Summary

Pixel Dreams was an interactive installation to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Centre for Digital Media in Vancouver, BC - the first shovel in the ground for a larger infrastructure project, Great Northern Way.

Our installation invited visitors into interactive, projection-mapped cubes to interact with scenes evoking childlike wonder at the possibility of technology: conducting fireworks over the city of Vancouver, creating solar flares on the surface of the sun, and steering a flock of birds through a mountain valley.

My role

Our team consisted of six Master’s of Digital Media students. My Master’s focus was in Creative & Design Direction, and I took on Design & Creative Technology for the project.

I established a design strategy of six one-week prototypes utilizing multiple technologies followed by a six week build. Through this process we established our core themes and design pillars, tested our prototypes with other students, and presented our designs to the client.

Through construction, I concepted and led the creation of the overall experience, tested materials and constructed materials for the cube, create the projection mapping workflow, and created art assets.

technology

Pixel Dreams brought together several technologies into something truly impressive for a small team with 1.5 months of build time.

The two 9'x9’ Cubes were constructed from modular 3’x3’ wooden frames lined with a paper treatment that was tested for reverse projection clarity within a strict budget. The world was projected to each cube through four projectors, with the image projection mapped to match the Cube.

Each cube was designed for a single occupant who could control the experience through the Microsoft Kinect. Cubes were then networked both with their projectors and each other to create a collaborative experience between participants.

outcomes

Pixel Dreams occupied the large hangar space during the groundbreaking ceremony, and was visited by alumni, faculty, stakeholders, politicians, friends, and family.

The legacy of the project lives on, with the modular projection panels being re-used as a tool for the rapid prototyping of projection-mapped structures.

Team

• Christine Clark (Producer)

• Lucas Huang (Programming

• Matt Marshall (Creative Direction & Design)

• Vandna Sidher (Audio & Design)

• Leto Yang (3D Generalist)