Ephemeral
Ephemeral is a bridge to connect people with the library, it removes reliance on language, prior knowledge, or technical skill, making creative engagement accessible to everyone.
Visitors enter a dim, ambient space where soft light and sound invite the user to enter and explore. At first, the projection rests quietly, waiting. As people move, the visuals awaken, expand, and burst into
color, responding to each gesture. Users can also interact directly with the two drops that are hanging from the ceiling; touching the button on a drop alters the color or speed of the visuals, further reinforcing their presence within the environment.
There is no instruction and no goal. Visitors may notice others reflected in the visuals, creating a silent dialogue through motion, eye contact, and mirrored behavior.
Students: Joana faria, Camila Villa, Maria Almeida, Philip Wen & Thomas Haak Wegmann
We decided to concentrate on light. As we user-tested the concept, we found that people did not fully understand the interaction. Many did not realize that they were the ones changing the environment.
The hand-tracking technology we were using lagged a lot, causing the response to their movements to feel delayed and too subtle to be clearly noticeable.
The coaches suggested trying TouchDesigner, as it could help reduce the lag we were experiencing. As we began exploring the software, which we had never used before, we developed a particle-based interaction that immediately sparked people’s curiosity.
To connected both elements and make the interaction clearer, we created 3D-printed drops that reacted with light when users entered the room.
We added buttons and a distance sensor to the drops, allowing them to change the projection’s mode and color.
We created an entrance using fabric to make the act of entering feel intentional, almost like a ritual, and to enhance the sensation of stepping into a different environment.