Project
Japan's Pavilion at World Expo 2025
Rhino
Illustrator+Aftereffects
TouchDesigner
Designing and prototyping a co-creative interaction that reflects Japan’s culture and vision of a sustainable future for all visitors.
Role
Design Research, Experience Design, Interaction Design, VIsual Systems
Duration
6 weeks (Fall 2023)
Team
Individual, Haeyoung Kim (Professor)
Context
Looking into the "Space Between Lives"
I designed a prospective national pavilion experience for Japan, the host country for World Expo 2025. I was asked to develop a guiding theme for the entire pavilion, and show proof of concept for one area of the experience.
*At the time of the project, only it's circular concept and exterior rendering was publicly available, shown on the left.
Pavilion Theme: "Timeless Harmony"
A celebration of Japan's biodiversity and commitments for the future
The act of creating something new is infinitely more difficult that preserving what already exists. Japan is one of few biodiversity hotspots in the world with thousands of unique species, but innovation for the future comes at a steep cost.
This experience seeks to showcase Japan's vast biomes and communicate that technology can be used to protect and preserve, instead of only destruction.
Interaction: Circulation of Life
Breathe life into a digital biosphere connecting humans, technology, and nature.
Using breathing patterns as the method of interaction, guests at the pavilion interact with digital seeds to "grow" them into Japan's native plant species. Assisted by Kumo, an AI powered character, life returns and flourishes in the space when everyone works in harmony with each other.
Search for Seeds
Mimicking the natural landscape of Japan, find unique seeds of different species based on the elevation of the sand
Breathe to Grow
Follow the seed you found, or when you approach an existing seed, Kumo appears to guide the breathing activity.
Co-Create the Future
Each plant needs multiple breaths to fully grow. Work together with other visitors to grow faster, and bring biodiversity to the biosphere
How it Would Work
Sensors, Cameras, and Projections
Prototyping & Process
Future Facing, Emerging Technology
Using analytical and conversational capabilities of AI to assist humans in optimal ways of preserving the existing biodiversity. In this interaction space, guests will work together with an AI character (Kumo) to breath life into a variety of native Japanese plants projected on the walls.
Research & Ideation
Hope for Innovation 🗘 Foundation in Traditions
Using breathing patterns as the method of interaction, guests at the pavilion will interact with digital seeds to "grow" them into Japan's native plant species. Assisted by Kumo, an AI powered character, life returns and flourishes in the space when everyone works in harmony with each other.
Pavilion Layout
At the Intersection of past and future, old and new
The exterior design appeared to have multiple entrances, so I felt that a linear guest experience wouldn't be possible. Therefore, I needed a central theme to connect the various areas of the space.
Learnings & Self Reflection
Many new ways of thinking…truly trial by fire 🔥
Consideration for multiple levels of interaction: cocreative, individual, active and passive engagement, designing interaction for space with no set “beginning” or “end”
Research Process and Design Justification: Reaching a deep understanding of the World Expo, Japan’s previous pavilions, Japan’s environmental goals, challenges, and initiatives, as well as its history and popular media to pinpoint a unique and compelling narrative to communicate throughout the pavilion.
Framer 2023
Amsterdam