Modern creativity twist on a ritual.
Share the sentiment of peace via aesthetic challenges and interaction equipment.
Medium
Wooden frame
Laptop
Electronic component
Methodology
User research
Site research
Brainstorming
Storyboard
Prototyping
Tools
Paper prototype
Acrylic and wooden frame
Questionnaires
Electronic motor and sensor
Observation cards
Laser cutting machine
Applications
Photoshop
Illustrator
Arduino
Processing
Premiere Pro
Design Brief
Our team need to design interaction equipment to combine with the site environment. Bring with the idea of turning ritual to playful and enhance the aesthetic feeling.
The corridor in Wilkinson building, Camperdown, NSW
Design Challenge
The project was temporally installed at the end of the corridor in Wilkinson building. The challenge of the interaction equipment is to enhance the sense of peace in the corridor and attract people attention to the model of the Cathedral. The difficulty is that it needs to combine the ritual and playful within harmony with the environment.
My responsibilities
Contribute to user research and site research
give the clear definition of the site features
Bring the new design solution for the site by asking HMW( How might we ) question
Drawing a vivid and clear storyboard to show the target user and problem space
Design the physical prototype and iterations
Test and decide the electronic sensor
Finish the code of the sensor
Communicate with mechanic stuff to build up the wooden frame and lasers cutting the acrylic board
The design process
How I Made it.
Paper Prototype
After bringing the idea of reflection effects. I start to choose the material of the prototype. The prototype considered as four pieces of different parts of the model. However, if the audience looks from the front, those four pieces look like a linked circle. Mirror fragments were used to form the special light effects and interacted with audiences.
Build with Electrical Sensor
After the paper prototype and technologies methods research, I test the solenoid and ultrasonic distance measuring sensor. The ultrasonic sensor works well int detection people’s motion. It also combines well with the design idea—interacts with people of different distances. Therefore, it used in the final model.
Interactive Equipment
The final interactive equipment has two main parts: the wooden base and the acrylic board.
The wooden frame designed with mechanics stuff with fully communicate. The acrylic board made buy laser cutting in the materials laboratory, and I paint the pattern on it.
The Challenges and My Solutions
Installation
When I design the structure of the model, the first idea is hanging the mirrored acrylic boards on the roof. However, the build manager suggested the load capacity of the threaded rod(on the roof) can not hang any more than an additional 500g on it. After seriously check the site conditions. We combined our design idea within the limitations of the site. We planed to add a supporting base for each part of the acrylic boards.
Technique
The torque force of Serve motor or Hobby motor is not powerful enough to rotate the frame pieces which leads to difficult to produce satisfactory light effects. Therefore, I test a serious of motor. In the end, the push and pull solenoid was adopted since it could push and pull the frame pieces
The result.
Space Mapping
Social Space
In the comfort zone, people will develop social activities, like talking with friends and watching other actions.
Attraction Space
The attraction space is set before the interaction space, is designed to draw users’ attention with the beautiful reflections from the acrylic boards. Users can watch and enjoy the light effect before they engage in interactions with the equipment. The behaviours are typically walking to get closer with the model.
Interaction Space
In the interaction area, the user can participate in the action. They may wave their hands to try to interact with the model. Alternatively, change the distances with the model. Their roles were transformed from spectators to performers. The reflected light spot shines on the body and face of the audience. They will try to engage the model moment. Therefore, they also become a part of the exhibition. Others in the attraction area may be watching their behaviours.
