This project will be presented at the San Diego Design Week 2024.
Objective:
The Emerging Technology Studio (ETS) is currently working with Dr. Peter Chan to build an interactive Augmented Reality (AR) experience to add to the installation of visual narratives "Conversations with Trees" created by Visual Communication Design students (Class of 2022 and Class of 2026).
Design Team:
Installation concept and design: Peter Kwok Chan, associate professor, Department of Design, The Ohio State University
Interactive workshops: Uday Dandavate, co-founder and CEO, SonicRim
AR experience: Mila Gajić, VR Lab Manager/Developer, Emerging Technology Studio, The Ohio State University
Contributors:
Student Teams: Visual Communication Design (VCD) students from the VCD Class of 2022 and VCD Class of 2026
Design Installation Team: Peter Kwok Chan, Noor Murteza, Taylor Olsen, Mark Celestina
Sponsor Organizations: Chadwick Arboretum & Learning Gardens at The Ohio State University, Sustainability Institute at Ohio
State, Department of Design at The Ohio State University
Project Timeline:
June 2024 - Present
Project Overview:
This event draws inspiration from two initiatives: "Conversation with Trees" facilitated by professor Peter Chan from The Ohio State University, and "Being & Belonging: A Book About Generative Capacity" by Dandavate from SonicRim. The ongoing project consists of three main components:
INSTALLATION: "Conversation with Trees”—Design students selected trees at the Oval (renowned campus green-space) to study their forms and environmental significance. They created “A Biophilic Dialogue Between Nature and Design”, capturing emotional, social, political, and ecological aspects of their chosen trees, presented in 14-page accordion books. These books were exhibited during the 2024 Arbor Day Celebration on campus, promoting environmental responsibility and appreciation.
INTERACTION: Viewers will be able access an Augmented Reality experience to interact with the Oval. Digital leaves will float around viewers, enhancing the essence of “place” and fostering inclusivity and connections.
WORKSHOP: Aims to generate thought-provoking insights and inspire community conversations, engaging people in discussions about nature's principles of harmony and coexistence, promoting belonging and interconnectedness.
Beside their sophomore design studio at Hayes Hall, near The Ohio State University’s renowned green expanse, the Oval, Visual Communication Design students found inspiration. Integrated into their photographic design project’s research process, guest lecturers from various disciplines enriched their understanding of the Oval's diverse trees, revealing origins and characteristics. Students selected individual trees to study, examining their forms and environmental significance. Each student crafted visual narratives capturing the emotional, social, political, and ecological dimensions of their chosen tree, presented in 14-page accordion books. These books were exhibited during the 2024 Arbor Day Celebration, organized by the Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Garden at Ohio State, promoting environmental responsibility and appreciation. Each book narrates a distinct tale inspired by a dialogue with nature, well-being, and design.
Augmented Reality (AR) Experience Planning:
In addition to the "Conversations with Trees" installation containing the students' visual narratives on accordion books, visitors will have access to an Augmented Reality (AR) experience that will enable users to directly interact with objects related to the installation themes. In this AR experience, users will use the Meta Quest 3 headset in which they will still see the installation and the people around them. However, their physical surroundings will also be populated with digital content - floating tree leaves. All digital leaves will be from the trees located around the Oval, which will bring a fragment of the Oval to audiences who have not been to Ohio State campus, and it will also further situate the installation into the place of inspiration even when it’s presented in different cities or states.
The digital leaves will float in the space surrounding the user, and they will be positioned at varying heights in order to increase accessibility of the experience. Users can reach and grab the individual leaves, and they can release them in the space around them, setting in motion other leaves as they collide with one another. This interactive component aims to enhance the existing installation concept by bringing the location (The Oval) that inspired this project closer to the audience (“belonging”).
AR Work in Progress:
While developing the Augmented Reality (AR) experience, the design team expanded the original concept to enable users to see each of the trees that are located in the Oval. In addition to the leaves floating around them, users see a virtual map of the Oval trees. Once the user steps within the designated responsive area, they can see number labels and names of each tree displayed, and they can use these numbers to match each tree to its corresponding leaf. Both the digital leaves and the Oval trees on the map are interactive, allowing users to pick them up and make them bigger for better visualization.
Workshop Description:
Being & Belonging: Exploring Identity, Memories, and Community Connections Through the Wisdom of Trees
HYPOTHESIS: Elements of nature offer abundant inspiration for humans to learn about purposeful and sustainable ways of living. By expanding our consciousness and curiosity, we can become responsible citizens of the Earth.
As designers, we must discover new ways of participating in community dialogues that address the need for responsible human behavior in the age of disruptive technologies.
SCOPE OF THE EVENT: Drawing upon the insights gained from the "Conversations with Trees" project and the foundational ideas presented in the book "Being and Belonging: A Book About Generative Capacity" this hands-on dialogue will engage participants in revisiting their deep-rooted connection to nature. We will explore the profound life lessons that trees, as teachers, can offer us through reflection and interaction.
EXPECTED OUTCOME: We aspire for this workshop to generate thought-provoking insights that will inspire continued conversations within communities. The goal of the workshop is to engage everyday people in discussions about adopting nature's principles of harmony and coexistence, ultimately leading to a more balanced and interconnected way of life. Additionally, we hope that workshop participants will utilize the format of this event as a blueprint for facilitating ongoing dialogues with fellow community members, fostering a ripple effect of engagement and awareness.