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PRODUCT DESIGN
In February 2022, I left Ningbo to travel far to explore new possibilities. Before the new journey, I revisited Ningbo's Moon Lake Park, which evoked a sense of nostalgia and reverence within me. Reflecting on my experience, I recognized the challenges faced by those with emotional ties to a specific place, yet distanced from it, in exploring it again or telling its story to future generations.This realization ignited a determination to bridge this disconnect - enabling individuals, regardless of their location, to delve into the cultural depth and historical relevance of a region - I initiated a project. By utilizing the Ningbo Moon Lake as a focal point, I aim to create accessible and immersive products, allowing people to experience and engage with the essence of a place without the constraints of physical presence.
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Moon Lake Park, nestled in the heart of Ningbo, embodies profound historical and cultural significance. Originating from the Tang Dynasty as a crucial water source, it transformed into an academic and cultural hub in subsequent dynasties. With diverse architectural treasures and a focus on practicality over embellishments, Moon Lake reflects Ningbo's ethos of 'Pragmatic Humanism'. This cultural gem has evolved, shaping the city's character and preserving ancient traditions.
I took tons of pictures of Moon Lake Park, combined with some online resources, collecting the visual information, and aiming to capture the atmosphere and essence of it and its surroundings.
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Leveraging my photo collection as inspiration, I seek to imbue the interactive map interface with Moon Lake Park's serene yet lively spirit. Meticulously choosing a colour palette, I aimed for a perfect blend that encapsulated the lake's beauty, ensuring both visual appeal and practicality.
To align with Moon Lake Park's temperament, I aimed to find a graceful yet energizing typeface to align with. After comparison, IM FELL English and Averia Serif Libre emerged as the perfect typographical expression for this historical and architectural amalgamation.
Crafting icons for significant park landmarks merges functionality and history for immediate site recognition. Inspired by ancient Chinese inscriptions, the iconography for the whole park embodies Moon Lake's visual appearance, conveying historical significance with ancient elegance.
Leveraging Mapbox's capabilities, I integrated location markers and custom layers to create an engaging map. Pop-up windows linked to images and info provided an immersive exploration of Moon Lake.
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In this phase, I brought Moon Lake's wonders to life using AR and VR technologies. Through 3D modeling and innovative marker-based interactions, users could step into a virtual world, experiencing the park's vibrant surroundings and enhancing their interaction with Moon Lake.
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Combining the results of all phases, this comprehensive interactive map displays Moon Lake's architectural grandeur, historical significance, and humanistic atmosphere. As users navigate from an aerial view, the Moon Lake logo appears, revealing different architectural icons upon zooming in continuously. It offers a rich and seamless experience, enabling users to delve into audio descriptions, videos, and AR/VR scenes at specific locations.
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When translating a location's rich, physical, and emotional heritage into a digital format, it should be in a manner that deeply resonates with the audience, making it accessible and compelling.
Maps are not just narratives; they're windows into our past, guides for our present, and visions of our future. As technology evolves, I envision a future where maps become even more potent tools, embracing artificial intelligence, inclusiveness, and a discourse for change.
The integration of AR and VR technologies opened avenues for remote exploration, enabling people far away to connect with the location effortlessly. It also facilitated community engagement by incorporating local stories and memories, thus preserving and celebrating collective heritage.
This approach highlights how innovative storytelling methods and technology can attract tourists to enhance interest and visitation, benefiting local economies.
This project represents an exploration into the convergence of historical reverence, technological advancement, and user-centric design. It serves as a testament to the potential of interactive maps in cultural preservation, storytelling, and community engagement, not just illustrating a location but capturing its spirit and essence.