We wanted to create value around public art by letting residents engage with their local public art in new ways. We started by conducting secondary research and laying it out on a wall.

METHOD

Contextual Inquiry:

We observed how people currently engage with public art to learn more about their experiences with public art are. In teams of two we stood next to the public art and used the observe and intercept method to interview people who had either actively (taking pictures, pointing, etc) or passively (giving the public art a long glance, looking in that direction while walking) engaged with the public art.

I was surprised by my ability to walk up to strangers and start organic conversations. Many residents were willing to help me in my research process.

We then used affinity diagrams to draw insights:

We learnt that experience with public art can be very personal and people want a way to express their interpretations on public art.

Worst Idea:

We brainstormed the worst ideas to implement as a way of idea generation. Generating bad ideas helped us formulate our thought process and identify pain points and potential solutions.

Think Aloud Protocol:

To determine the suitability of Augmented Reality (AR) for our final solution (creating a new dimension for people to interact with public art) we applied the think aloud protocol on an AR app called Wallame. We asked participants to talk aloud as they go through different screens on the app.

People were delighted by the AR but had a tough time navigating the app. The concept of AR was confusing or unfamiliar to a lot of people. We would have to be careful with any AR solution we proposed.

Speed-Dating:

Through our insights we developed multiple concepts which we wanted to test out with users. So we walked participants through different storyboards showing varying concepts. Our concepts- ways to express opinions, engaging and sharing thoughts about public art.

I got the strongest reactions on my storyboard, which gave users a way to engage with public art. Through my storyboard I learnt that users want to engage, but are weary of concepts that vandalized/distorted the public art itself. They wanted a way to interact with public art, while keeping the artists intention intact.

Experience Prototyping:

I created a low fidelity prototype for my team, so we could find out if people want to engage creatively with public art and share their contribution. We got overwhelmingly positive results.

EVIDENCE + INSIGHTS

Local residents have a stronger desire to contribute to local art projects.

"I want to make a contribution to this type of public art project but I have never seen anything like this."

People want novel experiences, surprising and new interactions with the art that does not subvert the artist’s intention.

"I feel like collaborative art is endearing, especially when the community comes together. I would be curious to see what the community wanted to see."

People are curious to see what others’ thoughts/interpretations are.

"I like to see temporary spins on a permanent installation… [but it] needs to root back to the purpose of the installation … [and] the original intent of the art."

Users felt that hand-held electronics were a distraction from the art rather than a medium through which to engage with the art.

"I think it’s interesting that he walked out of his way to look at this from a different view, almost like he’s making the most out of his experience embracing this art."

SOLUTION

The Pittsburgh LookingGlass is a conceptual play on augmented reality, fixed to a specific physical location. It is a transparent smart board placed near a public art installation that viewers use to illustrate overtop the art, comment on the art, and take photographs of the augmented view of the art.

To validate our concept, we left our prototype in front of the Agnes Plaza in Pittsburgh, to see if residents would interact with our prototype organically. Three residents illustrated on the prototype by follwing the directions printed on the stand. They also posted their interactions on our instagram page without us prompting them.

LookingGlass provides local residents a way to express their creativity and have a dialogue with their community. The LookingGlass can feature collaborations with other artists and give Pittsburgh residents a means to contribute to public art and see the art in new ways.