This Project is on behalf of Cross media Experiment 5. A course of the Cross media development minor at AP University. During the first trimester we’ll be creating an application, not a website, that will focus on some of Antwerp’s most famous citizens and the connection between them. May it be places, time and history or their accomplishments in art, literature or politics.
To realize this project, we’ll be using a screen bigger than a smartphone and only controlled by touch. We’ll integrate visuals such as words and illustrations but also sound. Combining these elements with each other, timing this perfectly to create an immersive interaction for the user. Whilst educating them, so these Antwerp Giants as we will call them, won’t be forgotten.
The new immersive interaction at the MAS, will be unique.
A great projection on a wall using the same technology as was used by Büro Achter April. The Responsive mural technology uses motion design and live action filming. You can find it in the research part of the assignment.
To make it a bit more easy to handle, the projection will be 1,50 meters high and 2,60m wide. I found this was the optimal size during the mid-fidelity prototype. And it will be 80 centimeters above the ground. This way the center of the projection will be at the average eye height of an average person. The projection will display the skyline of Antwerp, not a realistic representation necessarily. Something more appealing to look at. In which the user can navigate, by pushing aside the buildings and revealing other places and scenario’s. Like the set of “Twee keer twee ogen” in front of the central station of Antwerp. Once revealed the animation will begin and some street noise and voices will be heard. The user can than tap on a character, like Robbe De Hert, and his information card will pop up on a screen next to the projection. Once selected the skyline will move on its own, revealing more scenario’s in which other Giants, who are connected to the selected Giant, will appear. The user can than read and/or view the information/video about the selected Giant or choose to go to anther scene.
With this immersive interactive experience, my hope is that the great Antwerp Giants of older generationswill be better remembered by younger generations. At the beginning of this project I asked my brother about Fred Bervoets and Wilfried Pas. Even showed him a picture. He said he recognized them but couldn’t put a name to their faces. He is 26 years old and studied product design. A fellow designer should know better I thought. That is why I created this Interactive skyline.
But I soon learned that it would not be an easy task. There were so many things I had to research and discover. So many things to design and test out before taking the next steps. To be completely honest I often found myself thinking, "this won’t come to a good end". I also thought, at first, that the usability tests were a waste of time. I thought it would be better to just start with the illustrations and we would see how things would turn out. But
when I made the first prototype, the cardboard miniature, I saw some of the more obvious things that needed to be changed. Like the width of the screen or projection. I was glad that I saw those things in an earlier stage of the project. Plus, the cardboard prototype gave me a better feeling with the project. I looked at it every day before continuing with the project. Later I even made a second prototype outside. I don’t think I’ve ever put so much work into the testing of an idea or concept. Those usability test got the ball rolling and gave me a sense of engagement, wich ofcourse benefited the project.
The research part of it all started out as quite a nuisance. But every time I learned a new connection between some of the giants or found something to help visualise my concept, it made me more exciting about the whole project.
I think the most important lesson was the time management of it all. Always keep in mind that things take longer than you think. And sometimes you just have an off day. No worries, if you calculate it in the schedule. Which in the end I did. During the last semester I worked part time at an accelerator where they work with Webflow. That knowledge came in quite handy when creating and updating this blog.
In the end I can honestly say that I brought the project to a good final result and had a great time putting it all together. Especially the illustrations.
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