Media Test - Physical Space

In a previous blog post I discovered Don Carson, who is in the theme park industry and he mentioned different techniques used for environmental storytelling. (http://www.primitive-eye.com/pdf_files/Enviromental_storytelling_pt1.pdf) These relate to theme park rides however the concepts and ideas are all the same. First one was 'Physical Space'. (Taken from my previous blog):

'When designers are wanting to convey a certain story and more importantly, convey an emotion during a ride, they must consider the physical space that the ride takes place in. This is vitally important and the main features which are incorporated with physical space are; colour, lighting and texture. Each of these variables an be changed in order to convey a different emotion or tell a different story. These factors are hugely important as this is what the users are experiencing first hand. The lights, colours and textures will literally be the first thing they see, and initial impressions are very important.

'... the next most important task is to answer your audiences first question... "Where am I?" No matter how well designed your environments are, if your audience can not answer this question in the first 15 seconds, you are already lost.'

With all this in mind I have carried out some practices and tests in order to enhance my knowledge in environmental storytelling. I have practiced texturing, lighting and colour within a scene to find out how they can convey a different 'feeling' for the user. For now these have been tests solely for personal use however later on I plan on carrying them out for users to test and give feedback to help me enhance my environment and eventually, be able to convey a story to the user through environmental exploration.

Media Test - Physical Space

Media Test - Physical Space

As you can see from the above examples, even with subtle texture, colour and lighting changes, you can really enhance the 'feel' of an environment. Depending on the story or atmosphere being created you can carry out numerous techniques to the physical space that you have created.

I will be using these techniques to develop my project environment in order for the user to be able to understand a story through environmental exploring. This will be a story that I have created and, using the techniques I have learnt, I will convey this story to the user, through environmental storytelling.