SOI Submission

Statement of Intent

Topic

Géomètre (land surveyor)

The key idea of is inspired from the curiosity of how visual is constructed through planes, shapes, lines, lights, sizes and composition. According to Oxford Dictionary, Geometry came from the original word ‘géomètre’ which means the land surveyor.

It is very appropriate to represent my project topic because the project aimed to re-look into the visual communication method in interactive design context. Through experimenting with the shapes and sphere in geometrical graphics, I would like to explore the ‘ground’ in interactive design.

Géomètre will serve as a platform to explore how graphical interactive environment will affect users’ experience in a projection mapping format. The intention of exploring visual depth can add to the variety of ui design possibility while we are still finding the best practise in our media scene today.

Genre

Interactive Projection Mapping (http://projection-mapping.org/inspiration/)
Projection mapping share similar characteristic with virtual reality and augmented reality. It adds to the existing physical world, a virtual appearance of shape, form, and dimension. Instead of classical painting or illustration poster that do wonders on a piece of paper/canvas, projection mapping enlarge the canvas into the world we living in. The level of immersion in a larger format that is nearer to us, outside the 4 border of screen and canvas has great potential to create engaging user experience in interactivity.

Aim

This project aimed to explore interactive user interface design through an artistic point of view to find out how visual perception will affect interactive user experience

Form

Interactive Piece – Installation – Generative Animation
The content will be presented in time based interactive format. As the exploration of visual communication aim at giving user unpredictable environment, large scale video content with randomize video is suitable to achieve the aim. In order to create the perceptual illusion, shaded volumatic graphics & self-illuminated geometry shapes will play heavy role in the composing of the time based interactive content.

Audience

Demographic
● 15 - 30
● male & female
● spent minimum 2 hours on tech-related entertainment per day
● spent 20-30% income on movie/ concern each month

Psychographic
● Adventurous, unconventional, tech savvy, willing to participate in new experiences, taking pride in being the first to try, enjoy rich senses entertainment through motion, audio, interactive experience.

How it relates to my existing skills and knowledge

Visual Communication
As a interactive media designer, I would like to explore the theories behind visual perception that adds to the flat surface of screen ui different facet of ui design possibilities.

Installation Setup
The 2 installation projects done in level 5 gave me an overview of a variety of installation setup consideration. Observing how my classmate build low cost pipe-projector stand has given me some starting point in projector setup. I’m also introduced to some 3D mapping software that allow video content to map on the projected surfaces.

Existing Project References
There are wide range of interaction projection mapping project/ augmented reality content based references available. Some of the online resource also share the installation architecture diagram and demonstration of installation setup in video format. I can start from these resources online.

New skills and learning

Visual Communication
Through research and practical work on the principles and theories into design, static or time based, will help me to gain more insight into more in depth visual communication design method

Spatial Design
The exploration of projection mapping architecture in spatial design will help me to build better installation architecture knowledge in understanding forms and structure of the physical environment. The previous installation projection experience in using mirror to reflect a touch-table has given me some starting point to prepare the setup of projector, 3D mapping software, mirror reflection and etc.

Motion Graphic
Time based content is one of the key experience to help user immerse into the projected scene. In the motion pictures, the sequence and flow of the narrative will work around the geometry theme. Through the exploration of geometrical same in time based sequence, I’ll be able to learn the expression of shape, the pace of movement and the angle that creates the facet in the interactive experience.

How it relates to my Degree essay

Some of the key theories are Simulacra & Simulation, Semiotics, Cognitive Science in UI Design, High & Low Modality, Interactive Immersion Theory (sensory, narrative), Gestalt Psychology (Illusory Contours, Multistability, Law of Proximity…) and Visual Perceptual Theory

As Simulacra & simulation address the idea of representation, from the real to the absence of basic reality to pure simulacrum. The shape and plane that looks unreal can later on be understood and represented as real will be one of the way I can research and analyse about the theory.

Semiotic, the study of meaning making also help me to understand signs and signs process, analogy, metaphor, symbolism and etc. Under the subsection of Semiotic for Beginner by Daniel Chandler, the High & Low Modality explains the features of content and features of medium in contrast and comparison way.

Other theories mentioned above will also be explored to help me build a more critical view of visual perception theory.

Feasibility Checklist

There are some of the technical consideration in the project development:

1.     Content Design

a.     Adobe After Effect skills

b.     3D Modelling skills

c.     UV Mapping

2.     Projector Quality (HD)

3.     Narrative Story (Local Story)

4.     Application of Project

5.     Space/ Location Availability

6.     Future Extension