Breaking Through the Noise
Bringing an illusive issue like noise pollution to light in front of your eyes.
Context
Strategy & Design project at VCU Brandcenter with Hannah Hugeback (Strategy), Dunny Dunegan (Strategy), Fade Akinsade (Strategy), Ryan Shih (Experience Design).
Role
Experience Designer, Strategist, UX/UI Designer
Skills
Experiential Design, 3D Modeling, Research, Strategy
Tools
SketchUp, Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects
Overview
Background
Environmental issues run wide and deep; often we don’t even realize how many of our actions affect the natural world around us.
It affects creatures in the sea, on land, and in the air by disrupting sleep habits and drowning out communication; similarly it also impacts us humans as individuals through hearing loss, heightened stress, and disrupted sleep.
Challenge
Noise pollution affects our daily lives, our health, and the planet at large, but the issue suffers from a lack of awareness.
Eco anxiety and compassion fatigue is at an all time high, how do we break through the noise?
Opportunity
Utilizing public space with a walkthrough experience to visualize damaging everyday sounds. highlighting the causes and dangers of noise pollution posed not only to public health and to the environment, but also to the audience themselves.
Solution
The Dome
Exploring The Dome
Features
Soundproofed to isolate external audio inside the dome
Integrated directional microphones to pick up noise from specific points in Moynihan Hall
Brings illusive issue to light with an immersive light visualization
01. CUBE
The entrance to the experience introduces the audience to the very concept of noise pollution, often something they’ve never considered. The entrance is deliberately small to encourage an intimate experience and personal connection to the experience and new information.
Highlights sources of pollution, as well as health and environmental impact.
02. DOME
The audience enters the dark and quiet dome one party at a time. They can use an interface inside the dome to choose the source of their lightshow experience.
Visualization of immediate surrounding noise levels, as well as common noises and soundscapes.
03. Cube
Taking a moment in the exit cube allows the audience to process what they’ve just seen before confronting the full din of the train hall
As the audience exits, they’re left with action items for themselves as individuals and broader societal and structural responses to advocate for.
Reflection
Confronting my own Compassion fatigue.
It’s hard not to feel hopeless and overwhelmed with how massive and complicated environmental issues are. Immersing myself, researching, and designing for a new facet of complication was draining but very interesting and eye opening to new ways my actions affected the world around me.
Solidifying the abstract.
Figuring out how to take an invisible input and create a visible output was an interesting design challenge.
Epilogue
Feeling overwhelmed? Here are some actions and resources:
Invest in noise cancelling headphones for your commute on public transportation.
Plant trees and bushes to absorb sound around your property.
Push for the EPA to regulate companies that are producing excessive noise.
Advocate for smarter urban planning and better city design that absorbs the noises of everyday life.