Environments Mini F19: Project 1
a visit to the Children’s Museum (October 23rd)
I decided to visit the Children’s Museum as I have always wanted to see it after hearing great things about the place. When I visited, I realized there were a lot of innovative and fun activities/interactions within the museum, yet there was one artist in particular that had pieces of art that were beautiful yet subtle, you wouldn’t really take much time to observe his works if you just went inside the museum. Ned Kahn is an environmental artist that does a lot of outdoor installation pieces that interact with natural elements (wind, water, sand, light etc.) I thought this pop-up exhibition would be a good opportunity to give people a more in-depth perspective on how his works function by scaling up details that you would usually not see. By doing so, visitors will be able to gain a better appreciation for the natural world and how beauty can manifest itself within nature and man-made artifacts.
Meta-cognitive Regulation Reflection: (October 23rd)
Coming into the Environments mini, I am fully aware of my working strengths and weaknesses, so I hope to use this opportunity to schedule my intended work pace so that I can manage my time better. When it comes to reaching the final solution, it may take me a long time before I can make a final decision on the direction of the project. I sometimes struggle to make certain decisions so I hope to allocate equal amounts of time to both the ideation process and the final making process so I don’t feel too stressed out at the end.
developing a storyboard and mood board (October 25th)
A big part of Ned Kahn’s work is how he incorporates interactions that invite visitors to change or control certain elements and I didn’t want to alter anything of the interactions that he originally incorporated into his art. Thus, I really wanted to keep the interactive element of the pop-up gallery simple so it won’t be intrusive to the way Ned would want his audience to view and play with his art. In order to enhance the experience for each element, I decided to separate the rooms into three different parts to allow each element to be featured equally.
Hybrid Spaces Reflection:
Hybrid spaces are becoming increasingly prevalent nowadays as technology is used to enhance our experiences within these spaces. Exhibitions and Museums(historical, art, science) are prime examples of spaces that utilize interaction with technology in order to engage and teach visitors about the space. In the case of museums and exhibitions, the intent behind hybridization is to create a more memorable experience that leaves an impact on the visitor’s impression of whatever space is about.
Other than museums, dining spaces are also evolving in order to improve user experience. McDonald’s self-serving/ordering stations have been happening since 2010 and allows users to customize their own dining experience without the time pressure of standing in front of a cashier that takes your order.
Incorporating the Interactive Element (October 30th)
When I first started brainstorming about the interactive part of the exhibition, I really wanted some way to collect data of the visitor’s interaction with the three natural elements using an RFID sensor. However, the more I thought about it, the more complicated it got, and I ultimately decided that the sensorial experience is more important than recording data, as the data collected is ultimately kind of redundant. After receiving some feedback from Peter, we discussed how it would be interesting if the visitors can alter the physical outdoor environment that the original artwork (Encircled Cloud) was located in. Allowing visitors to view how all four seasons/time changes the environment within a single space is a unique way to observe how the artwork lives in a space that is constantly changing without having to actually be there.
little bits! (November 2nd)
A Schematic of the project:
gravity sketch!
I decided that some sort of scale/spectrum that people can step on (using a pressure sensor) can be programmed to display any four of the seasons depending on the location of where the visitors stand/step on. Using gravity sketch is a good way to visualize this interaction in particular as it requires visitors to move around in space.
I went through multiple iterations for this interaction in gravity sketch and decided on this one. I didn’t really enjoy working on the VR due to how unreliable and finicky it was and how I couldn’t save several of the iterations I made ( I took pictures but I don’t know where they went!). I actually also lost this final version (the one in the video) for no reason after saving and logging out so the file I currently have saved is my very first version. However, I would say it was a great tool to actually visualize the interactions in three-dimension as it helped me think through the process as someone who would approach the art piece within it’s given space.
Designer role reflection: How is the role of an architect and an environment designer different?
Both environments designers and architects have to deal with spatial thinking within their profession. For architects, the design of space is usually strictly confined to the physicality of the built environment and adheres to many technical rules that limit the artistry that an architect can implement in their designs. For environment’s designers, their role is more focused on the experience that a visitor will receive when they go through space, and that experience can be enhanced through the realms of digital realities and hybrid environments. For example, in relation to a restaurant, an architect might be involved in the floor plan of the space, whereas an environments designer might think more about how to optimize the eating experience through various automated machines, sensors etc. within the space.
starting the physical model
Key features:
- 3 art pieces will be featured in the three spaces that is divided equally.
- There is no predefined walking direction for visitors to go through the space.
Problems:
- There is no space for the desk attendant and since there is no order/path for visitors to follow, certain areas might be very congested at times.
finalizing the layout
Parti Diagram of how visitors would walk through space.
I decided to situate the Articulated Cloud in the center as it acts as a buffer/relaxation space between the other two artworks that require more physical engagement from the visitors.
Also slightly changed the layout by dividing the center hallway into its own room as this will allow space for the desk attendant and it also gives a sense of direction for visitors to follow.
digitizing the space
Sketchup / Elevations
Final physical model
Self-Reflection Meta-cognitive Experience:
What motivates me:
I get motivated if I see myself making progress in solving a challenge or problem. I realized that if I didn’t really have a clear sense of what I was doing or how I wanted to execute an idea, it is really hard for me to stay motivated when I do a project. For this project, in particular, I’ll admit it was kind of hard to stay motivated because I had a hard time choosing my interactions, and even though I brainstormed a lot, I still ended up scrapping most of the ideas that I had because of a time crunch. This is why I am still working on how to deal with ambiguity in a positive way, especially in the midst of doing a long-term project. I would say that I get most excited when I see myself designing something that would impact someone else’s life in a positive way, as I am very conscientious of how the people around me feel and think.
What distracts me:
One of the biggest things I struggle with is that since I am a slow worker (still working on that), I feel a lot of pressure seeing everyone else’s works ahead of mine which stresses me out. However, I don’t think this distraction is all that bad because it can sort of act as a motivator for me to work and make decisions at a faster pace so that I don’t fall behind.
What engages me:
I am engaged when I am inspired and that usually comes from talking to people or using existing works as references. I would say I am more of an empathetic designer over a stylistic designer, so it is definitely easier for me to be engaged in a project when there are constraints and stakes involved set by other people. I enjoy having the challenge of designing within constraints and boundaries, as it gives me a problem space to focus on whereas I tend to get a bit lost when I am given unlimited freedom/creativity to explore different things.