Phase 1: Project Research and Pitching
This blog documents the early development phase of my final year degree project.
Research and Insights
Link to FigJam (Brainstorm)
At the start of my Final Year Project (FYP), I envisioned creating an ocean-themed installation. This idea was inspired by my Independent Project from the previous semester, where I explored coral bleaching through a table projection mapping piece aimed at raising awareness and promoting ocean conservation. With this FYP, I wanted to build on that foundation and continue educating people about the ocean — a vast, mysterious world that still holds so many secrets waiting to be discovered. As someone deeply passionate about marine life, my goal is to spark curiosity and inspire others to care about and explore the ocean, just as I do.
Getting my diver’s license was honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Lately, I’ve seen more people getting into diving, which is great, but there are still so many who haven’t had the chance to explore what’s beneath the surface.
I’m especially interested in using projection mapping and 3D motion, as these are skills I hope to develop further and carry into my future career. I’m also considering adding interactive elements to make the installation more immersive and memorable for the audience, allowing them to feel more connected to the ocean through technology and storytelling.
Initial Ideas
Idea 01: Experiencing the Underwater world
Many of my friends have said they’re interested in getting certified in diving, but many of them are scared of the water. That’s one of the main reasons I want to create something that allows people to experience what it’s like down there. It’s so calm and peaceful, just you and the ocean. It’s a feeling I think everyone should experience at least once in their life.
To bring this idea to life, I think combining 3D or 2D motion design with projection mapping could be a powerful approach. By layering visuals with immersive, interactive elements, I hope to recreate the sensation of being underwater, giving users a glimpse into the ocean’s beauty, even if they’ve never put on a wetsuit.
Visual References:
Idea 02: Educating About Ocean Creatures
For this project, I plan to use recycled plastic to construct skeletal replicas of various sea creatures, highlighting both the beauty of marine life and the importance of sustainability. Building on these physical forms, I will design an animated projection that maps directly onto each sculpture, bringing the creatures to life through motion and light. The animations will share facts and stories about each animal, creating an engaging and interactive experience for viewers.
By combining tactile sculpture with digital media, the installation aims to make ocean education more immersive, memorable, and fun, especially for those who learn best through visual and hands-on interaction.
Visual References:
Idea 03: Bioluminescent Deep Sea Creatures
In the deep sea, light is extremely limited, and this is where nature has adapted in remarkable ways. One of the most fascinating adaptations is bioluminescence, which allows deep-sea creatures to produce their own light. It plays a crucial role in their communication, hunting, and survival, making it an essential part of the deep ocean’s complex ecosystem.
For this idea, I’d love to create an immersive room installation where bioluminescent sea creatures appear to glow in response to people walking past, triggered by sensors. It would be a fun and engaging way to let audiences experience the wonder of bioluminescence and interact with the mysterious world of the deep sea.
Visual Reference:
Using recycled plastic, I could create small models of these organisms and embed LED lights inside them. Placing them throughout the installation space would help simulate an underwater environment, where the creatures appear to glow softly in the dark. By connecting them to motion sensors, they could light up as visitors walk past, creating a magical, immersive experience that mimics the natural behaviour of bioluminescence in the ocean.
After 1st consultation
Today, we had a briefing about our Final Year Project (FYP), covering the overall process for this semester and the one that follows. We also got the chance to watch some of our seniors’ past projects, which was really inspiring and helped spark some ideas. The briefing also included an overview of the project timeline and how we can manage and navigate our work throughout the semester.
After the session, each of us had the opportunity to consult with a lecturer of our choice. I chose to speak with Lin Yew, as I believe he has strong experience in creating installations. I’m confident that his insights will be valuable in helping me shape the kind of project I hope to bring to life.
He introduced me to the work of Joon Moon, a Korean artist and his installation named, Augmented Shadow: Chasing Stars in Shadow. It was a great reference that opened up new possibilities for how I could approach interaction and projection in my own project.
He also advised that if I plan to create a physical installation, I should be mindful of its scale. Even if I envision it on a large scale, it’s better to start small. This way, I can manage the process more effectively, especially since there will likely be a lot of trial and error involved. Working on a smaller scale allows for easier testing and refinement before committing to something bigger.
Thoughts throughout the following weeks
Every night, for the past few days lying in bed, I cant stop thinking about this project. Will there be something even better then just doing a project related to the ocean. Is there something that can help me in my future career?
If I were to make something marine life related. Would the topic be too wide range, should I focus on just a topic, like maybe just sharks, or whales etc. But for now there’s still nothing immersive that come in my mind if I were to focus on something just shark related.
Maybe using idea 2 from week 1, I could make short animations on the shark information. I would be a installation where mini wooden blocks of sharks would need to be places somewhere and the information about the shark would be played.
Other Topic Ideas that came to mind
Dragons
Are dragons just myths? It’s hard to believe that nearly every culture has some kind of story or history involving them. From four-legged dragons to two-legged wyverns, and even legless or wingless wyrms — these creatures appear in countless forms across the world.
A Diver's Point of View
A 180-degree wall projection, showing the audience in 3D what divers see underwater. Users will interact as the diver. They will be given a sort of controller/ something to control the POV. Users can explore the virtual ocean.
Project Direction Shift
While waiting for my turn to consult, I found myself going back and forth, questioning whether my idea was strong enough, when suddenly, a new concept popped into my mind.
New Idea
Concept: Real-Time Generative Glasses Design, this concept allows customers to design their own glasses or sunglasses through digital sketching.
As they draw their designs on a digital interface, the sketches are instantly transformed into real-time 3D renders on screen, bringing their ideas to life in a visually interactive way.
Once they’re satisfied with the final design, the render can be converted into a 3D model and 3D printed, giving them a one-of-a-kind, customized pair of glasses. This creates a fun, engaging, and personalised design experience.
Generative Design
A YouTube Short I came across that sparked a rough idea for a new concept, one that brings AI and design together, especially relevant in today’s era, where AI is rapidly advancing and becoming widely integrated across creative industries.
Feedback
During this consultation, Lin Yew tried to tell me how it will be a really good project to have in my portfolio for my future career, explaining that so far no students have experimented with AI for their project. He told me that he has industry friends who worked with a software called COMFY UI. It’s a new but quite powerful node base software for AI generation.
By he end of this consultation, I was quite convinced about this project. I literally thought of this 2 mins before consultation. My mind has been fogged for the pass week and I just suddenly thought of this.
Concept Test Week Incoming
I had some time to think about this project, and I decided I don’t really want to do the AI generation part. I’d rather focus more on 3D motion graphics and an interactive sculpture, since that’s the direction I see myself going in when I start looking for a job.
While I was discussing it with Lin Yew, I told him how I felt, and he said, “Don’t say you don’t want to do it before trying — just try it first.” He mentioned that it could actually be a good opportunity, especially when it comes to job hunting. Like, imagine going into an interview and having some knowledge in an area not many people have touched — that could be a big plus.
He then gave me some advice on how I could combine 3D motion graphics, sculpture, and generative AI into one concept. That way, I’d still get to work on what I’m passionate about while also learning something new that might come in handy later.
What do I want to learn during this Final Year Project ?
What do I wan to improve on ?
What I want to achieve in the end ?
“Don’t limit yourself, explore with more ideas and
don’t comfirm until concept test”
He shared some cool ideas like incorporating an augmented environment. Since I mentioned a mythical creature collab with Gentle Monster, he suggested drawing from local myths to inspire the eyewear designs, or even creating entirely new creatures based on my own take.
Instead of going from sketch to 3D like I first planned, Lin Yew recommended using text prompts with predetermined mythology-based keywords. That way, I can guide what users input for AI-generated designs while keeping the creative direction focused.
I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on this, wondering whether I should follow my passion and stay ‘close’ to the ocean by doing the installation that many people have already done or seen, or take this opportunity to explore AI and align myself with the future of art.
Concept Test
Even thought I really wanted to change this project. I decided to trust the process and just go with this project.
This week’s concept testing really helped me feel more confident about the direction of this project. It eased a lot of my doubts about whether I should continue. Based on the feedback, it seems like most users are genuinely interested in the installation and would be willing to try it out.
I just hope they were being honest during the test. Because I’d be pretty disappointed if the project doesn’t attract anyone after all the work I put into it.
That said, I’d say I’m about 70% sure I want to keep going with this idea. Hearing encouraging feedback from my classmates also gave me a small boost of motivation to push forward.
Mini Roadblock
This morning while waiting for my classmates to give feed back on my concept test, I over heard another classmate discussing with lecturer that she wants to work on a gentle monster collaboration, I was quite shocked as I remembering mentioning it to her that I am doing a GM collaboration, I guess she forgot.
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I wanted to speak up but thought to myself, should I take it as a challenge for myself to do better and stand out or to change a topic and let her proceed with the GM collaboration.
Last consultation before proposal
Decided to consult with Jeremy today as I have been quite unsure about my project for the past week, I wanted to have a few more opinions before I actually decide to change my idea. Was thinking to see both Yi Chuan and Jeremy today, but YC is sick.
I told Jeremy what was going through my head and how I wanted to change the idea, and updated him on what has happened through the week with Lin Yew’s and my classmates suggestions.
He said that having a 3D motion on the side with ready made glasses doesn’t really work well as a whole installation, it kind of feels separated.
One of the thing he suggested was instead of using key words, I could use the elements I want and make it into a physical object. So, to customize the glasses, users would have to pick the objects and put it on the designated area. Once detected, the AI would generate the glasses and it would be sent to the screen on the side displayed with the 3D motion graphics to showcase the complete product. I really dig this idea of having a physical 3D printed object instead of keywords.
For this, I would need to train the AI to recognize each object, then combine them to generate a unique pair of AI-designed glasses. The information would then be sent to another screen, where motion graphics of the glasses are dynamically generated. Additionally, I plan to 3D model several different backgrounds, with the displayed environment changing based on the combination of objects selected by the user.
This will definitely be a challenge for me, as I’ve never worked with AI generation before. But I genuinely hope I can pull it off and make it a success this time around.
Concept and Proposal
( Before proposal ) Link to Final Concept Slides
The Other Sight
A Gentle Monster x Mythical Creatures Collaboration
Project Background
In a world driven by fast fashion, this collaboration with Gentle Monster brings a fresh, imaginative take on luxury, blending mythology, interactive tech, and high-fashion design. It’s more than just choosing a product; users become part of the story, connecting through both physical relics and digital experiences.
Opportunity/Key Insights
- Passive retail is not enough as audiences crave active participation and emotional ownership over products they engage with
- Gen Z and Millennials are drawn to highly visual, social-media-friendly experiences that allow them to express identity and creativity.
- Current retail spaces often lack emotional depth, reducing luxury to visual merchandising rather than meaningful interaction.
- Myth-inspired design and interactive storytelling present a fresh opportunity for fashion brands to stand out through memorable, shareable experiences.
Concept and Theme
The concept transforms the customer into a co-creator, offering an interactive experience rooted in mythology and symbolism. Users begin by selecting relics inspired by mythical creatures, each carrying its own meaning. These relics then serve as prompts to generate unique, AI-assisted eyewear designs. The outcome is a personalized, immersive experience that merges retail, ritual, and storytelling — where fantasy, identity, and fashion intersect.
Objectives and Goals
- Reinforce Gentle Monster’s brand as a leader in bold, creative, experiential design
- Offer personalized creation as part of the product experience.
- Position the brand at the forefront of AI-driven fashion and installation art.
- Inspire emotional connection and user-generated shareable content.
- Bridge physical tactility with digital craftsmanship.
Core Experience and User Scenario
Relic Wall
A user steps up to the relic wall and selects a dragon scale, phoenix feather, and unicorn horn.
The “Altar of Creation”
The users will need to place the chosen relics in the forge zone.
Generation Screen
The system scans them and instantly renders a futuristic sunglasses design with iridescent gold flares and horn-like arms.
Motion Showcase Screen
A video screen lights up, showing her eyewear worn by a mysterious model showcasing her creation on the screen.
Vision Board for eyewear AI generation
3D Motion Graphics Visual Moodboard
Technical Implementations
Physical Installation Plan
- Blender to design detailed relics (e.g. dragon scale, phoenix feather) for both 3D printing and in-game visuals.
- Unity (with Vuforia/OpenCV) or TouchDesigner detects relic placement and sends input data.
- ComfyUI to generate unique eyewear visuals and animations based on relic combinations.
Final visuals are shown on a motion screen and shared digitally via QR code or email.
Aftermath of the proposal
Feedback and Thoughts
To be honest, I didn’t really have a solid project background until proposal week. It was after Tatt’s comment that things started to fall into place. His feedback really made me think, and it helped me solidify the direction and purpose of my final project.
Before that, the installation felt a bit disconnected. It looked cool, but it didn’t have a clear meaning or context. Tatt suggested that it would make more sense if the installation targeted Gen Z users who love fashion but can’t always afford luxury brands like Gentle Monster. That idea gave the project a clearer purpose and helped me shape the experience around accessibility and interaction.
From there, it made more sense: users could customize AI-generated sunglasses and try them on virtually through AR, just by following the brand on social media. And if they wanted a real version, there’d be an option to get it custom-made.
Looking back, that one piece of feedback helped me connect everything
From the concept to the audience, it made the whole project feel a lot more meaningful.
Finalized Project Proposal
I revisited my proposal and made several changes to the project background and narrative behind the installation. Based on the feedback I received, I now feel that the installation concept is more complete and cohesive. While the overall structure and experience of the installation remain the same, I’ve refined the storyline to better align with the setup and give the project deeper meaning and purpose.
Summarized Final Proposal
Project Background
High-end fashion brands are often perceived as exclusive — worn by influencers or gifted through PR, leaving many everyday admirers feeling left out. This project reimagines that dynamic by inviting all users, regardless of income, to actively participate in the brand experience. Through an immersive installation and AR-powered customization, users can co-create their own luxury eyewear, transforming passive admiration into personal connection and creative expression.
Opportinuty And Key Insights
- 65% of Gen Z say they’re starting further behind financially than previous generations due to student loan debt, high living costs, and lack of job security
- 66% of 18–24 year olds report cutting back on non-essential spending, such as apparel and accessories, due to inflation
- Gen Z desires luxury but is held back by financial limitations.
- There’s a powerful opportunity to create accessible brand experiences — letting them co-create and virtually try-on products they couldn’t otherwise own.
Concept And Theme
In collaboration with Gentle Monster’s latest mythical creature collection,
this installation offers a new kind of brand experience. Instead of simply browsing eyewear in-store, users become co-creators.
Target Audience
1. Primary audience: Gen Z and Millennials (18–30), fashion-conscious, digitally native
2. Want to experience high fashion emotionally, not just materially
3. Passionate about fantasy, storytelling, identity, and social content
4. Need inclusive, creative access points into brands they admire
Annotated Bibliography
- Cooper, H. (2021). Illuminating the Facts of Deep-sea Bioluminescence. [online] Montereybayaquarium.org. Available at: Link
This article explains how deep-sea creatures produce light through a process called bioluminescence, using chemical reactions in their bodies. I learned that they use this light for different reasons — like attracting mates, luring prey, confusing predators, or even communicating. This helped inspire ideas for my installation, especially in thinking about how light can be used not just for visual effect, but to tell a story or represent different behaviors or moods. - Esmee Blaazer (2024). The Gen Z dilemma: eco-conscious but addicted to fast fashion. [online] FashionUnited. Available at: Link [Accessed 24 Jul. 2024].
From this article, I learned that even though Gen Z cares about sustainability, a lot of them still choose fast fashion because it’s more affordable and easy to access. This helped me understand why younger audiences might not go for luxury brands like Gentle Monster, and it supports my idea of making the installation more accessible and appealing to them. - Generative Design 101 (2025). Generative Design 101. [online] Formlabs. Available at: Link [Accessed 5 Jun. 2025].
From this article, I learned how AI can be used as a creative partner, not just a tool. This helped strengthen my installation concept, where users combine objects and the AI generates unique sunglasses designs based on those inputs. It showed me how generative design can add value by making each outcome feel personal and visually unique, making the experience more engaging and meaningful. - hazards and catastrophes (2025). Why Dragons Appear in Every Culture — From Asia To Europe | Documentary. [online] YouTube. Available at: Link
From this video, I learned about the history and cultural significance of dragons across different parts of the world. It explained how dragons have different meanings — like symbols of power, wisdom, or protection — depending on the region. Watching this gave me the idea to explore a dragon theme, which eventually inspired the broader mythical creatures theme for my Gentle Monster collaboration concept. - Showstudio (n.d.). GENTLE MONSTER | SHOWstudio. [online] www.showstudio.com. Available at: Link [Accessed 30 May 2025].
I learnt more information about the brand Gentle Monster from this website.
Phase 2: Action Plan
- Begin researching and exploring ComfyUI for generative design capabilities.
- Learn how to create AI-generated outputs based on visual or object input.
- Start 3D modelling mythic relics (e.g., feathers, horns, scales) for object detection.
- Explore object detection integration using tools like Unity, TouchDesigner, or TUIO.
- Research how to connect detection inputs to ComfyUI, triggering custom generation.
- Test a basic prototype that links physical object placement to visual output generation.
- Document findings and note technical requirements or limitations.
