“From storytelling to story making: Interactive techniques to creating immersion in public spaces.” by Panzetta
Conference:
Type(s):
Title:
- From storytelling to story making: Interactive techniques to creating immersion in public spaces.
Session/Category Title:
- Crossing Dimensions: Virtual Productions and Characters
Presenter(s)/Author(s):
Moderator(s):
Abstract:
Public spaces present unique challenges for interactive design—co-presence, cognitive overload, and opaque interfaces all make engagement difficult. Unlike games or screen-based media, where audiences have clear conventions and play spaces, public experiences require collective, transparent interactions to encourage immersion and emotional connection. This talk explores the idea of shifting from storytelling to storymaking; from designing fixed narratives to curating moments of personal meaning that come together to formulate story-driven outcomes. Rather than telling audiences stories, successful interactive public spaces should empower shared exploration, allowing audiences to control and synthesise their own stories through embodied participation. Together we will examine design frameworks that can help enhance public engagement; Agency and the sphere of possibilities: How restricting exploration encourages it as we unpack Antopia, a 1,000sqm real time spatially tracked immersive exhibit into an ant colony. Designing for ‘me-to-we’ outcomes: Shaping interactions that shift from personal to collective engagement. We explore Guardians of Al Wasl at World Expo 2021 as an example of connecting an audience of thousands of global citizens on the world’s largest interactive display. Using novel HCI to create mechanics as metaphor: Using intuitive design and gaming principles to make interaction legible. Exploring the use of computer vision, machine learning and audio inputs to speak in the language of experience. This talk will discuss innovative case studies where these principles have both succeeded and failed. Together we’ll develop a better understanding of how using real-time game engines like Unreal can foster safe, shared experimentation, how novel HCI and computer vision solutions can enhance embodiment, and how large-format displays can evoke awe to foster social connection. As interactive media moves beyond screens, this talk provides actionable insights and discussion into the process for designing meaningful, communal experiences in public spaces.
References:
[1] Don Norman. 2013. The Design of Everyday Things (revised and expanded edition ed.). Basic Books, New York.
[2] S1T2. 2021. Guardians of Al Wasl – World Expo 2020. https://s1t2.com/projects/dubai-world-expo. Accessed: 2025-05-24.
[3] S1T2. 2023. Tyama – A First Nations Immersive Experience. https://s1t2.com/projects/tyama-immersive-exhibition. Accessed: 2025-05-24.
[4] S1T2. 2025. Antopia – An Immersive Ant Colony. https://s1t2.com/projects/antopia. Accessed: 2025-05-25.
[5] Nina Simon. 2010. The Participatory Museum. Museum 2.0, Santa Cruz, California. See especially page 91 for the Me-to-We design framework.
