Interview about Blossom Wonder Interactive Installation, winner of the A' Interactive, Experiential and Immersive Design Installations Award 2023
This interactive art installation, titled Blossom Wonder, reimagines the concept of "flower cultivation" by seamlessly blending digital innovation with realistic landscapes, making it an ideal feature for this year's Design Yearbook. This innovative fusion introduces an intelligent ecosystem to the traditional natural garden, showcasing the inherent vitality of plants and flowers. Through its vivid portrayal of life's messages and energy, Blossom Wonder aims to inspire viewers, offering a rejuvenating and healing experience for each individual.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsIn the Blossom Wonder interactive installation, we established a profound connection between emotional states and the seven different flowers in the design based on the "flower cultivation" concept of Xinyi Qixiu Hotel. First, we conducted in-depth research on the symbolic meanings and cultural connotations of various flowers. Each selected flower corresponds to a specific emotional or health state of humans. For example, roses, with their warm and passionate characteristics, are linked to positive emotions such as joy and enthusiasm, reflecting a vibrant mental state; osmanthus, known for its elegant and fresh fragrance, is associated with calmness and tranquility, catering to the emotional need for inner peace.We also combined the practical scenario of the installation being located in a hotel. Considering that hotel guests may have different emotional states after a long journey or daily work, we matched the flowers to these possible states. When guests complete their personal health checks in the hotel's health check-up area, the system generates a flower that suits their current health and emotional state based on the test data. This flower not only visually represents their state but also, when projected on the LED screen of the installation, allows guests to intuitively feel the connection between themselves and nature. Through this design, we transform abstract emotional states into concrete floral images, enabling guests to have a tangible experience of emotional resonance and healing.
The reason our team adopted the technical solution of parametric modeling and ultra-high-definition LED flexible screens to achieve a smooth and natural organic aesthetic stems not only from the need for technological breakthroughs, but also from the "technology-art integration" gene rooted in our team. As a creative team with both "romantic scientist" and "geek artist" traits, artech (art technology) integration is the core of innovation we have always adhered to. We have always strived to present the appeal of art through the rigor of technology, transforming digital installations from cold collections of technology into warm carriers of emotion.From the perspective of specific needs, the first is the core goal of breaking the limitations of traditional display screens. Traditional display screens are mostly in regular shapes such as rectangles, which can hardly present the natural and flexible growth posture of flowers. However, parametric modeling can construct curved arcs with dynamic rhythm based on the growth veins and natural lines of flowers, simulating the natural process of petal stretching and stem growth. This makes the shape of the installation deeply conform to the natural organic aesthetic, and it is precisely our key attempt to translate the beauty of nature through technology.Secondly, the unique advantages of ultra-high-definition LED flexible screens make the design implementation possible. Its flexibility allows it to perfectly fit the curved structure designed by parametric modeling, freeing the displayed content from the constraints of screen shape; the ultra-high-definition resolution can accurately present the delicate veins of petal textures, the luster of dewdrops on leaves, and even the fine down on the edges of petals, greatly enhancing the visual authenticity and appeal. We also considered the integrity of multi-sensory experience, combining dynamic visual effects with customized sound fields—for example, matching soft string music when roses bloom, and integrating crisp wind chime sounds when sweet osmanthus appears—creating an artistic healing space with dual immersion of "vision + hearing". This technical solution not only meets the visual expression of the "flower cultivation for health" concept, but also allows users to truly feel the vitality of nature in a digital environment. All of this stems from our team's adherence to "technology serving emotional experience".
As the industry's first LED hyperbolic interactive art device, during the R&D process of Blossom Wonder, the challenge of device shape manufacturing was the primary and most critical problem we faced. According to the design plan, the petals of the device need to present a hyperbolic shape with two degrees of freedom, similar to a naturally blooming bowl-shaped structure— the petals not only need to stretch outward, but also have a soft curvature that wraps inward. This complex curved shape has no precedent in the field of screen production and structure construction, and the flat cutting process of traditional display screens cannot meet the demand at all.To overcome this problem, we made breakthroughs in two aspects: on the one hand, we decomposed the curved structure through parametric modeling technology, converting the complex hyperbolic shape into a quantifiable digital model, and accurately calculating the curvature of each section of the curve and the connection angle of each "petal". This broke the limitations of the regular shape of traditional display screens and allowed the displayed content to extend naturally with the curved shape; on the other hand, we launched a nationwide supply chain research, visiting more than 30 screen manufacturers in China over 3 months, testing the bending limit, color reproduction and stability of flexible screens one by one. Finally, we selected a customized flexible LED screen that can achieve P1.8 ultra-high definition—this screen can not only withstand the long-term bending of the hyperbolic shape without affecting the display effect, but also ensure uniform brightness in all areas of the curved surface through point-by-point calibration technology, avoiding color differences at the edges. Ultimately, it achieves a "high-brightness, high-definition, seamless" image presentation, making each "digital petal" as full and three-dimensional as if it were naturally growing.
The concept behind achieving this fascinating visual harmony through the seamless integration of mirror polished steel and LED screens in the Blossom Wonder interactive installation is to create an "infinite extension" effect that blurs the boundary between the digital world and the real environment. We hope that the installation is not an isolated digital device but a medium that connects the real garden space with the digital art world. Mirror polished steel has a high reflective property, which can reflect the surrounding natural scenery, such as trees, flowers, and the sky in the garden. When combined with the dynamic floral images displayed on the LED screen, the reflective effect of the steel makes the digital images blend with the real scenery. Viewers can see the digital flowers on the screen and the reflection of real plants on the steel at the same time, creating a sense of mutual penetration and infinite extension between the digital and real spaces.In terms of the technical process, the first step was the material selection and processing of mirror polished steel. We selected high-quality stainless steel materials with high reflectivity and wear resistance to ensure that the reflective effect remains stable for a long time even in outdoor environments. The steel was processed through multiple polishing procedures to achieve a mirror-like smooth surface, reducing the loss of reflection and ensuring clear reflection of the surrounding scenery.The second step was the structural design of the integration of steel and LED screens. We needed to ensure that the LED screen could be perfectly embedded in the steel structure without affecting the reflective effect of the steel. The parametric modeling technology mentioned earlier played a crucial role here. We designed the curved shape of the installation through parametric modeling, making the steel frame and the LED screen fit closely according to the designed curve. At the same time, we optimized the installation structure to avoid the steel frame blocking the display area of the LED screen and ensure that the digital images and the reflected real scenery can be presented harmoniously.The third step was the color calibration of the LED screen. To make the digital floral images on the LED screen more naturally integrated with the reflected real scenery, we adjusted the color parameters of the LED screen. We calibrated the color temperature, brightness, and saturation of the screen to match the natural light conditions in the garden. For example, in the morning when the natural light is warm, we slightly increase the warm tone of the screen; in the afternoon when the light is bright, we adjust the screen brightness to be consistent with the surrounding environment. This color calibration ensures that the digital images do not appear abrupt against the background of the reflected real scenery, achieving a seamless visual connection.
The innovative approach of Blossom Wonder interactive installation, which reimagines traditional garden spaces through technology, will have a profound impact on the future of interactive public installations. Firstly, it breaks the traditional definition of garden spaces. Traditional gardens mainly rely on natural plants and landscape designs to create a healing and aesthetic environment, while Blossom Wonder combines digital technology with natural elements to create a smart ecological garden. This approach will inspire more designers to integrate digital technology into traditional public spaces such as gardens, squares, and parks, breaking the single form of traditional public spaces and creating more diverse and intelligent space forms.Secondly, the interactive experience of Blossom Wonder sets a new benchmark for interactive public installations. In the past, many public installations were mainly for viewing, with limited interaction with the audience. However, Blossom Wonder realizes multi-dimensional interaction through technologies such as radar detection, color recognition, and mobile phone integration. The audience is no longer passive viewers but active participants in the installation. This interactive mode will promote the development of interactive public installations towards a more personalized and immersive direction. In the future, more installations will pay attention to the individual needs of the audience, realize customized interactive experiences based on the audience's personal data (such as health status, emotional state), and further enhance the sense of participation and resonance of the audience.Moreover, the success of Blossom Wonder in creating a healing experience through technology provides a new development direction for public installations. In modern society, people are facing increasing pressure and anxiety, and there is an urgent need for spaces that can provide emotional comfort and healing. Public installations, as an important part of urban public spaces, have the potential to become such healing spaces. The innovative approach of Blossom Wonder proves that digital technology can effectively simulate natural elements and create a healing environment. In the future, more public installations will focus on the healing function, using technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and sensory simulation to create a variety of healing spaces, helping people relieve stress and improve their mental health.Finally, the commercial and cultural value of Blossom Wonder will also drive the development of the interactive public installation industry. As a project developed for a hotel, it not only enhances the cultural connotation and brand image of the hotel but also brings certain commercial benefits. This successful case will attract more investment from businesses and institutions in the field of interactive public installations, promoting the industrialization development of the industry. At the same time, the integration of local cultural elements (such as the "flower cultivation" concept in this project) into the installation also promotes the inheritance and dissemination of culture. In the future, interactive public installations will pay more attention to the integration of local culture and technology, becoming a new carrier for cultural communication.
The mobile phone integration function that allows visitors to generate and project personal flower designs in the Blossom Wonder interactive installation has gone through a continuous optimization and evolution process during the development phase. Initially, our team only had a basic idea: to connect the audience's personal information with the installation to enhance the sense of personal participation. However, we were not clear about the specific form of connection. We first considered using simple QR code scanning to let the audience trigger fixed floral effects, but this method was too single and could not reflect the personalization of the audience, so we abandoned this idea.Later, we combined the scenario of the installation being located in a hotel and thought of the audience's health status. We realized that health status is a very personal attribute, and connecting it with floral design can better meet the audience's need for personalized experience. So we began to design the process of combining health detection with flower generation. We cooperated with the hotel's health check-up area to collect the audience's basic health data, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sleep quality. Then, we studied the relationship between these health data and floral characteristics. For example, a stable heart rate may correspond to a flower with regular petal arrangement, while good sleep quality may be associated with a flower with soft colors.In the initial stage of developing this function, we encountered problems such as inaccurate matching between health data and flower designs and complicated operation processes for the audience. To solve the problem of inaccurate matching, we collected a large amount of sample data, including health data of different groups of people and corresponding floral preferences, and used data analysis and machine learning algorithms to optimize the matching model. We also invited professional florists and psychologists to participate in the design process, ensuring that the flower designs not only match the health data but also conform to the aesthetic and psychological cognition of the audience.For the complicated operation process, we simplified the steps. Initially, the audience needed to go through multiple steps such as registering, filling in personal information, and undergoing health checks to generate personal flowers. We optimized the process by integrating the health check data collection into the hotel's existing check-in or health service process, reducing redundant steps. At the same time, we developed a user-friendly mobile phone interface, allowing the audience to view their personal flower designs and the corresponding health tips with just a few clicks.During the test phase, we invited a group of hotel guests to experience this function and collected their feedback. Some guests suggested that the types of flowers were too few, and some hoped that they could adjust the flower designs by themselves. Based on this feedback, we expanded the types of flowers, increasing the number from the initial seven to more than ten, and added a simple editing function on the mobile phone interface, allowing the audience to adjust the color and petal shape of the flowers within a certain range to further enhance the sense of personalization. After multiple rounds of optimization and adjustment, the mobile phone integration function finally achieved the expected effect, becoming an important part of the Blossom Wonder interactive installation.
During the research phase of the Blossom Wonder interactive installation, we conducted extensive research on floral characteristics and human emotional states, and obtained many surprising insights that profoundly shaped the final design. One of the most surprising insights was the strong correlation between the color of flowers and the emotional response of different age groups. Initially, we generally believed that warm colors such as red and orange would evoke positive emotions in most people, while cool colors such as blue and purple would make people feel calm. However, through in-depth research and questionnaires, we found that there are significant differences in emotional responses to flower colors among different age groups.For example, among young people aged 18-25, bright and bold colors such as bright red and neon pink are more likely to trigger their sense of excitement and vitality; while middle-aged people aged 35-50 prefer soft warm colors such as light orange and peach, which make them feel warm and comfortable; elderly people over 60 have a special preference for light blue and lavender, which they believe can bring a sense of peace and reduce anxiety. This insight made us realize that the design of the installation cannot adopt a unified color scheme but needs to consider the age characteristics of the audience. Therefore, in the final design, we added an age-related adjustment function to the color detection system. When the system generates personal flowers based on the audience's health data, it will also refer to the age information provided by the audience (obtained through the hotel's check-in information or voluntary input) to adjust the color of the flowers, making the floral designs more in line with the emotional needs of different age groups.Another surprising insight was the impact of flower shapes on the audience's sense of security. We originally focused more on the color and symbolic meaning of flowers and paid less attention to their shapes. During the research, we invited participants to look at pictures of different flower shapes (such as round, sharp, and irregular shapes) and record their emotional feelings. We found that flowers with round and smooth shapes (such as peonies and roses with full petals) are more likely to make the audience feel safe and comfortable, while flowers with sharp and angular shapes (such as some exotic flowers with pointed petals) can easily cause a sense of tension in some people. This insight made us adjust the shape design of the flowers in the installation. In the parametric modeling process, we mainly used round and smooth curves to design the petals and flower centers of the digital flowers, avoiding the use of sharp angles and irregular shapes. At the same time, we increased the number of petals of the flowers to make them look more plump and full, further enhancing the audience's sense of security and comfort.In addition, we also found that the fragrance of flowers (even in the form of digital simulation) has a significant auxiliary effect on the emotional healing of the audience. Although the Blossom Wonder installation mainly relies on visual and auditory experiences, we initially considered adding a scent diffusion system to simulate the fragrance of different flowers. During the research, we found that when the audience sees the digital image of a flower and smells the corresponding simulated fragrance at the same time, the effect of emotional healing is significantly better than when only seeing the image. For example, when the audience sees a digital osmanthus flower and smells the simulated osmanthus fragrance, their sense of calmness is significantly enhanced. This insight prompted us to add a scent diffusion module to the final design of the installation. The module is connected to the color detection system and the mobile phone integration function. When the audience's personal flower is projected on the screen, the scent diffusion system will release the corresponding flower fragrance, creating a multi-sensory healing experience that combines vision, hearing, and smell.
Since the launch of the Blossom Wonder interactive installation, we have witnessed many memorable reactions and unexpected ways of participation from people, which have deeply touched our team and also verified the success of the installation in creating a personal healing experience. One of the most memorable stories is about an elderly couple. The husband was in a low mood due to a recent illness, and the wife accompanied him to stay at the hotel hoping to help him relax. When they came to the installation, the husband, who was originally listless, became interested after learning that he could generate a personal flower based on his health data. After completing the health check, the system generated a light blue lavender flower for him, which symbolized peace and recovery. When the lavender flower slowly bloomed on the LED screen and the faint lavender fragrance was released, the husband's eyes suddenly lit up. He stood in front of the screen and watched the flower for a long time, and then gently held his wife's hand and said, "It's so beautiful, just like the lavender field we saw when we traveled to Provence many years ago." Since then, the couple came to the installation every day during their stay at the hotel, and the husband's mood gradually improved. Before checking out, they specially came to thank our team, saying that the installation had brought them a precious memory and helped the husband regain his positive attitude towards life.Another unexpected way of participation
Blossom Wonder Art Installation Interaction Process and Technical SolutionsI. Interaction Process of the Art InstallationThe core interaction of the Blossom Wonder art installation revolves around "information code connection + proximity feedback" to create an immersive experience for visitors:First, visitors obtain their exclusive information code through a pre-detection process (e.g., health data collection). After obtaining the code, they go to the installation and scan the code with their mobile phones. Once the system recognizes the information code, it immediately generates a corresponding personalized artistic visualization in real time—this visualization is tailored to the visitor’s unique data (such as exclusive flower dynamic effects matching their emotional state). In addition to code-scanning interaction, the installation also provides real-time feedback when visitors approach: as visitors move closer to the device, the system triggers a visual echo (e.g., dynamic particle effects that spread and follow the visitor’s movement trajectory), forming a seamless interactive experience where "the installation responds to human proximity".II. Difficulties and Challenges in the Interaction ProcessDuring the development and operation of the above interaction process, we encountered four key technical challenges that directly affected interaction accuracy and user experience:Color Recognition Interference: When using a camera for close-range color recognition of images displayed on mobile phone screens (to identify information codes), accuracy is easily disrupted by multiple factors. Different mobile phone models and screen brightness levels cause slight deviations in the same color’s presentation; wide-angle cameras introduce distortion and dispersion in captured images; and individual colors with similar hues (e.g., light pink and light orange) are difficult to distinguish, all leading to potential recognition errors.Difficulty Adapting to Natural Light: The installation operates outdoors 24 hours a day. Changes in natural light—including fluctuations in light intensity (e.g., intense midday sun vs. dim dusk) and color temperature—continuously alter the lighting conditions for camera shooting. This significantly increases the difficulty of camera recognition, often resulting in misrecognition or delayed response.Speed and Computing Power Pressure: The wiring distance between the server and the recognition camera is approximately 50 meters. To ensure a smooth user experience, the entire process from "code scanning to artistic visualization generation" must be completed within 1 second. This requires repeated testing and optimization to balance three critical factors: long-distance data transmission delay, computing power allocation, and hardware performance.Accuracy of Detection Point Mapping: The physical detection points surrounding the installation must be accurately mapped to the relative positions where digital particles are generated. If there is a mismatch between physical locations and particle positions, the visual echo will be out of sync with the visitor’s movements when they approach—breaking the coherence of the "proximity response" interaction.III. Interaction Technology and Program Development (Solutions)To address the above challenges, we adopted a modular development approach and independently developed three core functional systems. These systems work collaboratively to overcome technical bottlenecks and realize the installation’s full interaction potential:Color Detection System (ImageDetection System):This system is developed based on OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision Library) and numpy (a numerical computing library), with computer vision algorithms enabling real-time detection of mobile phone screen colors and generation of personalized artistic visuals. To solve color recognition interference and ensure fast, error-free code-scanning experiences, we specially developed a custom component called ColorFilterTool—a computer vision tool that allows rapid adjustment of HSV (Hue, Saturation, Value) parameters. This component effectively compensates for color deviations caused by different mobile phones or screen brightness, corrects distortion and dispersion from wide-angle cameras, and distinguishes colors with similar hues—ultimately achieving long-distance, low-latency, and high-accuracy color recognition to support stable generation of personalized visuals.Location Mapping System:This system focuses on solving the challenges of detection point mapping accuracy and proximity feedback. It uses radar to detect the distance between visitors and the "Seven-Color Flower" installation; this distance data is then used as a key parameter to control the amount of particles generated (e.g., more particles are released when visitors are closer). Simultaneously, the system uses OpenCV to calculate and analyze objects within the detection area: it cuts out a 20-meter radius interaction zone centered on the installation, maps the physical coordinates of this zone to the corresponding positions on the installation’s curved surface, and finally generates curl noise particles in real time at the detected visitor positions. This ensures both accurate "proximity response" and precise alignment between physical detection points and digital particle effects.Real-time Rehearsal System:This system is designed to tackle speed and computing power challenges by realizing synchronized management of the physical installation and virtual environment. It preloads commonly used artistic visualization templates and particle effect models into the virtual environment—this reduces real-time computing pressure on the server, as the system no longer needs to generate all effects from scratch. Additionally, we optimized the data transmission protocol for the 50-meter distance between the server and camera, minimizing transmission delay. Through repeated hardware testing, we selected high-performance, compatible hardware (including edge computing servers and low-latency cameras) to further enhance processing speed. Together, these optimizations ensure the entire "code scanning to visualization" process is completed within 1 second, guaranteeing smooth and uninterrupted interaction for users.By integrating these three modular systems, we successfully addressed all technical challenges and fully implemented the Blossom Wonder installation’s interactive design—delivering a stable, accurate, and engaging experience for every visitor.
The social value of the Blossom Wonder interactive installation is mainly reflected in its exploration and practice of the integrated model of “technology + healing + public space.” In the current fast-paced social environment, people’s demand for emotional healing and mental relaxation is growing increasingly. As an important venue for people’s daily activities, public space has great potential to carry healing functions. By combining natural elements with public space through technological means, the installation provides a new idea for the functional expansion of urban public spaces—it is no longer a mere decorative installation, but a “healing carrier” that can generate emotional interactions with users and provide psychological comfort. This model can be replicated and promoted to more public spaces such as parks, shopping malls, and airports, providing convenient healing experiences for more people.Looking ahead to future development plans, we have three main directions. First, in terms of technological iteration, we plan to introduce more advanced artificial intelligence technology to enable the installation to more accurately identify users’ emotional states. For example, by analyzing multi-dimensional data such as users’ facial expressions and speech intonation, the installation can generate flower designs that better match users’ current moods, further enhancing the personalized healing effect. Second, in terms of scenario expansion, beyond the hotel scenario, we hope to promote the installation to community elderly care centers, children’s rehabilitation institutions, and other venues. We will develop exclusive interactive models and healing scenarios based on the needs of groups such as the elderly and special-needs children. For instance, we will design a “memory-linked flower” function for the elderly, which can trigger their memories of beautiful past moments through flowers; for special-needs children, we will design flower experiences with softer colors and simpler interactions to assist in their emotional regulation. Third, in terms of cultural integration, we plan to cooperate with cultural institutions in different regions to integrate local characteristic cultural elements into the installation design. For example, we will design flower shapes based on traditional paper-cutting art and incorporate local folk songs as the background sound of the installation. This will make the installation a carrier for spreading regional culture, contributing to cultural inheritance and exchange while providing users with healing experiences.
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