Fresh Eyes, Fresh Steps

Projection Installation | Swain Hall, NC | August-December 2025

Tools Used

WATCHOUT 7
After Effects
Premiere Pro
Procreate
Illustrator

Scope

Projection Technology & Surface Feasibility Analysis
Narrative Development & Show Concept Design
Physical Scale Model Fabrication (Laser-Cut)
Media Asset Development & Content Production
Spatial Calibration & Surface Mapping

Project Overview

Project Brief

Produce a full-scale projection mapping experience from concept ideation to production installation, while working in a collaborative theater environment. Professor Tao Wang tasked students in exploring a design thinking process to ideate and formulate a complete story that will be produced as a projection concept. We tested a variety of objects with a combination of lighting options, and found that laser cutting a model with wood and matte acrylic would work well.

Concept Summary

Fresh Eyes, Fresh Steps is a conversation about what it feels like to walk into a new element. It presents a perspective of the struggles one can go through when taking their big step into becoming a grown individual. This speaks to people of all ages while telling a story through the lens of going to school. Although it can be viewed as for someone going to their first day of elementary school, the story has a presence within anyone’s story: either going to college, to the first day of a new job, or moving to a new location.

Technical Considerations

This 16-week long project captures a wide variety of new concepts learned in class, as well as presenting new perspectives on what projection mapping can be for me.

Confine the projection within a small space to allow room for all students in the class.
Design and produce a 3D model of the projection surface to map projections onto.
Utilize a single projector to point light at the object.

Scale Model

Inspired by a southern town home, this grey home facade settles the audience into a scene that reflects my roots of growing up in a country home. The purpose of this model is to produce an environment that sets the storyline into the performative perspective Grant grew up in. Sleek grey walls surround the perimeter of the home with a full-width porch leading the audience into the home. Tall support columns hold the roof onto the facade, which creates an even and large surface to project onto.

Laser Cut Model

Material: Acrylic and Plywood Dimensions: 15” Wide x 13” Tall Illustrated in: Adobe Illustrator Laser Cutter: Universal Laser Systems

Facade Concept Design

Designed in Procreate on iPad Pro. The original concept includes a variety of altered elements that the end design does not include. Due to time, available materials provided by UNC-Chapel Hill, and the theater’s available space, it was decided to reduce the model to only feature the house.

Laser Cut Model #2

Laser Cut Model

Material: Acrylic and Plywood Dimensions: 15” Wide x 13” Tall Illustrated in: Adobe Illustrator Laser Cutter: Universal Laser Systems

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Storyboard

Creative Design Thinking

To curate ideas of stories to tell through projection mapping, it was necessary to give myself 5 minutes to list as many ideas I had, then repeat it a couple times. Eventually, this gave me a long list of concepts and ideas, then I connected them together to produce a large mindmap. Using the assistance of Figma’s AI tool to sort cards, I noticed my ideas were arranged within three categories: perception and sensory experience, communication and empathy, and personal growth and exploration. Resulting in a story about coming of age.