StellAR
Fall 2024 | Capstone I | 4 Week Group Project
Programs Used
program, length of experience, program's use in the project
Photoshop - 6yrs; Asset creation
Adobe Aero - 4 weeks; Scene creation as main visual for the project
Figma - 3yrs; Visual prototyping, UI pop-ups, branding, project deck
After Effects - 6yrs; Asset animation
Chat GPT - 1 yr; Project consultant
Project Description
StellAR is the product of a with-the-box thinking project involving the creation of an interactive exhibit experience featuring the use of a 1' x 1' cardboard box. Each group consisted of 5 NMD seniors with varying skills, interests, and experience. We were provided with a cardboard box each to be used as we chose, and the theme of 'Origins'. As a group we we had to decide on an idea and conduct any necessary research on programs, our topic, and anything else (1 week), produce (3 weeks), and present our project during a final open exhibition at the school.
For this project my group devised StellAR; an AR box experience featuring the life cycle of a star. Our experience featured a "floating" structure consisting of each of our 5 boxes angled outwards towards the user in a pentagram-like structure (held up by clear fishing line attached to the ceiling). As the user approached the structure they would scan a QR code on the side of each 'station.' This would then give them access to a scene made for their station, a link to an Aero scene, which once placed, would allow the user to see a step in the process of a star's life. Here, the user would see a main visualization of the step, could read more info from the UI pop up in the scene, and tap on the visualization for a delightful mini animation.
My Roles in this project largely consisted of researching the lifecycle of a star, planning out each scene, learning Adobe Aero and teaching it to my teammates, creating and animating an asset for my chosen scene, and helping with construction and installation of the structure.
Project Planning
Diagram sketch of the main project idea
Asset Creation
My Massive Star texture made in Photoshop.
My asset for Massive Star, animated in After Effects.
Final Project
StellAR final product physical design, consisting of 5 boxes spray painted black and taped together to form a pentagram-like shape, with white paint splatter inside to represent stars and scannable QR codes at each scene.
Final reel for StellAR showing off the project production and actual function!
From the final image, the group is as follows from top left: Adelia Martinez, Mason Leposavic, Marc Miango, Kayla Krurnowski, and myself, Maddie Olszewski (bottom right).
Project Takeaways
This project was a brilliant learning experience for myself and my group! This was our first official New Media group experience designed to be a precursor to our much bigger Capstone II project the following semester, and I'd say it went pretty well! From this project I continued developing my ability to work successfully as a valued member of a group, manage deadlines, learn new skills/programs within a short timeframe (Adobe Aero), and how to ideate calmly and think on the spot when a project runs into issues, including right before its final presentation.
Overall I am happy with how this project turned out! I would have liked to have it up and functioning sooner than we did so we could have done further testing and bug fixing with time to spare before the day of the presentation, but it all worked out as well as we could make it. The only issue we ran into was our QR codes not scanning (we forgot to take into account the lights being dimmed during the event) and users having trouble placing the AR scene, which is partially to blame on the lighting, a lack of testing, and Adobe Aero bugs from being in beta. Going forward these are all things I have taken note of and will try to learn from during future projects. Also to note, it was very therapeutic destroying the physical project as a team at the end haha.
