Pixel Materiali is an interactive experience commissioned by the annual Genova Science Fair. Children draw using physical pixels –square tiles with a white face and a black face. Drawings are created by flipping pixels on a tabletop. When the drawing is ready, an overhead camera takes a first snapshot. Then, pixels are changed and another snapshot is taken, and then again... On a screen, the snapshots are presented in sequence - an instant animated movie. As each snapshot is taken, the animation grows.
The challenge was to design an engaging activity for kids aged 7-11 in which they will explore iconic representation, the constraints of the pixel world and the basic principles of animation. We had 4 weeks to design and implement the project, including a user study and design iteration. The production involved managing industrial designers and software developers. The game was played by hundreds of children during the week-long fair. Pixel Materiali is permanently exhibited at Tecnologicamente Childrens Museum, Ivrea, Italy.
The project was created with Michal Rinott for e1, the exhibition unit at the interaction Design Instiute Ivrea
Publication: Pixel Materiali - A system for creating pixel and understanding pixel-based animations. IDC2007 conference proceedings
