students from RIT Kosovo (A.U.K) have been recognized among the winning teams at the prestigious Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival 2026, held at Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.
At this year’s festival, the RIT Kosovo team presented “The Living Mirror,” an immersive and interactive AI-powered art installation that reimagines how individuals perceive their digital identity. Moving beyond a traditional reflection, the installation captures users in real time and transforms them into custom, high-fidelity cybernetic avatars within seconds.
The Imagine RIT Festival, taking place on April 25, 2026, is a campus-wide celebration that showcases the creativity and innovation of students, faculty, and staff across the global RIT community. Being selected among the winning teams highlights both the technical excellence and creative vision of the RIT Kosovo participants.
“The Living Mirror” integrates advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, facial micro-expression analysis, and environmental sensing, to generate a dynamic digital portrait that evolves based on user emotions and surroundings. Powered by a high-performance AI pipeline and cutting-edge neural networks, the installation delivers a seamless and immersive experience.
The team also engineered a sophisticated visual environment that enhances the illusion of depth and interaction. Running at a smooth 60 frames per second, the system surrounds users with parallax starfields, responsive Heads-Up Display (HUD) elements, and a sense of infinite spatial immersion.
The project was developed by a talented team of students: Korab Jashari (Project Lead), Fiona Kapllani (Frontend & Visual Environment), and Olta Gjevukaj (UX & Concept Design), under the mentorship of Prof. Debabrata Samanta. Their work reflects the interdisciplinary, hands-on learning approach that defines the RIT Kosovo experience.
By participating in global events such as Imagine RIT, students from RIT Kosovo continue to demonstrate their ability to compete and excel on an international stage, contributing innovative solutions that merge technology, design, and human experience.
“The Living Mirror” invites attendees to step forward and experience a new dimension of self-perception, where technology, creativity, and identity converge.
