Monolite: An Interactive exhibit for public engagement
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Monolite: An Interactive exhibit for public engagement
Interaction using tangibility, light and visual entertainment
Solution
Client
COSENTINO
Outcome
INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT
Year
NOV 19
We were challenged to create an interactive exhibit showcasing one of the many surfaces created by Cosentino. Our initial brief directed us towards creating an interactive wall that not only showcases the client's product but also creates a platform for public engagement. This exhibit was to be showcased at the Art and Design Film Festival (ADFF) that celebrates the creative spirit of architecture and Design. This project was tailored in a way that the physical structure was built considering the requirements of Cosentino and the content was based on the films being screened at ADFF.
Opportunity
Showcasing an immersive interactive exhibit in a space that fosters the spirit of Architecture and Design along with cladding the installation with the desired product.
01
Scope
The installation is focused on featuring an immersive interaction using tangibility, light and visual entertainment. This project is to be completed in two months. To see this project through it was important for us to understand what can be achieved in the given time frame in terms of the structure, technology, testing and installing.
This project also involves getting constant feedback from the client at every stage of concept development to its production.
Monolite: An Interactive exhibit for public engagement
02
Approach
We were divided into three teams and were tasked to brainstorm on 100 ideas which were then narrowed down to three and thereafter presented to Cosentino. After their constructive feedback, we then iterated on our concepts to finally present one idea. Cosentino chose the idea presented by Team 3, that best reflected their requirements and cause giving meaningful insights on how to align it better to the event.
As a class, we worked on the approved concept and were again divided into three teams based on our strengths that included build, tech, content, and we formulated a plan that involved strict deadlines and meaningful collaboration.
03
Proposed Concept
The idea behind the interactive exhibit is to ensure user engagement triggering visually appealing content on the screen. The user is faced with a series of buttons that trigger unique content depending on the combination of buttons pressed. Each combination triggers a high-definition short trailer that is being screened at the Architecture and Design Film Festival. To make the interaction simple but functional, we simplified the interaction only by using touch bars, but with the light changing to lead users for the next step. There are three touch bars on each side besides the screen, which allows people to cooperate with others to see the 9 videos in total. The user could also press buttons with logos for Cosentino, ADFF, and George Brown to choose the theme of the videos they preferred, and learn information about the three institutions during the interaction.
04
Process
The structure has been designed keeping in mind the dimensions and space allocated for this installation. The aesthetics of the structure is aimed to be symmetric, smooth and pleasing to the eye. To make the interaction simple but functional, we simplified the interaction only by using touch bars, but with the light changing to lead users for the next step.
Build
For the build of the approved concept, we were to consider the scale, material, structure, tech support and fittings. Our first step was to sketch out the dimensions and technical details of the structure. The build team had to consult the client and tech team to get the details right. The aim was to keep the design as sleek and minimalistic as possible to align closely with Cosentino branding.
Tech
After the build team handed over the technical details it was then up to the tech team to create the user experience. They used arduino to trigger content by pushing the button. This was combined with using python and raspberry pie to create the desired push and display. There were 9 possible combinations that needed to be synchronized in a way that when two buttons were pushed, there would be a unique video that would be displayed. This required a lot of testing and understanding of the software.
Content
The role of the content team was to ensure proper and interesting display of the videos associated with each of the categories. The Content team was essentially working on gathering all the assets and shaping them to look aesthetically appealing on the screen. Our main challenge was to make sure that the videos are sized according to the vertical skateboard like a screen without affecting the resolution of the videos. We coordinated primarily with the Tech Team to understand the scope of transition between videos, size restrictions and time frame for each video.
05
My Role
For this project, apart from the brainstorming and concept generation, I was majorly involved in creating the content for the display. I was in charge of coordinating with Cosentino, ADFF, and GBC to collect the assets that we required to create the videos. After acquiring the assets from the respective sources, we decided to figure out the most effective way to display the content in the given workspace. I consulted our faculty to understand the text and action safe areas in After Effects along with delving into the attention span the audience might have while viewing the content. I also had a time constraint of keeping the videos to run for only 15 seconds. So I extracted the most meaningful shots that I thought did justice to the title and combined those clips together to make a compressed video.
The challenge was to fit the content in a vertical skateboard shaped screen making sure that the resolution doesn't get compromised. I initially decided to pan the video along the horizontal axis and zoom it out to showcase a combination of images and synopsis as an option for the audience to get more information on the content. I then scrapped the idea of images and decided to just display the video as is due to technical issues. As a team, we then carried out a couple of experiments with our initial and final ideas to have a better understanding of the overall appeal of the content.
