This project was part of my M.A. postgraduate studies at UAL – London College of Communication in Interaction Design Communication.
Exhibition: Friday Lates, London (January 2018) at the V&A Museum
Project: ‘The Secret’ Interactive Experience
As part of my MA Interaction Design Communication course, I took part in a collaborative project that was in partnership with the V&A Museum to create an interactive experience at the V&A’s monthly ‘Friday Late’ event on 26th January 2018. The theme for this particular event was about ‘Code’. My group examined the aspects of hidden or secret codes that are obscure by design and only decipherable to those who understand its methodology of decryption.
Project and event video by Lu Wan.
Discovery:
We started by asking ourselves question like what is code, why were codes created and for what purpose? Understanding a definition and types of code were the starting point for exploration. From this we mapped out different types of code that we though could lead us to a point where we could ideate concepts for further development. Above is an example of the the Actor Network Theory we used to understand the network of relationships.
Develop:
After reviewing the merits of various concepts we selected a final concept for further research and development. The concept chosen was the based around the ‘lie detector’ with a focus on facial movements, upper body language and hand gestures.
We tried to generate a method of using game play as a method for individuals to interact and evaluate each other. A question and answer method using an illustrated code sheet seemed promising at first. However, after we role played it, it occurred to us that maybe telling a story that was wholly true or false might be more engaging and could achieve more identifiable results.
Deliver:
We had a methodology, but now I had to consider the aesthetics of how we present the idea at the event. Initially, I considered the look and feel of game shows, circus tents or fun fairs to make it more engaging and accessible to the audience. However, from this group discussion the idea of the ‘Casino’ experience was generated when referencing terms like ‘poker face’ and ‘bluffing’.
From this we developed a card game called ‘Liar Liar’ that would use facial movements and hand gestures as the code for deciphering whether the person talking was telling the truth or a lie. The feedback from the public was very positive with many participants, making the event a great success.
