credits
nic amsel / thesis advisor
maureen weiss / thesis instructor
Haylein Choi / thesis instrutor
Daniel Gratham / thesis advisor
shout out to
taro cunta / friend / menace / emotional support
shrishti arora / friend / 24*7 panic call
nic amsel / friend / thesis panic call
yoora / friend / positive vibes bringer
"Identity is not found in the multiplication of masks, but in the acknowledgment that we wear them"
- james hollins
/ what is this project?
This installation creates space for people to evolve their thinking and challenge their biases without sacrificing claims to authentic selfhood. True authenticity may lie not in remaining the same but in embracing the fluid, unfinished nature of human identity.
medium of choice
Interactive art breaks the usual patterns of how we experience technology, creating genuine moments of surprise that capture people's attention. When technology behaves in unexpected ways, it creates a sense of wonder that opens people up to deeper emotional connections.
Unlike static graphic design, where viewers simply look at an image, interactive art turns them into active participants in the story. This direct involvement made interactive art the perfect medium for my thesis
visual explorations
I started with making generative animations on processing and p5js. I wanted to find a style that would be just the right amount of retro futuristic. the idea was to find something that resonated with the medium as well as the message.
*built with claude sonnet 4 and cursor
body tracking and camera filters
I was particularly excited to develop filters for the main TV screen. I experimented with overlaying text as silhouettes
or animations within the live feed.
To streamline my experimentation process, I built custom tools in p5.js that significantly enhanced efficiency and speed. These tools integrated webcam feed functionality with customizable sliders and switches, allowing me to dynamically adjust values and instantly visualize results.
*built with claude sonnet 4 and cursor
setting it up
One 17ft by 15 ft room.
Two projectors.
Three cameras.
One 55 inch TV.
Two speakers.
Four mid air hanging acrylic sheets.
Three days to install.
And one ambitious designer.
Making any immersive installation requires you to first be absolutely clear about your installation space. Once I had that clarity, I focused on making an elevation plan of what was possible in the space.
i was pretty scared while i was installing this as i have no experience with tools. gladly i had great friends who I could count on and extensive planning before hand made life much easier.
exhibition day
From Personal
Experience to Creative
Expression
i had a visceral reaction when the reception for this show opened. i had never utilised design for anything else other commercial impact ,so seeing people play and be emotionally moved by something i made, was quite rewarding.
when i look back to this project i dont even know how this manifested and where did this idea come from. it almost feels like this was meant to be and i was just a medium for this work.
in the end this installation changed me in more ways than i can list.
footnote : a pivotal moment
⚘
i saw an old woman cry and a teacher asked me to set this up in her school so kids could play.
these 2 things changed a lot about how i want to go about practicing design in my personal and professional life.
view next project
stablemoney
Stablemoney: India's premier digital financial platform.
calculated camouflages
An installation to create a moment of pause for the viewers and to reaffirm their faith in their individuality. We are our choices after all.
ROLE / creative technologist
exhibition design / interactive art / graphic design
this project was done as a part of my thesis installation and was up for 2 weeks in the fox building in baltimore, maryland