Phonic Bloom is an interactive Augmented Reality mobile application that interprets the data sculpture in the Woodland Community Library’s children’s reading room both sonically and visually to a variety of audiences. Originally created by the Portland-based design group Superfab, the sculpture transforms linguistic data from three regionally relevant languages — English, Spanish, and Cowlitz Salish — into a stunning arrangement of hanging flowers.
In the fall of 2024, the Digital Technology & Culture department at WSU Vancouver joined the project to enhance its interactivity. Our team developed an AR interface that allows visitors to engage with a 3D model of the sculpture, enabling them to explore its design and delve deeper into the concepts and themes it represents. This approach bridges education and creativity, transforming the sculpture into an engaging, immersive learning experience.
In the capacity of Project Manager, I oversaw the development of:
- An interactive AR experience allowing children to interact with a 3D model of the sculpture, enabling a deeper understanding of its educational values while also giving kids a fun digital interface to play with.
- A supporting website designed to not only educate adults on the sculpture's development and intended artistic meaning, but to also facilitate dialogue between visitors about relevant topics such as language, sound, and culture.
- A 12-week multi-platform campaign promoting the library, the sculpture, and our team's development of the interactive experience, hosted across three channels (Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn).