/ADOBE AERO AUGMENTED REALITY RESIDENCY/
As a traditional illustration and animation artist, I had started experimenting with augmented reality through Adobe Aero application, that I was invited to be a part of Adobe Augmented Reality Residency. I was delighted to find out that Aero is much simple to use compared to few other popular AR applications. For the first time in my life, I saw my illustrations placed in space, right in front of me! It was a highly satisfying moment; I was hooked and excited to explore further.
/ Site specific AR placements /
Through my experiments, I’ve learned that AR makes the most impact when the right graphics are placed by the right location and when there is a link or a surprise element between these two. Augmented Reality becomes meaningful when it enables the viewer to discover something about that space, or the graphic. My DNA graphic placed in front of Eagle's Pub in Cambridge University is an example of such work.
Eagle's DNA
Did you know the exciting history behind this university bar in Cambridge?
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When Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory was still at its old site at nearby Free School Lane, the pub was a popular lunch destination for staff working there. Thus, it became the place where Francis Crick interrupted patrons' lunchtime on 28 February 1953 to announce that he and James Watson had "discovered the secret of life" after they had come up with their proposal for the structure of DNA.The anecdote is related in Watson's book The Double Helix, and is commemorated on a blue plaque next to the entrance, and two plaques in the middle room by the table where Crick and Watson lunched regularly. Today the pub serves a special ale to commemorate the discovery, dubbed "Eagle's DNA". (Taken from Wikipedia)
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When Cambridge University's Cavendish Laboratory was still at its old site at nearby Free School Lane, the pub was a popular lunch destination for staff working there. Thus, it became the place where Francis Crick interrupted patrons' lunchtime on 28 February 1953 to announce that he and James Watson had "discovered the secret of life" after they had come up with their proposal for the structure of DNA.The anecdote is related in Watson's book The Double Helix, and is commemorated on a blue plaque next to the entrance, and two plaques in the middle room by the table where Crick and Watson lunched regularly. Today the pub serves a special ale to commemorate the discovery, dubbed "Eagle's DNA". (Taken from Wikipedia)
Stephan Hawking's Time Travel Party
I stumbled upon the information that Mr.Hawking once organized a party for time travelers, only to release his invitations to the party after he had hosted it. This inspired me to create an AR time travelers party inside a black hole in front of his previous residence. The idea of being able to play with space, scale and location was extremely thrilling for me!
/ Spontaneity of AR Creations /
The residency program enabled me to explore AR as a new medium. I quickly realized that I come up with ideas much more spontaneously (and intuitively) in AR compared to my usual creative process. With AR, the environment turns into a playground and I feel like a little kid exploring the boundaries of storytelling and interactivity with my illustrations laying in front of me. Instead of sketching out ideas, I started creating assets for 3D space, assembled them in Aero and build on my graphics as I moved further along on an idea. I realized that sometimes an idea looks good on paper, but doesn’t give the impact I expected in AR and sometimes it is vice versa. I found that trying and failing in AR with minimal graphic effort is the best way to ‘sketch’ and find my way around AR.
Emotions Come
During one of those days, I was filled with emotions. Once I started crying, it felt so good to let my feelings out and I felt as if my emotions shrunk as I cried. This moment inspired me to create an interactive AR piece.
In this piece, as you approach the woman with emotions, she starts to cry. As you get closer to her emotions, you'll let them shrink and eventually she is relieved from her overwhelming emotions.
/ Adding imagination beyond reality /
I was always fascinated by tales, mythology, nature and the history behind the locations. Experimenting with my imagination and surreal graphics in various locations in AR have inspired me to create fun little experiments. I can see that my storytelling practice could easily be shifted to 3D worlds and AR. Non-linear storytelling has been a long time interest of mine and it is more exciting (and playful) than what our 2D screens has to offer. With the future of graphics and storytelling being more immersive and interactive than ever, I am happy to continue developing my skills in this medium.
Below are some experiments from my time at the beach.
Shy Sea Shells:
I found some shy sea shells by the beach. They shrink once you get close but then grew huge to show you it’s fancy colors.
Giggly Giant Sea Shells
/ Asking yourself 'Why am I creating this in AR?' /
I believe AR works best for me when I have a simple idea, executed well with minimal interactions - with a few surprises attached. Sometimes a complex idea works well too but in that case it took a lot of trial and errors: a lot of prior ‘AR sketches’. I found it best to focus on the content/story and then asking myself ‘Why am I making this piece in AR?’ always led me to creating meaningful and interesting contents.
Thinking Woman
This year I have been thinking a lot about the future, world, politics, my career, life and lots of other things. You can say that I’m an over-thinker. And one thing I realized is that this is the era for female leadership. We have wonderful female leaders emerging in all fields and I think we need more visibility of them in our public spaces. This AR piece titled ‘Thinking Woman’ is devoted to them. (Placed in Trafalgar Square in London, UK)
Take my hand
Take my hand is an AR sketch I defined as 'an abstract visual poetry'. I wanted to try storytelling in 3D space and see if I can evoke a feeling of 'compromising' in this uncomfortable times of disagreement (in politics mostly).
/SPECIAL THANKS/
Thinking in spacial graphics and working in interactive media is very new to me. Along the residency, I've learned a lot of new creative, technical and problem solving skills. Some days I felt very strong about my direction and the other days were a bit more challenging but most important of all, the residency felt like an immersive journey into my creative world. I discovered deeper into my passion on site specific graphic installations.
A huge thanks goes to our mentors Silka Miesnieks & George Zisiadis, who helped us emotionally and creatively improve throughout the program. I was highly inspired and influenced by my creative peers Temi Coker & Timo Helgert and felt that the whole Adobe Aero Team - Alex, Stefanie, Vlad, Chantel - was there to support us and develop a much better product with our insights. I hope we will continue creating interactive experiences in future together!
