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What this post will cover

(lol, clearly a long post ahead)

  1. Project description
  2. Background: What is the problem? 
  3. Process of deciding on the deliverables
  4. Image gallery: Prototypes and initial explorations
  5. Final deliverables
  6. Reflections

 

Project description

CURRENT is a project that created to build a system for people to approach media and information sources. Aimed at developing media literacy and critical thinking skills, CURRENT offers engaging resources and solutions, contextualised for upper secondary Social Studies students.

 

Background: What is the problem?

(This is a brief run-down of how I arrived at what I want to solve, from the brief “Water” — made it as concise as I could, leaving out the details that didn’t contribute to the final idea!)

David F. Wallace once told a parable of two goldfishes in his famous “This is Water” speech.

There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, “What the hell is water?”

He later explained, “The immediate point of the fish story is merely that the most obvious, uniquitous, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see and talk about.”

When exploring the concept of water as the basis of a project, I was drawn to cultural and historical aspects of what water meant. Look into the history of Singapore before Sir Stanford Raffles, and you’ll find that Singapore has a rich history beyond what we have been told. And for most of all, all that we know about the Singapore story comes from the compulsory Social Studies subject in secondary school.

I realised that this was not only about the history of Singapore, but about everything. In an age of the internet, anyone and everyone can be an information disseminator. This phenomenon is called the vertical convergence of communications, where traditional media no longer hold the reigns on what we read and learn about. Therefore, it is even more so important that we are aware and are smart consumers of the media. (There are many scholarly articles covering the convergence of communications, including horizontal convergence. Read this for a brief introduction.) 

Going back to Wallace’s speech,  it is important for us to be aware of what we think about, and how we want to think about it, not just passively consuming whatever comes our way.

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye made waves in our local landscape, because it expressed opinions about our history of Singapore in an incredibly successful graphic novel. Its grant was withdrawn by National Arts Council, citing that it contained revisionist/alternate history of Singapore, and caused quite an uproar and debate about what we know about Singapore’s history. Sonny Liew made this debate and discussion accessible to many, with his graphic novel, which is an easy-to-understand read for many. Upon further research, I learnt that his novel is classified under the genre of historiographic metafiction, which often helps its readers to pose questions and to think more critically.

When I was thinking about this, I did some research on how people study history, how they represent it (conventional v.s. living history). I clarified the definition in my head that history is not simply about facts, but how we make meaning out of it from our current context. This made me define how I want to approach media literacy as well — it is not just about discerning media value and reliability, but also learning how to make good and fair judgments, and how to communicate them to promote healthy, active discussion about the things that matter.

From this, I scoped it to upper secondary school students studying Social Studies (that alliteration tho), and did some research. The social studies syllabus, which you can find here, was designed to promote critical thinking as well as teach about the history of Singapore and how it affects society today. However, this often falls short because the execution of the syllabus is flawed. A study by an NIE scholar found out that teachers are often ill-prepared for class, do not have sufficient resources to teach it beyond the traditional way (even though students have more to gain from discussions rather than simply listening), due to the fact that they have to juggle multiple classes.

Therefore, my project aims to find a solution to this problem.

 

Process of deciding on the deliverables

I went through a few rounds of revisions before the final deliverables were decided. The main idea of the deliverables is that they must be engaging as well as informative, in order to achieve the project objectives. I broke down the objectives of the different deliverables, and decided that they should be built on one another, a bit like the scaffolding method that teachers use in classrooms.

  1. Experiencing (role-playing — the initial idea was to make an interactive game for students, where they become water, and explore the history of Singapore. This can be used to highlight the concept of cause and effect.)
    • This was scraped because of the technical and conceptual difficulties. Being in the role of “water” might not help the student to understand clearly the different perspectives and the subjective nature of historical accounts.
  2. Making meaning (the initial idea was to make cards out of the timeline events, so that students can make meaning out of what they’ve experienced.)
    • This was modified because the event cards would not add much value, as compared to if this was just done in the website (could make a programme that can arrange the events).
  3. Applying (the initial idea was to make card templates to break down information from class, linking it back to the social studies syllabus)
    • Thought that this wasn’t very useful. Every student has their own way of making their notes.

After a few rounds of feedback, I changed altered the “scaffold”, to suit the methodology better. The three deliverables did not match all the objectives exactly, as some of them are able to achieve 2 objectives.

  1. Deconstructing — analysing what we’re told, being discerning, e.g. in the case of the Singapore story, what more is there to know apart from what we are taught in class?
  2. Assessing — knowing how to pass a fair and informed judgment. To be able to accept that biased sources are also capable of truth, and to make a judgment based on all the information.
  3. Engaging — knowing how to communicate your judgments, start discussions and engage in them well and responsibly

The three final deliverables decided on are (1) website with event timeline (online resource, information consolidation to encourage further reading), (2) card pack (serve as a tactile experience, and starts discussion), and (3) media literacy booklet (to serve as a guided reflection journal to meet the 3 objectives).

 

Image gallery: Prototypes and initial explorations

(I wrote down most of my process, but they are very lengthy and most of it is research … so here are some pictures! I picked these images out from all that I have.) 

 

Final deliverables

1. Website

https://ngdeziree.wixsite.com/vciii

  • Objectives: To be the anchor for the project, offering resources and a platform to build a community around the topic
  • Key features
    • About page : for people to learn more about the project, including how the different deliverables tie in together
    • Timeline page : linked to more resources on different events in history, students playing the card game can refer to this page for more information on each of the events
    • Forum page : To build a platform, based on membership, where teachers can interact with students and engage in a conversation about history/social studies in a controlled environment, which is something that is often avoided, especially if the topic is controversial.
    • Feature pages : To showcase the other two deliverables (the card game and the media literacy booklet)
  • Selected shots




2. The Card Pack

https://ngdeziree.wixsite.com/vciii/current-the-card-pack

  • Objectives: To create a tactile experience for people to touch, rearrange, and engage in a discussion about Singapore’s road to independence, through gamification
  • Key features
    • Visually connected with website : the cards are all put on the website’s timeline so that if students are unsure about what an event is about, they can check the website
    • Gamification — engaging : the card pack includes the event cards, the roles cards, as well as action cards. Students can play the game, compete against one another, and learn about how history is presented via different perspectives through roleplaying.
    • Adaptable : the cards can be used simply as event cards, adapting to the lesson plan that the teacher has (if any)
  • Pictures





3. Clarity: the media literacy booklet

https://ngdeziree.wixsite.com/vciii/clarity-the-media-literacy-booklet

  • Objectives: To provide a framework for students/users to reflect and be more aware of their media consumption habits and how they interact with media, meeting the objective of developing skills in discerning, assessing and engaging
  • Key features
    • Question prompt : each day, there will be a question that the user will have to answer. This is done instead of an instruction, as it is more open-ended for the user. Also, this makes the learning objective of each day clearer and more focused.
    • Customisable : the cover page is done with translucent paper so that the user can customise the booklet based on his/her own style. This is in line with how the entire journal is meant to be like a journal — a safe, reflection space for each person. The way that the person wants to use the booklet is also free for them to decide, though there is a suggested way (prompted by graphic guide, cut out newspapers or print out social media posts, write on them).
    • Hole-punched booklets : All the prompts are made into booklets, which are hole punched and put together with a paper fastener. As many schools use plastic folders to keep worksheets and class materials, this feature will be useful for classes where teachers want to use certain prompts for certain weeks, and not the entire booklet in sequence.
  • Photographs








 

Reflections

I think this project was a very tiresome repetition of “HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY, NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO SAY IT”. There was a lot of thinking involved, which made it very, very interesting to work on (yes I love to think, and to poke at every corner of a concept until there are no more air bubbles left). It’s also the first time that I’m reading so many journal articles as part of research (40? 50? 60? did not count, but I have a very lengthy document of 34 pages with process reflections and quotes from research).

This project is also my first stab at making 3 huge deliverables, because usually I’ll settle for 1 anchor deliverable, 1 that is an adaptation of the first (while value adding in some way), and 1 that takes much less time to produce. I have to admit that making graphics is where I’m the slowest at, and because I’ve taken an entirely different visual approach for this project, it took 2x longer than I should because there was no model for me to reference. But I guess the biggest takeaway here is that I’ve produced something that I am moderately proud of, because it’s a large deviation from the graphic style I’m comfortable with (illustrative) and I feel that it fits the brand.

I’ve definitely learnt a lot through this project, not simply about making things well, but the reason why I’m making them. Apart from VC, I’ve done a lot of reading this semester that talks about design for design’s sake, and it really got me thinking a lot about why I’m designing (which perfectly coincides with the Water project). So it was very rewarding to be able to work on content, on top of visuals, because I’ve always struggled with the emptiness of making visuals while blatantly ignoring the obvious loopholes in concept. I’ve also pushed myself to wrap the brand style around what the brand is about, rather than going for the safe and comfortable route of illustration (which I was soooo close to getting into).

Squeezing myself dry in order to meet the deadline was very, very tough though. I’ve never felt so defeated while making graphics, because on one hand, I wanted to go faster, and on the other, I wanted it to be done to the best of my abilities (thank you Nanci for your understanding). Definitely should have managed my time a little bit better (hm), but I am proud of what I have done!

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Here are the 4 interviews that we have done!


INTERVIEW #1

Interviewer: Jielin

Interviewee: Hor Jen Yee, 21, NUS Psychology + USP

 

How often do you take the MRT? For what purpose, where do you go? What stations do you frequent?

  • Approximately 3-4 times a week
  • Usually between school, home and other commitments like volunteer training
  • Serangoon, Kent Ridge, recently Boon Lay (to get to Jurong Point), Buona Vista (to transit between stops), and then some stations in the central area (e.g. Somerset, Dhoby Ghaut). Other familiar stations include Ang Mo Kio and Kovan.

 

General MRT experience

  • Since it’s between the same few familiar stations for the most part it’s usually smooth enough, since you know where to stand that would be most efficient when you reach your stop (closest to the escalators). To newer or less familiar areas then it’s definitely slower because you’ll probably be dragged into the crowd, in terms of having to find the staircase/escalator to go up. Honestly I question the placement of escalators and staircases, because they are a bit all over the place in mrts sometimes. If there’s one thing to complain about, it’s how the flow of ppl is controlled and redirected to escalators and stairs. Because they often have signs that just point you up and then you realise, “I’m on the other side of the exit that I want to get to.” (e.g. for Marina Bay Sands, Bayfront MRT during the Art Stage period). Or there was actually a closer staircase/escalator that was possibly less crowded that I could have gone to but didn’t see just now because of where my train exit was
  • I think the signages can be better especially at the platform area, because sometimes there’s 1 escalator up and sometimes there’s 2 or something, depending on the size and layout of the station. Usually, immediately when you come out of the train, you have to find your exit (especially if you don’t know the place well) but you probably end up following the crowd to the popular exit. Like sometimes they have way too many exits even though some are unknown/underutilised. (Especially for Kent Ridge, I only recently realised there were other exit holes). At red and green line platforms, their signs for the arrival timing of the train are way too spaced apart/far away.

 

About dead spaces: Have you noticed spaces in mrt stations which are usually between two lines for transit etc?

  • Yeah for Buona Vista, Little India/Chinatown (for downtown line) and Serangoon. 
  • Particularly for little india, have you seen them putting up some photography exhibition in the long pathway? What do you think of some of these ways the mrt have utilised such spaces.
  • I think I saw that but I didn’t stop and look since it was more unfamiliar territory in terms of how much time i would take to reach my destination, so i’ll be more concerned with rushing to the next platform than slowing down to take a look? Most of the time I’m more concerned with rushing to the platform, then I take a break rather than strolling in between platforms at a chill pace These spaces are usually very long like the Little India one is long. that’s why accelerate my pace to get over this long stretch quickly.

 

If you weren’t rushing, would you be interested in taking a look though?

  • Unless I seriously know I have a lot of time already, which is rare too. Sometimes I would take a look at the ads on the side of the Serangoon transitioning though.

 

If you knew the timing of the next train, would it help?

  • A bigger factor in what would help me determine whether to slow down or not is the timing of the next train.

 

About aesthetics and artworks in mrt stations

  • In terms of station aesthetics, another big complaint of mine is that I sometimes literally cannot tell when looking out from the cabin whether I’ve reached my station if I missed the announcement (e.g. earpieces on) + not the blinking light notification at the doors of the trains, because all the stations look the same unless you can read the station name on opposite side and also the notification panel on the top. But some angles completely prevent you from doing this. So I personally would like more individual station personality to be injected into each location because it would definitely help with the identification. Like if you really cannot read the things somehow, you’re really kind of doomed. I know the walls of Hong Kong’s MTR has colours of their line with a huge name sign on their walls which are quite near their train exits. So even just colours would be nice everything is kinda just dull and grey in our stations really hence my 3 descriptors (about the mrt stations) was grey, plain, nondescript.
  • I think I quite liked to see that they had some prints/graphics on one side of the Botanic Gardens station when I peeked outside too? Sometimes these artwork installation things within the station work and sometimes it doesn’t though. Like for kovan, for the LONGEST TIME i just thought the stuff on their floor/walls around the platform was just some random scrawlings and stuff because their colours were also quite dull and didn’t stand out from the decor then I walked past the sign that said it was like an installation representing some maps and stuff because it was not obviously made known to me that it was even an installation in the first place vs. random architectural design by the person commissioned to build it. I think a few green line stations had some of those community art projects or installations for some campaign by some MNC or ministry sometimes. and some are weirder and uglier than others I know it’s community space but some things don’t aesthetically appeal to me and have like weird vibes in terms of style like it’s those types people make for those CC competitions that don’t really look nice but supposedly have some big propagandistic meaning because “community” and that’s why they have all those people’s faces scrawled over. As soon as I can kinda see the whole propagandistic community-building vibe to it I just sigh, and yeah it’s not as interesting.
  • But there are some better looking aesthetics they put around the transitioning areas like I think I was impressed by the ones at Bishan? They looked youthful and more vibrant. At least I appreciated the style a bit more and in terms of its subject matter depicted it was less obviously community-based building kinda competition entries and incoherent and separate works.

 

So what do you think about having interactive artworks in mrt stations

  • I guess my question would be more of, what would be the point of it and how would you encourage interaction with it? Especially if ppl are in a rush and static stuff is already sometimes ignored. I think you could definitely do something like that though, the type of. piano staircase so that people are encouraged to climb the stairs because they can hear their steps making music. In general I would like more colours in the mrt station and better signage.

 

INTERVIEW #2

Interviewer: Fiona

Interviewee: Yiwen, Co-founder of a social enterprise


(1) How often you use public transport? For what, where do you go, how was the experience?

  • Almost daily to commute to work. Experience is pleasant during non peak hours but peak hours can be really packed

 

(2) What do you think of some of the ways the mrt have utilized such spaces?

  • It’s quite under utilised. nothing much is being done for the older lines, mostly have mural drawings, the Dhoby Ghaut has commercial advertisement spaces and once in a while some displays are interactive which is good.

 

(3) What do you think about the general aesthetics and artworks in the mrt stations?

  • Generally good, the newer stations some have artists commissioned works as well.

 

(4) What do you think about having interactive artworks in the mrt stations?

  • It will help to slow people down and improve the overall grumpiness of people.

 

(5) Will you stop and take a look if there’s an interactive artwork?

  • I will slow down to see what it is, however if in cases where I will stop, it will depend on my time. Like Dhoby Ghaut’s station, I will slow down when there’s stuff along the walkway but as for joining in, I’m not really sure as it can be quite awkward unless I’m not alone.

 

Interview #3

Interviewer: Desiree

Interviewee: Ryan, 24, NTU ADM

 

How often do you take the MRT? For what purpose, where do you go? What stations do you frequent?

  • I take the MRT almost everyday, to go to school, frequently going by Buona Vista, Marymount, Bishan, Pioneer and Boon Lay.
  • I usually spend quite a bit of time on the train because it takes more than an hour to get from my house to NTU.

 

How has the travelling experience been like for you? How do you feel about the space in MRT stations?

  • It’s okay at times. I dislike it when it gets very crowded.
  • Earlier today, I was travelling home and it was peak hour, so there were huge crowds of people. One train came and it was just passing by (do not board), and so there were a lot more people on the next one. It was really squeezy.
  • I find that the space is usually quite tight in MRT stations. It’s fine at times, but stations like Bishan tend to be really crowded. It’s a pretty central interchange because there’s the red line and circle line, so there usually are a lot of people.

 

Are there anything of interest to you in the MRT stations?

  • Sometimes I notice the murals in the MRT stations, otherwise there aren’t anything much else that I’ve noticed. Usually I’m looking at my phone, so I don’t really look at what’s around.
  • Those murals that I’ve noticed aren’t very interesting, in my opinion. Besides, in a busy MRT station, no one would really take notice of murals. So it’s not very effective to have them there.

 

How do you feel about the way spaces in MRT stations are used?

  • I feel that most spaces in MRT stations are used in one way or another, mostly to help ease the crowds in the stations. But MRT stations like Dhoby Ghaut are huge and have a lot of unused spaces at the corners that no one notices. But I guess they’re good to have because people can hang around in those spaces.
  • Honestly I don’t consciously feel that the way spaces are utilised in MRT stations affected my experience travelling. Usually it’s not about what’s on the walls and all, but rather, it’s usually about the crowds. People will usually focus on how crowded it is.
  • It’s a problem that’s difficult to solve simply by changing the environment, because we cannot change the number of people going in and out unless there are more frequent trains or more spacious stations.
  • I feel that by putting more stuff into MRT stations, you’re making the space even smaller, amplifying the crowd issue. This means that the experience of being a commuter becomes worse.

 

Do you feel that MRT stations are aesthetically pleasing then?

  • They’re okay, but aesthetics aren’t the most important since people won’t really look.
  • What’s more important is the kind of experience that the commuter has when travelling through the space, the kind that you get without really consciously looking at the space, the kind that you understand with just a glance. The kind of experience that a commuter wants is more of that the MRT station is spacious and that there is a lot of room. If you put a lot of complicated designs on the walls, etc., then it would create the opposite effect. The place would feel small, tight and constricting.
  • The same thing with immersive stickered decorations in a place. Too much of it, if not well-designed, makes the place feel like it’s very small, which may increase the irritation of commuters during peak hours.

 

HPB once did an interactive installation with a “piano staircase” and one along the walkways. What do you think of those?

  • I feel that they are good, because the designs are quite simple so it doesn’t make the MRT station look too cluttered. They used only one colour (yellow) and a minimalist design, so it makes the MRT station look brighter and more spacious at a glance.
  • I like the interactive elements too, because they are fun and can distract the commuters from the busy commute. If they’re placed conveniently where I’m already travelling, I’ll definitely participate in the activities as well.

 

Any suggestions on how to make the MRT experience more enjoyable?

  • It would be good if there are interesting interactive installations, LED screens with moving images or something else that can distract (positively) the commuters.

 

Interview #4

Interviewer: Siewhua

Interviewee: Chloe Then, 21, NTU WKW

 

How often do you take the MRT? For what purpose, where do you go? What stations do you frequent

  • Almost every weekday, sometimes on the weekends only if I do go out by myself

 

For what purpose, where do you go?

  • NTU
  • Out to town to do school work
  • Friend’s place
  • Meet ups

 

What stations do you frequent?

  • Marymount
  • Bishan
  • Pioneer
  • Novena
  • HarbourFront

 

How has the travelling experience been like for you? How do you feel about the space in MRT stations?

  • Hate peak hours, I think more organisation should be done when it comes to peak hours? Allocating a limited number of people to board a specific cabin? Old cabins should be upgraded! Cleaner cabins too! Circle and downtown line MRT journeys are generally more pleasant since they are newer!

 

How do you feel about the space in MRT stations?

  • I think it’s sufficient? Nothing else can be done to increase space in my opinion!

 

Are there anything of interest to you in the MRT stations? Like what do you think about the general aesthetics and artworks in the MRT stations?

  • I can’t be bothered but I like Bras Brasah’s mrt, damn spacious and nice. Esplanade underpass too, if that counts.

 

Why esplanade underpass?

  • There are nice artworks to look at sometimes.

 

In what situation did you remember enjoying your MRT commute (looking up from their mobile screens and seeing the environment) and why?

  • Almost never actually

 

Ohh do you notice/know about the artworks displayed at Little India and Dhoby Ghaut?

  • I see huge ads in Dhoby Ghaut station but not the artwork and I don’t go to Little India.

 

What do you think about having interactive artworks in mrt stations? Will you stop and take a look if there’s an interactive artwork?

  • I don’t think so actually because when I am on the mrt I am always in a rush or on the move so I won’t stop for sure

 

So even if the work is interesting you won’t stop or glance at it?

  • Hahaha maybe I will see but I won’t stop

 

What if there are a lot people crowding and looking at it?

  • I still wouldn’t. I might just look but I won’t like stop to see

 

What if your friends do?

  • I will tell them to just go off and don’t waste time.

 

Do you know about the interactive “piano staircase” or other interactive works along the walkways eg. Dhoby Ghaut? What do you think of those?

  • Heard of it! But it’s so lame! Dhoby is more of like youths like you and me! Who would stop for that honestly hahah

 

Any suggestions on how to make the MRT experience more enjoyable, in terms of aesthetics?

  • I think there was one ad that Disney did in a shopping mall where they had the silhouettes of the characters and it was like interactive because passerbys could talk to them!! Can take inspiration from that idea!! Just Google I think! Hehe. Just a suggestion ☺️

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Team Members: Fiona, Jie Lin,  Desiree, Siewhua

Survey questions
  1. Basic information
    • Your age
    • Your occupation
    • How often you use public transport?
  2. Design opportunity related
    • Describe MRT stations in 3 words.
    • Describe the outside of the MRT stations (the area directly outside them) in 3 words.
    • If you could change something about the environment of MRT stations, what would that be and why?
  3. Design challenges related
    • Choose the plant that doesn’t belong in Singapore. (To prove our design challenge, that people do not appreciate their everyday environment enough)

    • Rank the spaces based on how interesting they are to you. (To prove our design challenge, that there are dead spaces in the MRT stations)

 

Analysis of survey
  • Prove our design challenges
    • People’s appreciation for everyday environment
      • 49.5% of the respondents did not accurately choose the flower that doesn’t belong in Singapore, whereas 50.5% did.  
    • There are dead spaces in the MRT stations
      • [A good number] of respondents suggested that environment in MRT stations could be further beautified as they find it dull or lifeless.
      • As many respondents find the MRT stations to be be too crowded, they enjoy open spaces or relatively spacious stations.
  • Situational analysis/Context (current state of the MRT stations’ environments)
    • To get a better understanding of what our respondents viewed as interesting, we provided 5 images of our MRT stations with different looks and features.
      • The first was Bayfront MRT, with a walkway with mirrors and flower decals on the walls.
        • 45.9% rated this space a 4/5.
        • The nature decals were a good lead-up to what was ahead (Gardens by the Bay). Also, research has shown that nature has therapeutic uses, and are generally perceived to make the environment more calming and pleasurable.
      • The second was Serangoon MRT station, with a grey walkway with travelators and a couple of advertisements.
        • 33.3% rated this space a 2/5, and 27% rated the space a 1/5.
        • From this, we can see that a space that is left untreated with the exception of a couple of advertisements, tend to be less interesting.
      • The third was Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, where they had an interactive media installation encouraging people to take part in the National Steps Challenge.
        • 31.5% rated this space a 3/5, and 30.6% gave it a 4/5.
        • This shows that interactive experiences are interesting to commuters.
      • The fourth was City Hall MRT station, where they created an immersive experience using stickers all over the floors and chairs.
        • 30.6% rated this space a 4/5, and 24.3% gave it a 3/5.
        • From this, we can see that an immersive experience is interesting to commuters, though less so than if the space was interactive or have moving images (comparison with Dhoby Ghaut MRT and Orchard MRT).
      • The fifth was Orchard MRT station, with a grey walkway, wall decal on one side and a screen on the other.
        • 39.6% rated this space a 4/5.
        • From this, we can tell that the presence of a screen-based media piques the interest from passerbys.

 

Research articles

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PROPOSAL REFINEMENT

Team Members: Fiona, Jie Lin,  Desiree, Siewhua

WHAT: Interactive and immersive screen installation (Floor, Wall, Sound)

WHERE:

  • MRT transitional spaces
  • Eg. Transitional space between NEL and Circle Line in Serangoon MRT station

WHY:

  • Rejuvenate dead spaces in MRT stations
  • Develop appreciation for everyday environment
  • And Singapore’s natural landscape
  • Promote use of public transportation

HOW:

  1. Passive effort
  • Speed of people or footsteps/min -> intensity of rain
  • floor – activate rain to water the trees (passive effort of regular commuters – “maintenance” )
  • Passive effort of the commuter –> see results on the interactive wall –> pique interest –> make an active effort
  1.  Active effort (App)
  • Wall reflects contents of app , the nature (more for app, private)
  • Fully grown trees pushed to the background , then can plant new batch (plant wherever they want in the mrt)
  • Spot an interesting species of tree in reality, they can take a pic in the app and they will register the species where one can later plant it
  • Can be a seasonal eg. christmas, spring-cherry blossoms / imaginative
  • Trees are planted as seedlings and grown to maturity (they don’t die but replaced)

 

Potential enhancement/developments:

  • Specific seasonal details
  • Transparent screens

 

References:

 

Timeline

Date Tasks to have been completed
20 March 2017
  1. Refine project idea, central concepts and key features
  2. Roles and responsibilities of members to be determined
  3. Timeline to be done
  4. References to be compiled
27 March 2017
  1. Research , interviews & surveys
  2. Analysis of data gathered
  3. Confirm project details
3 April 2017
  1. Storyboarding for presentation video
  2. Prototyping & re-iterating design
10 April 2017
  1. Filming for presentation video
  2. Bodystorming and refinement
17 April 2017
  1. Production of video
24 April 2017-
  1. Final presentation
 
Preliminary discussions

Primary Proposals OSS post: Jielin | Desiree | Fiona | Siew Hua

Our common ground
  • Develop appreciation for the everyday environment
  • Rejuvenating dead spaces
    • Targeting MRT stations
    • Interaction with digital screen
    • Expanding social interaction

 

Drawing from individual ideas
  • Jielin + Desiree: a common site-specific social media platform for commuters
  • Desiree: Pokedex for local plants to allow appreciation for local botanical diversity; can be different for different parts of SG? (art + play)
  • Fiona: Animating wall murals (Digital screen)
  • Siew Hua: Interactive screen installations in public spaces which will allow public to contribute a piece to the work (alike TeamLab’s works) and they will develop a sense of ownership in maintaining their “contribution” to the wall as they pass by the places of transit everyday

 

Pooling of ideas for group project
  • Basing off SH’s proposal
  • Interactive screen installation in a transition area of mrt stations, where people have to pass by every day to school or work
  • They can contribute to the mural of animation by adding their personalised customised character or object (such as plants or animals) to the screen
  • They can come back every day to quickly maintain the items as they pass by the area
  • This forms an environment created by the people passing by everyday – we get to see the changes very gradually (like TeamLab’s Flower Garden but applied in a real life setting which can allow us to slowly observe its changes)
  • Develops a sense of community and belonging to the community, to the public space which may seem otherwise detached from us
  • Incorporating Desiree’s local plant diversity pokedex proposal
  • The characters or objects contributed to the wall can be “caught” or discovered from the neighbourhood around the MRT stations
  • They can then be added to the collection in the interactive screen mural
  • Different parts of SG may have different plants and people living in different places can go to other parts of SG to collect the objects they don’t have and plant them in their neighbourhood(?)
  • Promotes community bonding I guess!! And also in building and visualising narratives of different places in SG

(feature image credit: x)

SURVEY AND RESEARCH: X