Bringing an exhibition poster to life through augmented reality.
We were tasked with creating an AR interaction for a display case poster in the CMU School of Design building. Sophie and I chose a poster featuring projects from an exhibition last fall where students created Eames House of Cards that explored the relationship between AI and a topic of their choice.
Ultimately we created a mixed realities experience that allows visitors to explore, learn, and engage with student projects while establishing a personal connection with the designers and projects.
Augmented Reality, Meta Quest, User Interaction
Time: November 2024, 3 weeks
Team: Sophie Hao
Tools: Bezi, After Effects
Insights
1. Visitors weren’t encouraged to touch or construct structures as intended
2. It was hard to read the information on the cards when they were already constructed into the models.
3. There was a lack of connection between the student designers and the visitors due to the hectic show environment.
How can we create an experience that…
1. Lets you interact with cards 10 years past the original exhibition
2. Showcases student projects while creating a delightful memory for the visitor
3. Informs and prompts the audience to explore the visual design and content of the project
Encourage anyone affiliated with the School of Design (parents, current students, prospective students, etc) to dive into a project, connect with past students, interact with the cards, and become immersed in an exhibition environment.
Visitor Journey Map
Interaction Touchpoints
1. Pick up the card
2. Select a student project
3. Construct the model in “Build Mode”
4. Read the cards flat in “Collapse Mode”
5. Take a souvenir with you as you exit the experience.
Reflection
I’m really proud of how this project turned out, and my workflow with my partner throughout the process. I was inititally intimidated by learning new software but once I started prototyping interactions it became so much easier. This was a good reminder that the design process is the same whether I’m designing a poster, brand or AR experience, making me more confident and prepared for future projects of varying mediums.
It was also really exciting to be able to prototype our designs in the Meta Quest headsets and experience these interactions in real life. I’m looking forward to applying AR to future projects!