Week 9 – Concept Development

Lecture Comments & Reflections

Glug 2019 Marcello Google Creative Labs – Imagination is Innovation

‘Creativity is one big collision’
‘Don’t know exactly how to do it, but fundamentally, believe you can do it’

Draw to Art

The Draw to Art project really stood out for me, firstly due to it’s creative engine being the leading part of the project but secondly how it relates to what I want to achieve in my project for the SMG.

They took an element of creativity (doodling, drawing) and added this to machine learning to create a project which was engaging, interactive, playful and encouraging. The encouragement to find, to explore, to discover objects which you were thinking of. This all just through sketching. The project was open to all, you didn’t need to be an illustrator, the technology implemented scanned all doodling.

I asked myself how can I add an element of creativity, such as drawing to my project to enhance it’s accessibility?

With the power being in the visitors hands for my project could it be expanded to allow visitors to scan any object (within the collection or not) and this give the best suggested options based on that scan, this could enhance the encouragement of discovery and build their collections to be even more relatable and personal.

OR could the creativity part be ‘the collecting’ the idea of creating and curating your own collection – does it need another element / layer added?

An another interesting point made was ‘getting people into the museums’

Design Development (weekly Challenge)

Development of Idea #1 Route 1 – ‘Create your collection’

Why have I chosen this route? (back this up with feedback from peers and John + tutors)

Feedback from audience so far:

Overall idea was strong and interesting. They picked up on if there could be further interactivity within the museum itself. For example could you scan an item within the museum and this produces a card within your collection + could this then give suggested and linked cards to that scanned object. – Making it an all round experience.

Sketch here:

Developing route

With a chosen route I am now being informed further by research, feedback and sketching. This project ‘creating your collection’ invites the visitor to create their own collection based on their interests. This making it a more enjoyable and somewhat personal experience. The solution allows the visitors to share their collection with others globally, creating unique, explorative collections. This encouraging greater discovery of ‘hidden objects’

Below is a potential solution route – A site which sits on the science museum website as a separate tab – allowing visitors to log in and explore the collection. Once a ‘object’ of interest as been found the information can be pulled into their own collection – this auto fitting in a ‘card format’. These cards can then be shared individually or in groups (via social media, or through an open collection area)

Within the ‘website’ would sit ‘your profile’ a reactive tile format which shares your top highlights, most viewed, most shared. You then can navigate into your main collection. Inspired by the grid of trading card binders.

Main challenges identified: How will the content be pulled over onto the ‘cards’ Will visitors have to input it manually. OR will there be a button integrated into the online collection which says ‘add to my collection’ or can users simply pull the image into their collection – and the site formats it into a ‘card’

this will allow for visitors physically to upload images when in physical locations

Can this be a ‘your collections’ app. collect and curate your own archives from museums around the world.

Route Solution #2 – APP

Route 2 – developing an app which allows the visitor to scan, capture and create their collection. This option may giver greater accessibility for in person interactivity and collecting, rather than just online. People want to be in places especially after the pandemic. Within the Science Museum I see there being an interactive ‘your collection’ screen allowing you to explore other peoples collections from around the world – creating a richer experience and great discovery of objects.

Main challenges identified –

Do they have to scan a QR code to add to their collection or can they take a photo and upload? This then produces a card format.

Feedback on project (Samantha O Neil)

“I like the idea of the Pokemon cards as a game that can be played by adults but as a premise easily include children and young people therefore families towards collective behaviour in terms of seeking new experiences through knowledge. There is also an element of democracy here as this knowledge can be passed between people, broadening the ides of what can be experienced through such an institution as the Science Museum”

Feedback on initial concept chosen (Tom Green)
Upon initial reading, I found myself asking, who is your audience? The reference to Pokémon cards, albeit one that relates to collectible paraphernalia that contains characters/stories, does bring with it a specific demographic – would this align with your project?

I find the concept of using a digital platform to provide a space to which one can curate archived subjects in a more personal way a particularly interesting approach to encourage engagement with the historical narrative of objects within the museum collection.

The potential for sharing and the suggesting of recommended cards based on searches brings a collaborative element to the concept – could this collaboration aspect be further explored? Maybe this would be moving away from your idea, however, having the capacity to add info (related items, connected stories, areas of potential further research) to shared cards, would add another element of discovery.

Concept Development: Taking sketches digital to realise

Reflection on sketches:

Here I have taken my initial sketches and gone digital to get a sense of how this could look. I have decided that an app would work better than just another ‘website’ This allows ‘your collection’ to be portable within your pocket. Ingrid on the ideas wall touched upon this idea of a portable collection and this struck me as quite an important part of the direction – This also allows you to capture your collection at multiple sites and share instantly to social.

The concept as mentioned would be app based but since taking these to digital mock ups I feel it’s lacking a creative element? Could the ‘homepage’ become a more interactive and playful part? I thought about having ‘dots’ or ‘colours’ of ‘your collection as a piece on the homepage (making it individual to you?) this then changes all the time when you add your collection.

Above I have kept a simple homepage which displays just the visual of the object in your collection. I think this is really effective and easily shareable but needs some spark added. Is it that they constantly are moving around? Is it they more abstract versions of the objects?

The yellow and green dots are badges, defining a category within your collection. So on the homepage could this be filled with dots and you can discover your own collection this way? Add your dots to a global page where others can discover and uncover objects unknown?

Next steps – go back to paper sketching and visualise a new homepage plus think about navigation of the project. (colours and collection categories)