University of the Future @Expo Dubai
To promote its innovative, challenge-driven study program, the UAE University asked the team to create a pavilion offering visitors an immersive, interactive experience that mirrors the journey of a prospective student. Upon entry, each visitor receives a pearl that activates the exhibits and tracks their personalized journey through the pavilion. By going through a metaphorical day in the desert, participants will navigate the challenges of a sandstorm, uncover hidden resources in an oasis, and be inspired by the breathtaking beauty of the desert's starry night.
Client
United Arab Emirates University
Team
TODO team, Karen Oetling, Stefano Maccarelli, BASE Architetti
Role
Concept development, workshop lead, visual design, UX
The personal pearl provided to visitors activates the exhibits, stores information and generates an avatar that evolves throughout the journey, mirroring each individual experience.
Each visitor chooses a challenge informing the content of the exhibits she/he will later interact with.
Each exhibit represents a skill leading to personal growth, as a metaphor of the student’s path within the University of the Future.
An extensive work on concept development was carried out by the team. As main requirements we needed to express the University’s innovative program as well as its strong roots, while keeping visitors at the center of the experience. We built a narrative around a journey in the desert and pearl diving, a traditional activity of the area.
As part of the content team, one of my main tasks was to design the narrative for the experience’s finale, that would eventually bring individual paths together: a mirrored room where video, lighting and sound immerse visitors in an awe-inspiring starry night.