ASTERIA
21 weeks, autumn 2019
Transmedia Project
Escola Universitaria ERAM
Interactive installation that simulates a designer baby clinic called Asteria
Explore the ethical frontiers of genetic modification with Asteria, a riveting interactive installation simulating a designer baby clinic. This immersive experience invites you to consider the profound implications of choosing a child's traits, sparking crucial dialogue on the future of human evolution and technology's role in it. Asteria is more than an exhibit; It is a transmedia experience that catalyst critical reflection on a power of genethic modification.
MY CONTRIBUTION
- CREATIVE DIRECTION
- Project Manager
- STORYTELLING
- RESEARCH
- Experience design
- Interaction design
- Audiovisual direction
TEAM
Marta Marques | Irene Barroso | Marina Varga | Fátima Perez | Petra Vilanova | Sarah Julie de Rossi | Laura Bisbe
The installation features three areas: a waiting room, a Capsule room, and a laboratory-style room. In the waiting room, users receive futuristic context through clinic ads and can schedule future visits. The Capsule room offers a personal experience where users, equipped with 360º glasses, interact with totems to learn about the clinic and partake in a simulated genetic modification process. The journey ends in the laboratory room, where users explore various interactive elements, including a genetic modifications catalog, completing this immersive and futuristic narrative.
Teaser
These videos, apart from working as a teaser for the project, were conceived as the potential advertisements of the clinic and were running in the waiting room of the installation
Posters
We divided the posters into three groups, depending on their function and meaning. First, we have corporate posters that are used to promote the clinic. Following are the posters by groups, which indicate and reinforce the values of the Asteria models. And finally, the transparencies posters, purely static and used only in the exhibition on the laboratory
Posters
We divided the posters into three groups, depending on their function and meaning. First, we have corporate posters that are used to promote the clinic. Following are the posters by groups, which indicate and reinforce the values of the Asteria models. And finally, the transparencies posters, purely static and used only in the exhibition on the laboratory
Directing
In my combined role as Creative Director and Project Manager, my main goal was to create a story that flowed well and a consistent experience for users across all departments. I guided the story, making sure it matched the project's goals and themes. I also worked to make sure all departments were on the same page, aiming for the same outcome. This meant talking often, setting clear rules, and building a team spirit where everyone could share ideas and feedback easily. My job was to connect the creative side with the practical side of the project, solving problems along the way and making sure everyone's work added up to a clear and unified story and user experience. This careful planning and teamwork were key to making a product that was both unified and engaging.
Research
In my role, I was entrusted with the critical task of ensuring scientific accuracy and depth in our project's documentation, with a special focus on genetic engineering. Leveraging my passion for biology, particularly genetics, and the knowledge gained from attending biotechnology classes at the university, I delved deeply into researching this field. I gathered extensive notes on genetics and spent weekends in the library to further my investigation. Recognizing the importance of shared understanding within the team, I organized basic genetics classes for all members, ensuring that we had a solid foundation in the subject matter. This proved invaluable during the project's presentation and operation, particularly when addressing technical questions from the audience. Whenever complex genetic queries arose, my teammates relied on me to provide detailed explanations, a task I was well-prepared for due to my thorough research and understanding. This collaborative effort, underpinned by rigorous research across all departments, was instrumental in the project's success, allowing us to confidently and accurately address all inquiries and challenges.
the installation
As the Director of the Multimedia Department, I single-handedly managed the entire department. My vision for the installation was to fully immerse the user in the experience, creating a reality that engages and captivates. For the physical setup, we had a space of 74.16 square meters, which we divided into three distinct rooms using white melamine panels for separation. The materials for this setup were generously provided by "CuinaEstudi," enabling us to create an engaging and immersive environment for the viewers. My focus was on ensuring that every aspect of the installation contributed to a deep, interactive experience, drawing the user into the world we had crafted.
totems
Upon entering, the first room visitors encounter is the Capsule, where the initial interaction of designing their future baby takes place. Here, visitors start by watching a 360º video where the clinic doctor explains the procedure. Following this, they engage with a totem, which presents a series of questions posed by the doctor on its screen. These questions, progressively more ethically challenging, are about the characteristics of their future baby. To respond, visitors either place their hand flat on the totem for it to be scanned or press a button to stop the questionnaire if the questions become to much. This interactive process not only involves the visitors in a thought-provoking experience but also raises important ethical considerations about genetic modification. At the end of the interaction, visitors receive an estimated budget for their designed baby via email
data
In our installation, we incorporated an innovative approach to visualize questionnaire responses using ten tubes, each corresponding to a different question. These tubes were filled with liquids of varying densities, enabling us to represent the percentage of questionnaire answers in real-time. To achieve this, we employed peristaltic pumps, each connected to an individual Arduino unit. These Arduinos were linked to the same MongoDB database used by the totems. Every few seconds, the Arduinos would check the database for a new set of responses. Upon detecting new data, the pumps associated with those specific responses would activate, causing the tubes to fill with the corresponding liquids. This setup not only provided a unique, interactive visual representation of the data but also added a dynamic and engaging element to the installation, allowing participants to see the immediate impact of their responses in a visually striking manner.
audio
The next interaction in our installation features how the world outside of the clinic might look like. This segment allows users to engage with two different types of content. Through interactive painting, users can access a future-oriented newsletter via the radio and listen to a podcast discussing genetic modification .
medicines
The final interaction in our installation was designed to showcase the diseases that could potentially be eradicated through genetic modification. This was demonstrated using a series of test tubes, each filled with different liquids. When a tube was placed in its designated holder, an NFC reader detected it. Upon detection, the screen displayed information about a specific disease associated with that tube and explained how genetic modification could potentially eradicate it.
Making off
Gallery
Gallery