03.02.2025 - 23.02.2025 (WEEK 1-3)
Koh Xin Yee / 0363349 / Bachelor of Interactive Spatial Design (Hons)
Lighting Interactive Design
Assignment 1
In this module, we are to come out with a 1-1.30 minutes projection mapping that will be presented at Galeri Filamen, Muzium Telekom as our final project. The theme we are given is "Pulse / Nadi". It is a quite and interesting concept to work with, I was thrilled and started with some brainstorming for rough ideas straight away after I got to know the theme.
Although through the project brief and the mindmap Mr Shakir has shared, I can see that the term pulse doesn't merely mean about the throbbing of the arteries. It contains much more life and weight in it. But the first idea that came to my mind was actually pretty straight forward-about life and death, as I thought that this is the concept that brings the most impact to me. I thought of a visual of a hospital sick bed on the ground, surrounded with 3 walls of patterns of the rhythm of pulse, that changes and alters through time. Using environment sound and abstract visuals to hint the story direction, while the patterns and colours will evolve around, when the patient is fighting through life and death. And the ending will be a final flatline beep, followed with long silence. This is the first imagery in my head when I heard of this theme.
The idea of death is a heavy topic to me, that no one should look down onto. I wanted people to learn to cherish life and even after death, understand the meaning of death, and hence, never ever disregard for life.
We quickly formed a group consisting 4 group members, and started with the brainstorming and ideation. Our group members are:
Adelynn Yap
Raymond Chin
Koh Xin Yee (Me)
Siew Yu Hong
Sample of Mindmap for the Theme "Pulse"
We created a Pinterest board for us to collect ideas and inspo, and to make sure the art style is cohesive.
Pinterest board: https://pin.it/16pa7EXUQ
During that week, we also had a field trip visit to Muzium Telekom to better understand our canvas. Pretty happy to be there in person, and we also get to see some of the artworks by other artists.
The art of creating mapping content:
Understand your canvas - building? Sculptures? Logos?
Understand your scale - if its in big scale - motion should be slower - try work on your transitions
Deformation - Original state deform into different things - which only mapped animation can do
Lights and shadows - Play of shadows and lights are important to give that illusion of things
What makes a good mapping canvas?
White & light colour canvas - colour consistency
Complex features with minimum depth - allows you to play and do a lot of deformations
Clear path from projector to canvas
A place for audience to gather and enjoy the show
Tools for creating content: do not limit yourselves by the use of tools, a content can be created by seamlessly intergrating multiple tools and softwares.
Storyboarding & Styleframe - AI, Ps
2D & 3D Animation - Ae, Cinema 4D
Final Compositing - Pr, Au, Final Cut
Projecting content - Resolume Arena
Before the discussion and consultation, each of us mapped out our rough ideas on our first mindmap. After some discussions among the group, we decided to combine the idea of life and death with the concept of whale fall. Which means, in the original idea I wanted the ending to be a flatline, but by intergrating the idea of whale fall, there will be life reemerging after a person's passing.
Draft Mindmap
After proposing our idea to Mr. Zeon, we received agreement from him about combining the two concepts. We were then requested to do more research regarding:
the concept and process of whale fall
the connection between whale fall and human life
the broader exploration of human mortality
We were also to do some case studies about the concepts we have chosen, either exhibitions or movies that conveys the idea of life and death, or have a big theme revolving around underwater world.
Our group did researches regarding whales, the process of whale fall, their communication methods, etc. We also did two case studies regarding the theme we are trying to convey.
Case Study 1: Coco - Disney Pixar Movie
Case Study 2: The Wonderful Whales 鲸奇物语 - Immersive Light and Shadow Art Exhibition
In the movie Coco we studied about the dual narrative technique, the plot and storyline, and the use of music and visual as storytelling tools. For the art exhibition "The Wonderful Whales", it was an exhibition fully about the life of whales, which brings great impact to us with each of the installations, use of lighting and the immersive experiences it brings.
Refined Mindmap
While my team members focused on the case studies and research, I begin to refine our draft mindmap into a cohesive and detialed one, with two main branches extending from the main theme, and spread into sub-branches and sub-sub-branches, while having connection between them. Besides that, I started brainstorming about how should be convey the story, or what values we would like to bring out from this project.
I found the concept of the whale fall really touching and breathtaking, as it tells us a story that mother nature coveys to us humans - people never really die when they stop breathing. It's the value that we bring to those around us, and the legacy that is ever lasting - that allows us to live on.
I really love the quote about "一鲸落,万物生"
This is also the lesson which "Coco" brought to us.
'There are three deaths. The first is when the body ceases to function. The second is when the body is consigned to the grave. The third is that moment, sometime in the future, when your name is spoken for the last time. '
Draft and Final Mindmap
Assignment 1 Presentation Slides
This project has enhanced my appreciation for the collaborative nature of interactive design. I learned the importance of flexibility in creative endeavors and the value of merging different viewpoints to enrich a concept. Additionally, engaging with a theme as profound as "Pulse" deepened my understanding of how design can evoke emotional responses and provoke thought.
The journey from concept to proposal in this assignment has been both challenging and rewarding. It underscored the significance of teamwork, the necessity of thorough research, and the power of design in conveying complex themes. These lessons will undoubtedly inform my future projects and professional approach in the field of interactive spatial design.