Role: Product Owner | Team size: 3+
Current pandemic prevention measurements keep people from leaving their homes. Thus, this project aims to create an experience that helps people access another place without traveling. With the desire to produce a user-centered design, this will be a practice-based project combined with interviews and prototype tests to ensure every decision made is for the user. I start by getting to know people's situations during the lockdown and find their needs through the interview and prototype test with six people. As a result, a multi-sensory book is preferred by the majority of participants by the ease of use and the possibility to integrate with multi-sensory. After having insights from participants, I continue to do more idea-generating to improve product enjoyment. I find that compared to an ordinary book, having pop-ups can bring amazement to reader. I was also introduced to augmented reality, an interactive experience that combines the real world with computer-generated elements that can allow users with more freedom to explore. The combination of traditional and modern media, I believe, can open various opportunities in design development. As one of the Vietnamese proverbs, "Adversity is the mother of wisdom," facing difficulties in life will make us wiser. Adapted to the state of being lockdown, the project aims to help people access the places they want to go without leaving home through multi-sensory pop-up AR books.
After having the idea, I started looking for ways to perform every element in this project.
POPUP
With the purpose to make the book fills with surprise when reading, the popup, in general, will be made with just enough complexity, ensuring it can be used together with AR.
AUGMENTED REALITY
I choose to perform augmented reality effects through Spark AR software. Hence, Spark AR focuses more on creating social media effects, so I need to spend more time to experience the software to match what I need.
SOUND
Sound can include in a physical form, but since the project consists of AR, it is a more simple and effective way to have sound as an AR effect.
SMELL
The smell is added to the installation using absorbent paper with a plastic cover to protect the smell.
TOUCH
The idea for touch inspires by embossed printing, and it will be manually made using linoleum printing.
I generate an online interview to ask people's preferences about the destination they want to visit in this lockdown situation. In addition to that is to know their thinking on the integrating of different forms of media.
PART 1 - There are three topics: reality, time, space. Participants will read the three mockups through the links sent.
PART 2 - After going through the three books, they will be asked about their preference, and ideas on improving the visiting experience.
RESULT
As a result, participants think it is a unique idea to combine the three forms of media.
Besides, people think that having this book, they can visit anywhere at any time, because of that, the lockdown situation is just minorly affecting their choice of destination.
One popular feedback from participants is that guides and tutorials are mandatory and should be introduced at the very beginning when people enter the experience.
Given three options for the experience, watching the sunrise in My Khe beach is the most chosen experience.
Having everything planned out, I decided to make it more achievable by adjusting the scope of the project. Specifically, the outcome will be a big installation with six small sections on the edge of the experience for multisensory, popup, and AR.
Touch section for My Khe beach scene
Popup and AR section for My Khe beach scene
Smell section for ship scene
MOTION
For the My Khe beach scene, I create a view of the waves approaches the coast with seagulls flying from afar. This scene adds up to the popup of a person sitting on the traditional bamboo boat of Vietnam.
The setting that I created for the ship scene is when the fishermen's ship arrives at their working place. The person sits while watching everyone and every creature begins their energetic morning.
SOUND
EFFECT
The My Khe beach effect
The ship effect
The sand effect
For the mountain popup located in the center of the installation, I want it to be seen in a 360-degree round. I choose the 3D slice-form technique to create this model. It is also made asymmetrical so that it can appear more natural.
I use different types of folds to address other models. The parallel fold is also used for the bamboo popup. As for the tree, I choose the 45-degree fold.
For the ship model, I choose the box fold, which is a popup folding type created by having two parallel folds. The parallel fold has some flat area, so I can choose a small area on the popup to be the target tracker.
For smell, I decided to focus on creating a smell protection cover that can keep the scent instead of creating the fragrance for the installation. Due to the change in the scope of my project, this part also has to be adjusted. I come up with a design that contains two pieces with a top piece that can be torn. Thus, that users can open a little bit at a time to minimize vaporization.
MY KHE BEACH SMELL SECTION
The salt and mint smell of the My Khe beach scene
SHIP SMELL SECTION
The coffee smell of the ship scene
For the touch, I have to go a bit off plan to match what I need.
MY KHE BEACH TOUCH SECTION
The wave texture is made by linoleum printing. At first, the piece is hard to carve because of many small details. I solve the problem by carve the outline of the detail first, therefore it is easier to carve the unnecessary part out.
SHIP TOUCH SECTION
For the sand texture, I also try doing linoleum printing but it is not so effective. Because of that, I make this texture using hot glue gun. But, this way of doing creates many cobwebs. I solve this problem by cutting off every single cobweb during the process of making the dots of sand.
Finished with the installation and the video, I interviewed 5 five people I did an online interview with five participants from the age of 20 to 55 years old, to know people's opinions on the experience.
PART 1 - Participants will be introduced to the installation through video.
PART 2 - After that, I will walk them through the digital prototype of this installation, which mainly focuses on the content and the AR parts of the experience.
PART 3 - Getting to know the installation, they will be asked questions about the visiting experience.
RESULT
As a result, participants responded that it is a fun experience to try, but they would know better about the experience if they have the chance to try it in real life.
Asking if this experience is interesting for their age group, participants give different opinions on this matter. To conclude, it bases on their lifestyle and interest.
Other than that, participants think they will be more immersed in the environment if the visual style looks more realistic.
Another comment from some participants is that the installation will be a great learning and experience tool for children, as they imagine if their child or sibling tries this installation.
When a project almost comes to an end, I look back to see if there is something that can be improved in the future. To improve the project, I would say is to experience more about different aspects of this idea to find more potential.
First, the design can be improved by experimenting with other visual styles that look more realistic, for example, digital painting. Having a more realistic design, users can better immerse themselves into the environment of the installation.
For the AR, the effect can be improved by trying 3D elements to replace the current motion graphic. This change can bring more excitement to the user.
Besides, since I don’t have much option for printing due to the lockdown situation, I believe that the printing can get better by doing more experimenting with different type of paper.
PopAway is a visiting experience installation through multisensory, popup, and augmented reality. But in terms of meaning, this project is about the breaking of boundaries. It is break boundary in the forms of media when combing publication and AR. It also breaks the concept of space by letting users visiting any destination remotely. Other than that, this project allows me to break my boundary by stepping out of my comfort zone to experience something different and unique. I also want to give a special thank my supervisor who gives me helpful pieces of advice throughout the process of this project.