VIBE
Masters in Interaction design at Edinburgh Napier University
Time frame: 2014
Module: Final thesis project
The brief
Designed as a provocative interactive sound installation, this sculpture deployed speakers to visualise sound vibrations as organic, playful performances triggered by human interaction. Thematically based on the concept of cymatics (the science of visualising audio frequencies), VIBE was a curatorial composition created as my final post-graduate project to visualise sound through physical and playful social interactions.
Initial sketches and renders of what the installation would look like
Building and assembling the installation.
The concept
This installation was designed as a sculpture that initiates social interaction through real-time sound (clashes, slams, bang, squeaks, scrapes, scratches, thuds) from objects or “instruments” designed out of scrap material.
These sound bites were then directed to the speakers and one could watch those sound bites come alive as intricate luminescent dancing visuals (speakers encased in domes with fluorescent styrofoam balls placed on top of the cones, which would start "dancing/moving" when exposed to sound vibrations).
The installation was arranged in a square format with the speakers placed in the middle and the 4 "instruments" placed at each corner of the installation, from where people could interact with them. Arduino and Wave shields were used to redirect real-time sound to the speakers, to get the styrofoam balls to "dance" and thus visualize sound.
The final installation and documented footage of people interacting with it