Dream Complex is a project that combines AR technology and physical models to create a narrative of dreams. It utilizes a 3D coordinate system to classify dreams, based on the type of emotion, the amplitude of emotion, and the level of consciousness.
This project is my thesis work for the MFA in Design and Technology at Parsons School of Design. I have taken full ownership, encompassing psychological studies and research, conceptual design, prototyping, AR interaction design, 3D modeling.
Link to Parsons DT Thesis Show
Dream Complex uses AR and physical models to visualize and narrate dreams, aiming to explore subconscious meanings through storytelling. The project builds on psychological dream analysis to enhance self-awareness and connect dreams to real-life experiences, offering a potential therapeutic tool.
Freud's theory connects dreams to the subconscious, a view supported by Solms but challenged by Hobson. Russell's Circumplex Model helps visualize emotions in dreams, while Jung’s theory explores their relationship with reality. Inspired by Calvino’s non-linear narrative, a 3D AR storytelling approach allows users to explore stories from multiple perspectives.
The Dream 3D Coordinate system maps dreams using three axes: mood type, mood amplitude, and order versus disorder (consciousness). Dreams shift across quadrants based on changing emotions and logic, visualizing the interaction between the subconscious and conscious mind.
In this AR installation, you help "Little Soul" who, after breaking its emotional circle, falls into a dream complex. Your task is to find and recover scattered emotional fragments to restore the soul's circle and guide it to safety. The narrative, inspired by the my own dreams and dream analysis, offers a personal and immersive experience.
Start: Scan the QR code to access the AR experience on Instagram.
Scan Patterns: Use phone to scan patterns on the installation, each representing an emotion. Track progress with the progress bar.
Find Fragments: Explore the installation to find and collect all the emotional fragments.
Finish: After collecting all fragments, the story ends with Little Soul trapped in the subconscious, emphasizing the inescapability of emotions.
To ensure visual consistency, the designer used a patchwork model inspired by Karl Nawrot, with cloud shapes for a fluid structure. The visual style mimicked Tim Zarki's illustrations in SparkAR. Emotional fragments were placed using Russell's Circumplex Model, with AR markers revealing related content. A cardboard prototype was created and tested with AR markers to ensure alignment and structural integrity.
AR effects were created using SparkAR, including object distance testing, animations, and particles. Visual assets and animations were designed and refined using Cinema4D and Blender.
Wood, gray cardboard, transparent acrylic, and black acrylic were tested. For raster engraving with the laser cutting machine, black acrylic was chosen for its clarity and visual appeal, as the other materials had issues with image quality or aesthetics.
