Orbital Space Kiosk is an interactive hub that immerses visitors in the wonders of space exploration. Users can view an animated 3D rendering of each planet, watch a planet breakdown and see what it's made of, or interact with the planet to learn more about specific areas.
Challenge
Creating the Orbital Space Kiosk presented several challenges that tested both my design and technical skills. One major hurdle was ensuring that the interactive content was engaging and accessible to a diverse audience, from young children to adults with varying levels of knowledge about space. Additionally, space kiosks have been done several times before, so it was a major goal of mine to create one that hasn't been seen before and offers unique features.
Results
Overall the results ended up being very positive among peers. One struggle I faced was the render time for each planet animation, as each one took several hours. The educational materials were well received, as the kiosk allows visitors to grasp complex space concepts in a fun and accessible way. Overall, the Orbital Space Kiosk successfully achieved its goal of making space education both engaging and informative, becoming a potential highlight of the space section of a museum.
Process
Research & Analysis: Extensive research was conducted to understand the functions of specific planets, their compositions, atmospheric gases, overall appearances, and notable features or "landmarks."
Wireframing: I designed low-fidelity wireframes to visualize the layout and navigation, iteratively refining them based on feedback from my peers. Afterward, I built a high-fidelity, interactive prototype to test the design.
3D Asset Creation: I created several assets for each planet using Blender, and then I rendered them out in a loop to add to my prototype in Figma. Each asset was carefully rendered multiple times in order to ensure they looked exactly as they should.
Prototyping: I made various different changes to the UI elements based on feedback, and continued to iterate over and over. It was important to me that I made the design very easy to understand to ensure that people of all ages would be able to use it.
Visual Design: The visual design evolved through several iterations to maintain a sophisticated experience. The emphasis was placed on the assets, as I aimed to make them the primary focus for users.
Lo-Fi Wireframes
Final Visual Comps
Conclusion
Creating the Orbital Space Kiosk was a rewarding journey. By focusing on user engagement and educational value, the kiosk successfully enhances the overall experience at the space museum. The research done on planet features and compositions really helped shape the interactive content, making sure it was visually appealing and relevant. Peers shared positive feedback about how it simplifies complex space concepts, making them fun and engaging. Overall, I learned a lot creating this project while continuing to enhance my skillset in 3D and Figma.
