Delight

Incorporating physical mediums with interactive digital technologies to create an interactive art installation.

OVERVIEW

Providing some context

We collaborated to create an interactive art installation that incorporated physical mediums with interactive digital technologies that primarily focusing on elements of light and motion.

Unlike traditional exhibits which tend to have a ‘hands-off’ policy, we wanted to encourage participants curiosity and interaction

Problem

Rules were made to be broken

While many institutions such as art galleries, museums, exhibits attempt to foster creativity they often discourage it with arbitrary rules (ie. Just enjoy the art with your eyes, do not touch, do not interact with it.)

opportunity

Unleash your inner child

While growing up, we’re actively encouraged to explore our surroundings, to be curious about the world around us and have brief spontaneous interactions with other people but as we grow older we have fewer and fewer opportunities to do so.
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As we age, unless you pursue an education in a creative art, there are not many opportunities to indulge in that ‘child-like’ way of viewing the world, exploring through curiosity and wonder. While at the same time socializing becomes more difficult.

HMW

How might we incorporate physical mediums with interactive digital technologies to create an interactive art installation?

brainstorming

It all started with a sketch

Inspired by works such as MIDAS Projection, Ishiwaka Senoo Lab, and BOX, Bradley G Munkowitz we started sketching concepts for a projection mapped sculpture.

Concept #1 Interactive Stacking Object - a “stage” for multiple cubes of different sizes. The cubes would be able to move within the “stage” with different configurations for different projections.

Concept #2 Projection Mapping Onto A structure - Arduino controller with multiple sensors. This idea would later become our concept of a interactive sculpture with conductive touch points.

prototyping

Building on a college student budget

We started by modelling and 3D printing small scale versions of different shapes to get an understanding of which form would be the most interesting to work with, and the limitations of each. We moved onto making a quarter scale model out of cardboard to test projection and interactions.

prototyping

Creating an interaction that feels like magic

Capacitive touch is the technology used in touchscreens and sensors to detect when your finger makes contact with the screen. But what if there is no digital screen/interface? What if the surface WAS the screen/interface?

Conductive paint lets you do just that. Anything you paint with it effectively become a touch screen, but unfortunately its also very expensive. Since we were on a budget, we went to the hardware store and bought the largest metal bolts we could find - these would act as our point of interaction.

We used an Arduino Uno to detect when someone makes contact with any of the specific touch points (the bolts) on our sculpture to have the visuals react in real time.

Solution

Encouraging individuals curiosity and cooperation through a projection mapped interactive installation

Final product

No touchscreens here, only eye catching visuals

How do you get someone from the real world to interact with your digital content? It's simple. You bring your digital content into the real world.

Final product

An installation made to be touched

In a world where everyone has a device in their pocket, touchscreens are so 2007. We don't discourage interaction at this installation, so go ahead and explore.

reflection

The difference made between a good professor, and a great one.

This project taught me the impact that great leadership and team synergy can have on the success and execution of a project. I found that surrounding myself with others who could match the same passion and energy for the problem you are solving can give you the momentum to continue when problems arise - and they definitely will. A LOT.

It wasn’t until this project that I realized the opportunity for personal growth that is only possible with a mentor, role model, or professor who goes beyond what is provided. Someone who encourages you to develop your own skills, explore what’s possible, and emphasizes the importance of keeping an open mind.

The design world is a social one, nobody gets far in this game alone. Surround yourself with like-minded people that believe knowledge is meant to be shared, not gate kept. I’ve always been willing to dedicate my time to others, the same as my role models have for me.

but wait theres more

Interested in a deeper look behind the scenes to see how it all worked?

Well, a magician can’t reveal all his tricks. If you want to know that you’re gonna have to contact me.