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-WALK INTO LAKE MAC-
Sponsor
Lake Macquarie City Council
Map Mima
Timeline
Mar-May 2023
My Role
Researcher
UI/UX Designer
Animation Designer
Tools Used
Figma
Photoshop
Procreate
After Effects
Arena
P5.js
Team Mates
Qiuli Wang(Chelsea)
Wei Tang
Zixuan Zhang
Zhiyuan Zhang
Design Brief
Our design brief focuses on promoting a connection with nature and raising awareness about biodiversity in Lake Mac. The centerpiece of our concept is The Cube, which transforms a 360-degree projection into a dynamic canvas, showcasing the vibrant colors of Lake Mac's natural environment day and night. By incorporating both daytime and nighttime birds into the interactive experience, we aim to create an engaging and visually captivating environment.
Additionally, our project aims to foster community engagement and unity among residents of Lake Mac. We have designed The Cube to be visually appealing and child-friendly, catering to the majority of visitors who are families with children. Inspired by the popular "connect the dots" game, we have introduced interactive elements that allow users of all ages to actively participate and immerse themselves in the experience.
Research
Site Research - Map Mima Cube
The newly opened cultural venue, MAP mima which is located in Lake Macquarie, Australia. This venue has been designed to showcase captivating displays of visual, digital, and interactive art also to offer visitors a fully immersive and captivating experience of contemporary art and culture., Additionally, the building is surrounded by a variety of permanent public art installations, adding to the overall artistic ambiance of the venue. (Lake Macquarie Arts, 2023) Its distinctive naming, MAP and mima is a combination of English words and an Awabakal word, it has reflected the central aim of facilitating a meaningful convergence of traditional and contemporary cultural expressions.
Cube - Immersive Projection
MAP Mima has several noteworthy features, including its special central gallery, The Cube, which serves as an exhibition space for large-scale multimedia experiences. The facility offers various innovative features for an immersive experience. The Cube is a projection space that surrounds viewers with a 360-degree visual display. Mima often invites or holds immersive interactive exhibitions inside the cube.
Audience Research
Sounds Map
User Needs
Our user research primarily relies on interviews, online ethnography, and sound mapping. During our research, we conducted interviews with both local residents and tourists in Lake Macquarie to understand their perceptions of the area and what attracts them to it.
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Playful
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Kid Friendly
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Related to Lake Mac
Clients Needs
Place Character
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Vibrant
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Peaceful
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Relax
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Serene
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Kids-Friendly
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Family Vibe
Place Usability
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Place to hang out
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For kids to play
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Place to exercise
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Paradstrain path
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Place to rest
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Place for hold party
Community Values
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Unique Landscape
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Rich biological species
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Creativities
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Balance between environment and development of the place
Correspondence Diagram
To create a 'Lake Macquarie vibe', we selected a variety of plants and birds found in Lake Mac to captivate our visitors. Our illustrations were specifically designed to be kid-friendly, accompanied by engaging animations. Because most visitors are family, and we wish to engage kids.
Australian Shoveler
Wild Flannel Flowers
Mangrove Plant
Turkey
Pinkrobin
Prototype
Mobile Devices Interface
Start
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Select Canva
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01
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Click 'Start' button to begin.
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We divided Lake Macquarie into two parts, day and night.
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Users can choose to enter the day or night canvas
Start Game
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Connecting Dots
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Finished Dots
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Go inside the night canvas, there is a sea gull that will indicate users to start the dots game.
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Users can continue to finish the dot-connecting and finish it.
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When users complete the connection, there will be a silhouette basic on their job.
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Click the silhouette, and users will get a badge.
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Also, Tap the badge, it will be collected into badge collection wall.
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Click your badge, users can gain information about this specie of birds in Lake Mac.
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Gain The Badges
Badges Collection
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Information Page
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Cube Screen Interface
Passive Mode
When no one is interacting with the screen, the floating dots will randomly float on the screen, and the plants and leaves on the screen will naturally shake. Moreover, the 360-degree surround projection provides users present with an immersive experience close to nature.
Individual Interaction
When only one person participates in the interaction, the user completes the dot-connecting game through the mobile devices, and a bird corresponding to the mobile screen will appear on the Cube's screen. The bird will move freely within the screen and make a unique birdsong.
Multiple User Interaction
When multiple users engage with The Cube, they generate different birds through a connect the dots game on a phone app, gradually filling the canvas. These birds move freely, creating birdsong that intensifies over time, immersing the user in a forest-like experience with Lake Macquarie. The interaction is limited to a maximum of ten users simultaneously.
Concept Pitch Video
Reflection
The group work for the urban interactive project is a valuable learning experience. According to the initial research, through field trips, we gained worthy insights into the preferences and interests of our target audience. We recognized the importance of human-centered design through the design process. Although we experienced challenges, such as limited time and technical difficulties, we still complete our assignments on time. We admit the areas where improvements are necessary, such as coding skills and time management. Even so, we are optimistic that with continued efforts and the implementation of the recommendations, our project will provide a more enriching experience for users in the future. Overall, this design process has not only fulfilled our understanding of urban interaction design and user experience principles but also highlighted the importance of incorporating user feedback, and research to create meaningful and impactful experiences in urban environments.
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