Nineteenth International Conference on Design Principles & Practices

Abstract

Located in the city of Tucson, Arizona within the Sonoran Desert, the subject of water conservation and effective water usage is a major one. Being situated in a dry arid environment that directly impacts our way of life, the IDA (Illustration, Design, and Animation) students at The University of Arizona are assigned a project in the first semester of the program that combines illustration, motion design, and AR activation, to create a piece that raises water conservation awareness. This will present case studies of students critically engaging with their surroundings to create art pieces that educate and inform the public on water conservation. Once the public art piece is scanned with a smartphone device, a short looping animation is triggered. This additional layer of the augmented reality activation truly makes the artwork come alive and feel immersive. This assignment is structured as a mock client project with a design problem that needs to be solved using gathered research, creating illustration, and allowing students to be experimental in their approach with motion graphics. This assignment also encourages students to consider the cultural and social impact of their work and has the potential for further partnership and collaboration with the city. There is also potential in this project to educate other cities on effective water conservation techniques and forward-thinking environmental practices.