CURIOCITY AR

IXD / 2022

STUDIO / PSYCHOLOGY / RESEARCH / AR / CASE STUDY / PRODUCT

OVERVIEW

This interactive AR solution was presented as a discourse to various readings undertaken during the term. 'Curiocity' takes a stab at adding a new dimension to the iconic area/street banners across the city of Vancouver by creating use cases for the present and the future with the help of technology fueled by human curiosity.

DISCOURSE

We've seen these iconic banners around us, haven't we? They're around several areas and streets. When you take a closer look at them, you notice and appreciate the designs. It was one of many fascinating things you glance at.

They add a sense of richness to the area and aim to make them more recognizable...but there's not much to them.

"From designers we ask for a designed world that has meaning beyond the resolution of purely functional needs, one that also has poetry, communicates subtly, something that makes sense, not just but fitting in with the culture and environment in which it lives, but by adding a new dimension to it."

- Jane Fulton Suri (2011). Chapter 1 - Poetic Observations. In Design anthropology object culture in the 21st Century

MAKING DESIGN 'NEWLY VISIBLE'

This venture was a deeper look into the purpose and personality of the banners. Bring out a new way to look at them, and add that dimension and value to them. They already create a visual identity for the areas - I want to make them newly visible - as Sara Hendren (What can a body do?) mentioned.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTION -
WHAT IF...?

These banners could come alive & add more life to the area/streets
These banners could help us explore what's going on in this area
These banners could point us towards all these interesting things around

BRINGING IDEAS TO LIFE

With the help of AR, which now sits in our pockets, this can be made possible by simply scanning those banners around us. To take this initiative, I went ahead and created a new one, for our very own Great Northern Way.

USE CASE / VISION

Storytelling - Using shapes and characters in 3D to tell a tale that you've never heard before
Events - Registering for events, a new way to explore happening places
Immersion - Smart glasses to trigger a seamless experience without bounds and tracking constraints
Provision - Test further to record sufficient data for a proposal to Vancouver city services
Treasure Hunt - Create an interactive game to prompt the spirit of exploration

TECHNICAL SPECS

Illustrator or any graphics tool - Conceptualize & design the banner

Blender or any 3D tool - Expand the banner into 3D for more possibilities

Adobe Aero / Unity Vuforia / Unreal Engine - Spatial mapping and AR interactivity

Adobe XD - Quick 3D transform mockups

CONCLUSION

As my personal motive, I always strive to make things a little less boring and a little more sensible. The readings I quoted could not say that any louder. Questioning the normalized designs around us with what if...trying to envision the speculative while designing today. Adding a new layer to these creations that may either already be functional or maybe even poetic.

Curiocity, not one but multiple lessons were put to action and all it took was a bit of curiosity and poetic observation of this city we live in.