Project 1: Data Garden

Due: Monday September 24, 6:30pm before class. No late work.

Submit to: Groups submit one post to RSMA 2018: Project 01 and each student submits a link to that post on Canvas Project 01, along with a few sentences describing their role and contributions in the group project.

Introduction

Sam and Dale Griffin are interested in a permanent dynamic installation for their newly redesigned backyard at their home in Palo Alto, CA. The garden was designed by Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture. The Griffins are looking for a single installation that will “amplify the natural feeling of the space.” Specifically, they are looking for a work that can identify and magnify specific, possibly unseen natural phenomena taking place within their designed outdoor environment.

Design Requirements

  • Use at least one sensor to acquire information about the physical world.
  • Use projection to create a digital overlay of information or content.
  • Projection surfaces can be existing or newly designed/installed.

Site Information

  • Home is located in a residential neighborhood.
  • Owners are tech savvy but want a peaceful outdoor environment

Design Questions

  • What types of information can be read from this environment?
  • What time of day will this installation be active? (Hint: only at night)
  • How obvious should the digital overlay be?
  • Does color matter?

Deliverables

Groups should develop a strong pitch to sell your concept to the client. This pitch does not need to be a fully-functional prototype, but a collection of physical, visual and written parts that will fully convey the concept and general look and feel of the idea. This collection of parts should include:

  • A well-edited video of content projected on example surfaces (plant life, sculpture, other surface…) relevant to the surfaces at the home.
  • A diagram showing how the system will work
  • A simple rendering showing what the content might look like when projected on the selected surfaces
  • A written explanation of the concept.

Site Images

All images pulled from ACLA website