Goal

Create a digital art installation of individually controllable multicolor light fixtures capable of responding to various user interaction methods in a modular, scalable product platform.

Client

Reiman Gardens is Iowa State University's on-campus botanical gardens, which host various events, especially Halloween and winter holiday-themed ones in the fall and winter. We're designing our project to align with Reiman Gardens' mission: to educate, enchant, and inspire an appreciation of plants, insects, and the beauty of the natural world.

Once completed, our project will be customizable for many different events at the gardens throughout the year.

Timeline

Jan - May: Design/plan/test phase

May: Present initial product design & prototype to a faculty panel

Aug - Oct: Start hardware implementation & integration phase

Late Oct: Product validation test at the Spirits in the Gardens event.

Nov - Dec: Bugfixes & product enhancement

Late Dec: Product launch at the Winter Wonderscape event.

Project Overview

Our project is to create an interactive lighting display for Reiman Gardens events. The display will be used to enhance the visitor experience and provide a unique and engaging experience for all ages. We're designing this product to be modular and scalable to allow for easy setup and teardown for various event types.

The display will be controlled by a web interface that will allow curators to select different lighting patterns and colors.

Our interactive exhibit will be designed to be:

  • Durable: withstand the rigors of outdoor use and yearly storage.
    • Weatherproof
    • Pest-proof
    • Easy to store
  • Intuitive: safe and easy use by people of all ages and technical experiences.
  • Aesthetically pleasing: enhance the beauty of the gardens.
  • Fun: provide entertainment in a unique and memorable experience for visitors.
    • Interactive effects
    • Multiplayer Games
    • Music-synced effects
  • Customizable: be tailored to the needs of various events.
  • Cost-effective: be used by organizations with limited budgets.
  • Sustainable: be used for many years to come.
  • Scalable: grow with the needs of the organization.

Enchanted Forest

Descanso Gardens - Flower Power

Enchanted Forest of Light
Designed by Lightswitch
Lightscape

Team Members

Kevin Dickey

Hardware & Effects Lead Kevin Dickey in class

Kevin is a Computer Engineering student who (obviously) loves computers but also really likes to teach.

Christy Mettry

Hardware & Sensors Lead

Chrsity is a Computer Engineering student who is keen to leverage her technical expertise to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Nick Toothaker

Hardware Developer & Support

Nick is a Software Engineering student who enjoys Biking and Sailing in his free time.

Nick Vazquez

PM & Client Communication

Nick majors in Software Engineering and is a member of the ISU PrISUm Solar Car Team.

Eleen Mohd

Web App Developer

Eleen is a Software Engineering and is involved SWE and Digital Women for ISU



Weekly Reports

Report #1 Report #2 Report #3 Report #4 Report #5
Report #6 Report #7 Report #8 Report #9 Report #10

Project Documentation

Design Document Team Contract Lightning Talks