AT&T Globe
The Globe sculpture at the AT&T Discovery District is a focal point and center for exploration and discovery for employees as well as the general public. A physical manifestation of the AT&T logo, it is the heart of the Discovery District and a first of its kind. The Globe is comprised of a mirrored shell and 15 custom-bent aluminum ribs with seamlessly integrated color changing lights, speakers and motion sensors. It rotates on a 180-degree axis and features state-of-the-art technology that provides a dynamic and interactive light and sound experience to engage and react to visitors. The Globe not only serves as a venue for community activities and concerts, but also invites people inside to play, experiment, and create their own personal experience.
I was the Interactive Design Lead on the Globe Project. Although the sculptural design was well underway by the time I joined the team, I championed the interactive capabilities and helped select the necessary hardware. I defined the tenets of the user experience as well as the specific interactions and modes.
Considerations
Interactivity in a public space, especially in an urban environment on the grounds of a major corporation's headquarters, can be perceived as a gimmick. Designing engaging forms of interaction that would be enjoyable for both participants and spectators required novel thinking. Designs needed to take into account social situations and bodily gestures. The opportunities and inherent limitations imposed by the sculptural form also factored into the design of a gestural UI.
Development
The immersive visuals and soundscape of the Globe use an array of sensors that allow the content to react in real time based on each guest’s location within the structure. Sensors detect the number of visitors within the installation as well as their movements. Specific movements and specific numbers of visitors trigger different content modes. The longer visitors spend inside the Globe, the more animated the content becomes.
The content modes also feature Easter Eggs. Visitors activate Easter Egg states when performing specific actions or positioning themselves in predefined locations. Float4 was tasked with developing the interactive software and visual effects based on the UX blueprints, visual designs, and interactivity schematics produced by my team inside Gensler's Digital Experience Design practice.
Finally, there are 20 speakers and 6 subwoofers placed strategically inside the Globe’s structure. This allow visitors to experience the immersive audio developed in collaboration with Made Music Studio.
Experience
The globe shifts between two experience modes—each containing a dozen unique interactions. For "Flow State" we wanted users to feel as though they were interacting with a fluid composed of light and sound. For "Synesthetic Playground" we wanted users to feel the reverse; that they're interacting with a sonic field that is shaping their visual environment.
Delivery
As one of the few public urban spaces in Dallas one can go to simply hang out, the district fulfills a key role. In a city without the central park or lake, socialization usually involves spending money at bars and restaurants. The Globe is a uniquely free and uniquely compelling attraction. It is a space where people of all ages can meet and spend time without the requirement of spending money. Most ambitiously, the Globe is an interactive media arts experience that invites the public to shed their inhibitions and enjoy being a part of a community. I am extremely proud of the experience we delivered and honored to have worked with so many great collaborators.
