Edward Addison.
UNIVERSITY GROUP PROJECT
IN-TOORAK-TIVE GARDEN
A proposal for a digital placemaking installation, designed with the needs of Toorak Village in mind.
A proposal for a digital placemaking installation in Toorak Village. Passers-by are entranced by the motion tracking dance experience, and can then adopt a real plant and customise a virtual plant pot for their botanical buddy.
(Figma prototype viewable below! If it doesn't load, press this button to open it in a new tab.)
Client Collaboration
In order to create the ideal solution for Toorak Village, the City of Stonnington was closely collaborated with. They outlined their needs - to make Toorak Village a more accommodating space for the many parents and families that visit it during school pickup and drop-off hours.
Currently, Toorak Village lacks family-friendly, welcoming public spaces: something that we set out to rectify with our solution.
3D Mockup, and Motion Design
My role in the group was to aid with research, develop our idea and eventual prototype, and create a number of motion designed elements to enhance our idea.
This included the bubble screen (wherein passers-by pop a random bubble to adopt a plant), the bubble pop animation, and a 3D mockup, demonstrating the spatial layout of the proposed installation.
Research
To scope out the locations, and develop our ideas about the space and Toorak Village, I undertook an empirical observation in the TOK H mall for 1 hour. This was to help gauge movements through a busy public space. Every time an individual entered a store in the space, a tally mark was made.
The main takeaway was that most foot traffic exclusively visits major stores, such as Woolworths and Coles. This supported our initial hypothesis that Toorak Village visitors rarely visit independent stores, or spend time in what little public space is available.
The Concept
The final concept we developed was of a touch screen installation with two sides, alongside a public garden. Visitors can adopt a plant using the touch screens, and track it's growth and needs using a companion app.
On the reverse side, users may interact with the motion tracking experience, teaching children about gardening and plants.
