Environments Design Studio

My Environments Design Studio 4 course focuses on "investigating, understanding, and materializing invisible and intangible phenomena and relationships, such as social interaction, infrastructure, and systems, through new forms of probe, display, and interface."

Skills
Video narrative + Cross-cultural collaboration + Observational research + Video concept development + Script writing + Design research + After effects + Illustrator + Photoshop

Project Links

Project 1: Materializing the Invisible

(Concept video from Project 1 below).

Project 2: Environments Exchange- Karachi

Environments track (Ji Tae, Jasper, Chris, and Gilly) sharing concepts with four students from the University of Karachi Graphic Design program.

Project 3: Affordances Workshop

In this two-week long study, guided by PhD candidate Frances Carter and Professor Dan Lockton, we discuss the affordances or functional qualities of objects we encounter on a daily basis. Throughout the workshop, we asked ourselves questions like: Is the current function different than the intended function? Does the object enable the behavior or is it a hinderance? How does the object fit into the greater environment?

Lecture with Francis Carter on affordances

Reading affordance journals, notebooks, and studies by designers, anthropologists, urban planners, etc.

The 'Walkshop'

We explored different spaces, corners, ditches, and rooms across campus. The conversations we had on our walk were not just about what we looked at and how it was used; we started analyzing the people, how it's deteriorated or changed over time, and how it helps or hinders particular interactions to take place.

The 'Walkshop' cont.

My Affordances Journal

After studying the affordance journals and notes of others, we were tasked with observing objects and spaces on our own and analyzing them from a function, usage, and form perspective. I looked at everyday objects like water bottles, desks, chairs, and windows to see how I was using them, how others might be using them, and if the intended use was the same as the actual use. I also considered the various sensory responses that I have to each object or space.

Project 4: Intelligent Environments- What would SAM say?

picking up queues and learned over time through asking questions, thus creating awkward moments for people using or engaging with it.

The intelligent environments project explores various issues with AI, its development, and the possibilities of where it could go next. I collaborated with another student in the Environments track, Jasper Tom, and together we conceived of an "intelligent friend" to guide one through social situations. The goal of the project is to simulate what an intelligent environment, or intelligent technology embedded within an environment, might feel like. In our piece, we speculated what AI would be like if it was not socially adept to

A speculative piece on Artificial Intelligence and the environments in which they operate in.

SAM- The Intelligent Friend

Scriptwriting + Personas

Prototyping + Drawing

Researching Siri Conversational UI