w2 - contextual keywords

ARDN808 // 04/03/26

Donut Activity

My initial research question is how the creative use of interactive technology can enable the transformation of under-utilised public space to encourage emotional engagement in urban environments. From this question, my main research focuses are in interaction and spatial design, with sub-focuses in installation design, responsive architecture and digital placemaking. These focuses formed the 5 inner circle keywords in the donut (Figure 1), relating to the field/discipline that I am operating within.

Based on related design explorations and hunches, particularly explored through iterative making practices, I chose the key words "sense of place", "play-based learning", "multimodal experience", "extended/mixed reality" and "immersion" as the 5 outer circle keywords relating to subjects, concepts, ideas and approaches with potential relevance to my project. I anticipate that the idea of "sense of place" will be especially key in establishing emotional engagement, or connection, between users and their wider urban context. "Multimodal experience", "extended/mixed reality" and "immersion" are keywords that could influence the form of my work through my desire to blend the physical and digital realm and use multimedia to engage numerous senses (sight, touch, sound, etc.). "Play-based learning" may provide a background for design inspiration, focusing on the realm of children's exhibitions in art galleries and museums where interactivity and engagement of multiple senses are at the forefront of their design.

Figure 1. Donut activity choosing 10 keywords.

Chosen Keywords

From this list of 10, I narrowed down my chosen keywords to the following 5:

• installation/exhibit design

• interaction design / interactivity

• cyber-physical/responsive architecture

• multimodal experience

• digital placemaking

These words encompass the form of my work (installation/exhibit, interactivity, cyber-physical/responsive architecture) and important aspects that drive the intent behind it (multimodal experience, digital placemaking). These words also encompass some of the other initial keywords I had chosen, such as "multimodal experience" encompassing "immersion", helping to narrow my research focus.

Contextual Influences on Practice

With my work being situated in urban public space, the following contexts have an influence on my practice:

Historical: Rapid urbanisation as a result of industrialisation (especially around World War II) has led to a large proportion of people moving to urban areas in Aotearoa (Urbanisation | Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, n.d.). As of 2024, approximately 51% of the population live in "major urban areas" such as Auckland and Wellington, and only 15.7% live in fully rural areas (EHINZ, n.d.).

Socio-cultural: Rapid urbanisation has led to a loss of cultural identity and community in cities around the world (Al-Ansi et al., n.d., Yaldız et al., 2014), and future trends may lead to an increase in this effect through the loss of community-centric spaces such as playgrounds and green spaces. A particular cultural impact in Aotearoa is the loss of connection to one's whakapapa for "urban Māori" (Urbanisation | Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand, n.d.).

Political: Government decisions and investments in the design and infrastructure of an urban environment can have a direct impact on the experience and identity of its inhabitants. A notable example in the context of my practice is Montreal, Canada, whose government has built infrastructure and backed initiatives enabling creative output such as digital art and immersive experiences (Wehbe, n.d.). For example, the government supports the annual lights festival "LUMINO" which is situated in the Quartier des Spectacles, a city block that provides the necessary space and infrastructure to enable the creation of public-facing multimedia works.

Sources:

About. (n.d.). Lumino. Retrieved 17 March 2026, from https://www.luminomtl.com/en/about

Al-Ansi, N. A., Uddin, B., Alhrabi, A., & Wahid, J. (n.d.). Impacts of Urban Growth Policy on Loss of Identity in Expanding Saudi Cities: A Case Study of Buraydah | IIETA. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.181001

EHINZ. (n.d.). Retrieved 17 March 2026, from https://www.ehinz.ac.nz/indicators/population-vulnerability/urbanrural-profile/

Urbanisation | Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. (n.d.). Retrieved 17 March 2026, from https://teara.govt.nz/en/urban-maori/page-1

Wehbe, E. (n.d.). Place and Purpose Drove Montreal’s Cultural Evolution—New Lines Institute. Retrieved 17 March 2026, from https://newlinesinstitute.org/intl-law-peace/place-and-purpose-drove-montreals-cultural-evolution/

Yaldız, E., Aydın, D., & Büyükşahin, S. (2014). Loss of City Identities in the Process of Change: The City of Konya-Turkey. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 140, 221–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2014.04.413