Critical Design Project
Sun Walls
Critical design is described as
"...a way to pose incisive questions, challenge the status quo and think deeply about the possible future consequences of present choices. Critical Design is speculative, conceptual, provocative, and can be darkly satirical. It does not always lead to usable products, but it does produce long-term thinking" - MOMA
Sun Walls is an app and product tailored for future generations, portraying a dark story of the effects of climate change and the probable end of our environment
Figma Link to view app animations: https://www.figma.com/file/oLHLpedIxhKITkfpHfCy0n/INDOOR-SUN-APP?node-id=0%3A1
Product concept
This product was inspired by COVID-19 Lockdowns and dystopian films such as Ready Player One. As we transition towards the Metaverse with the rise of NFTs, "SUN WALLS" is a product tailored to mimic the sun. The physical product concept is a "home wallpaper" with active UV light strips that produce real UV rays. The artificial sun will keep users from leaving their homes to protect them from the catastrophic weather conditions in the real outside world. As people, we thrive from the sun and its physical and mental health benefits.
Sketches
I used Aseprite, a pixel art software, to develop 300x200 pixel prototypes that would be projected onto the UV strips. The concept is to project sun and moon phases to mimic the "realities" of pre-apocalypse earth
Final Draft of Prototype
Figma App Prototype
Subtle Dialogues
A couple of pages hint towards the dialogue of the critical design. Clicking on the sun on the home page will bring the user into the UV Index page with a reminder telling users to "Not forget to wear sunglasses indoors" and an exit screen slide warning users of the dangerous weather conditions in the real outdoors, prompting them to the safety of the application
The crux of the user interface is the animations and clean/simple aesthetics. Small clock interfaces are added, but the app purposefully lacks a setting to control the "sun", as the purpose of the design was to create an experience closest to a real sun, which is uncontrollable. Please run the prototype linked to gain the full experience with animations.
https://www.figma.com/file/oLHLpedIxhKITkfpHfCy0n/INDOOR-SUN-APP?node-id=0%3A1
