Project Type
Core Contributions
Project Length
Every person has his/her own story, so does every city. The architecture, landmarks, functional zones and community space of a city embody and enrich its history, collective memory, and the passage of time. Similar to humans, the elements that are familiar to one person may be unknown to another, and aspects of the cityscape once present may no longer be visible, fading from the knowledge of younger generations.
As the lake Macquarie Awaba region has begun initiatives to deepen public understanding of the area’s historical and cultural significance, in alignment with this action, the Experience Design “Make Your Mark” builds on these efforts by inviting both local residents and visitors to connect more deeply with their surroundings and consider how their presence and actions contribute to the area's ongoing story. This project offers a fresh perspective on Lake Macquarie Awaba, encourages locals and visitors to explore its past, engage with its present, and envision its future.
Experience Design
Interactive Display
Make Your Mark
3 Months
Mar. 2024 - Jun. 2024
Background Research
User Research
Storyboards
Low-fidelity Prototypes
User Testing
High-fidelity Prototypes
3d Modelling and Video Making
“A design that invites participants to consider their relationship to place, and the marks they leave behind”
The goals of “Make Your Mark” could be specified into 3 aspects: first, to enhance public awareness of Lake Macquarie Awaba’s cultural and historical significance. Second, to encourage mindful interactions with the city, foster a sense of personal connection and responsibility. Last but not least, to highlight MAP mima’s role as a cultural venue that unites traditional and contemporary cultural expressions.
“Make Your Mark” delivers an interactive visual experience on touch screens, allowing participants to explore the region's heritage and future. Through passive, single, and multi-interaction modes, visitors can individually or collaboratively uncover and shape Lake Macquarie’s history and identity, promoting cultural exchange and showcasing the area as a place where history and new narratives coexist.
Project Goals
Project Deliverables
Design Outcome: Modes and Interactions
Passive Mode
Single-interaction Mode
Multi-interaction Mode
Archival and current photographic images, stylized with graphic elements, are projected onto the walls of The Cube with a soundtrack that activates when participants enter.
Subtle animations enhance the wall images, looping in 15-minute vignettes of blended past and present-day photos.
Motion sensors track participants, fading in the soundtrack upon entry and tracing their movement on the floor.
As more participants touch the wall, larger areas of photos are revealed, with pop-ups showing information such as construction dates, building histories and cultural impact.
When multiple participants move in the space, each person's footsteps are traced in a unique, glowing color, creating a dynamic, tapestry-like map of intersecting paths across the gallery floor.
Interacting with the website - After each day’s exhibition, participants can visit MAP mima’s website to view, share, or save the marks as a beautiful and memorable record of collective experiences.
Motion sensors trigger a soundtrack fade-in upon participants entering The Cube, and track their movement with a line tracing their path across the floor.
Touching interactive points on the wall reveals either historical or present-day images beneath, allowing toggling between the two with pop-ups displaying location info and photo year.
As images are revealed, audio transitions from mixed natural and manmade sounds to either ambient nature sounds or current street sounds, enhance the immersive experience, highlights different time periods.
Design Process: Frameworks and Techniques
Visitor demographics and preferences
Children were attracted to more colourful installations however may be more intimated to explore more challenging installations. However, the elderly population were more explorative. This informs the need for diverse user experiences and features to ensure all visitors feel included.
Transformation of Lake Macquarie
From being perceived as unpleasant and polluted in the past to a source of admiration and enjoyment, the lake reflects the positive impact of environmental initiatives and community efforts. Recognising and including elements that showcase the lake will further enrich the cultural experiences and connections to the natural environment.
Conducted on-site research to observe MAP mima’s surrounding environment, visitor interactions, and functional areas (both interior and exterior).
Held an informal interview with staff to gather insights on visitor behavior, event types, and local perspectives.
Completed academic research to deepen understanding of the site’s historical evolution and contextual significance.
Research & Discovery
Phase 01
Phase 02
Conducted a team design sprint in the early ideation phase, resulting in four initial concepts.
Evaluated and selected concepts based on self-made criteria: experiential boldness, conceptual stimulation, interactivity, and relevance to the site and community; and Moscow Analysis: must have, should have, could have and will not have.
Created storyboards to outline each interaction step and clarify user engagement throughout the experience.
Ideation & Conceptualization
Developed a 3D model of MAP Mima's interior using Rhinoceros to set up the projection environment.
Incorporated illuminated screens and subtle overhead lighting in the model to replicate the indoor ambiance and enhance immersion.
Created a series of blended images depicting the same locations in both historical and contemporary contexts.
Prototyping
Phase 03
Phase 04
Conducted usability testing using a low-fidelity prototype of the 3d model and blended images.
Encouraged participants to utilize the think-aloud protocol to express their thoughts and feelings during the testing process.
Evaluated the clarity and usability of the prototype based on user feedback.
User Testing & Iteration
Key insights from test comments/notes summary
Not all the users successfully discovered the interaction point; one said that they had “no idea” where it was.
Some users commented that they expected or wanted to be able to interact with other parts of the visuals on the wall aside from the single interaction point marked on the prototype (on the horse in the blended image).
Some users said that they would like to know about the history and/or location of the blended image (a mix of the ‘old’ and ‘new’ images of the same location).
Some users commented that they did not realise that the blended image was a combination of two images.
Key insights from Google Form feedback
4 out of 5 respondents agreed that most people would understand the concept for the design, but only 3 out of the 5 respondents felt that the concept for the interactive design was easy to understand.
4 out of 5 respondents agreed that it was easy for them to figure out how to interact with the prototype, but only 3 out of 5 agreed thought that most people would figure out this interaction “fairly quickly”, and understood where on the wall they were able to interact with the prototype.
3 out of 5 respondents agreed with the statement that the prototype was easy to use, but 2 of the 5 neither agreed nor disagreed.
Key Insights from User Research and Interviews
Key Insights from User Testing
Reflection: Developed or Strengthened Skills
General Reflection on the Project
Finalized the visualization by creating two videos using Lumion and Adobe After Effects.
The first video showcases MAP Mima's interior environment, featuring camera movements that track human activity and floor projections.
The second video simulates the screen display in three different modes to demonstrate functionality.
Final Design & Presentation
Phase 05
User Testing skills
Communication & Collaboration
Concept visualization
The “Make Your Mark” project has been instrumental in enhancing my understanding of human-centered design, improving visualization skills, and fostering effective teamwork. However, this journey was not without its challenges.
With the goal to inspire community pride, foster connectivity, and increase joy among individuals while strengthening the bond between people and their environment, we took various steps to deepen our understanding of the site, ultimately aiming to deliver a more compelling and impactful result for our client. This objective underscored the importance of connecting a “virtual” project with “real” participants. Through on-site explorations, direct conversations with staff and visitors, and thorough research into the area’s historical significance, we gained valuable insights into both the client’s requirements and the potential needs of the participants. This allowed us to craft designs that resonate more deeply with the site and engage our audience meaningfully.
As we progressed through the semester, we learned the importance of timely communication and collaboration. Our decision to hold organized meetings with designated topics and timeframes was proved to be beneficial not only for this project but for future collaborations. While our teamwork generally improved, the need for ongoing refinement in our communication methods should also be met to ensure all members contribute effectively. Our collaborative efforts allowed for idea generation and design iteration, yet my limited participation in external communications, such as interviews with staff and visitors, revealed a gap that I need to address in future projects.
My background in architecture allowed me to bring valuable skills to the "Make Your Mark" project, particularly in 3D modeling and visual effects. However, I recognized shortcomings in my involvement in user testing and the final proposal's written work. To overcome these issues, I aim to engage more in external communications and take a more proactive role in organizing and coordinating efforts within the team. Moving forward, I will prioritize effective communication to gather user insights, which is essential for delivering designs that meet both client and user expectations.
In conclusion, the studio experience has equipped me with critical skills while showcasing areas for improvement in teamwork and individual contributions. By focusing on structured communication and collaboration, I’m hoping that future collaborations could be enhanced, and a more comprehensive understanding of client needs and user behaviors could be ensured.
Assisted in conducting comprehensive user testing; learned and practiced the advanced facilitation techniques to obtain more detailed and practical feedback.
Developed internal collaboration and coordination skills through weekly online and in-person meetings; strengthened external communication skills through multiple rounds of user interviews, research and testing.
Based on the requirements of the design concept and implementation methods, I developed multimedia visual presentation skills transitioning from still images to dynamic interactive videos.