About
The Bridge is an application that allows the beneficiaries of the LIFE Mission, a Kerala state government scheme, to actively take part in the conceptualization and construction of their own future "homes". The application follows a participatory design approach, and thus, has the ability to make multiple changes through its usage. It allows for varying degrees of personalization, at the environment level, the structural level as well as the interior level.
This tool allows the user to gauge and understand the space to the best of their ability, by actually interacting with the space in a virtual setup.
This is an upgrade from the existing process of reading a catalog printed with pictures of the models of houses the user has to choose from and finalize their future houses.
Concept Video of Application
Summary
Through the project, I was able to perform secondary research as well as primary research during site visits. I was able to map my research findings by creating mind maps which I created digitally using online tools like XMind and Draw.io and finally recreated them in Photoshop. Following that, I ideated by sketching out rough ideations and iterations. I later started creating low fidelity prototypes using SketchUp and Unity, and once the outcome was finalized, I continued on the same software and created my simulation. To make the final video, I used Adobe Premiere Pro and created the application walkthrough.
Process
Design Brief
As a part of my final year thesis, this project aimed to create a digital interactive platform that acts as a participatory design tool for housing, where LIFE mission can display their models of the houses and the user can experience a model in the environment it will be situated in, select and customize a model of home, after taking an informed decision.
Approach
As a student of Human Centered design, I chose to look into this project as a user experience designer and a creator of interactive systems. I approached this project in a collaborative manner, with the beneficiaries, the contractors responsible for the construction of the LIFE Mission houses as well as the village extension officers of the various Panchayats who implement LIFE Mission. I explored interactive applications for computers as a method to be used in the scenario of creating a home in the context of Wayanad district, in the state of Kerala, India.
Method
The project was done by analyzing the procedures that LIFE Mission follows and positioned my intervention accordingly. Following this, I engaged in participatory design methods with the beneficiaries of LIFE Mission to help understand their idea of home, through the following participatory research activities –
• By describing their current home and looking at the positive and negative aspects of it.
• By understanding their wants, needs, and desires in a home.
Following this, I explored the use of an interactive computer application as a tool for visualizing the output.
Secondary Research
Primary Research
LIFE Mission
Need for an Intervention
- If the beneficiary has a more active role in choosing their home, it will create a sense of belonging and thus, a sense of ownership.
This will thus, empower beneficiaries.
- To allow customization and personalization of living space. Help users participate actively in
construction of their own home, as well as create an ideal environment around their home.
- Trust will be built with the LIFE Mission, as there will be transparency in the system when the
beneficiary and the other stakeholders work together.
Ideations and Iterations
Working in Unity
After the field visits, I realized that although the usage of VR or AR technologies could be useful for participatory design of housing, currently, in the given context, it might not work and thus I chose to create a desktop application for the same.
Final Outcome
Finalized Idea Narrative
Following the steps explained under the selection of the beneficiaries, they finally attend a briefing session in the Village Extension office at their local Panchayat where they are allowed to select the model of their future home.
The following details out that process.
Mapping the Application's Uses
Wireframes of The Bridge App
