How can design and technology help us fight climate change? At Dasein Academy of Art, students explored this question through MADSCAPE, an interactive exhibition featuring over 10 digital media installations. Centred on SDG 13: Climate Action, the exhibition turned our campus into an immersive space filled with ideas for a greener future.
Through projects like Taste of Tomorrow, Coral Vanish, GreenCook, Roots of Life, and Evergreen Garden, students addressed the environmental impact of everyday habits—from food delivery and sunscreen use to burial practices. Each project used digital tools like projection mapping, motion sensors, and interactive storytelling to spark awareness and solutions.
The goal was simple: to show how small changes in our daily choices can make a big difference for the planet. By combining art, design and technology, MADSCAPE invited us to imagine what a better future could look like, starting now.
What made the exhibition especially engaging was its use of interactive storytelling and digital tools. Technologies such as Unity, Arduino, and motion sensors were used to create immersive experiences, allowing users to make choices, trigger animations, and see the consequences of their actions in real time. This hands-on approach helped communicate the urgency of climate issues in a way that feels personal and accessible.
Check out a few of the project video here.
Cycle of Life | Interactive Motion Graphics by Gan Ai Xin
Madscape | Website Design by Jovanna Chuah
Mangrove Miracles | Interactive Motion Graphics by Kwan Xi Mun
A talented young artist, burdened by her mother’s unfulfilled dreams of academic and musical success, must confront the heavy expectations placed upon her and find the courage to pursue her true passion for art, breaking free from the cycle of living someone else’s dreams to forge her own path in life.
Emily, a procrastinating programmer stuck in a repetitive time loop mirroring her stagnation, confronts her procrastination and reclaims her life, symbolized by a wilting flower on her desk that blooms anew as she breaks free from the cycle and embraces change.
Under the weight of academic pressures and the struggle to find her identity, introverted college student Jamie discovers a well-loved book filled with personal notes in the library that inspires her to overcome self-doubt and pursue her dream of writing, leading to a journey of personal growth and the power of shared stories.
“imPERFECTion” is an interactive installation addressing the impact of social media-driven beauty standards and the resulting insecurities, especially among young adults. Using a physical clock to symbolize time, participants rotate it to view past and future animations that depict the main character’s journey toward self-acceptance. The project encourages embracing imperfections and promotes self-worth through engaging visuals and storytelling.
Social comparison with social beauty standards, influenced by social media, can lead to unrealistic beauty ideals. This often results in feelings of insecurity about one’s appearance and fear of judgement for not meeting societal expectations, particularly among young adults. This could potentially lead to extreme actions taken by these individuals, such as extreme alterations to their physical appearance. Young adults should be reminded to embrace imperfection and recognise their own self-worth.
Concepts & Idea
The concept utilises an interactive installation to explore the interplay of a reverse and forward timeline, symbolised by a physical clock. This allows viewers to actively manipulate the passage of time, participate in visual storytelling, and delve into the transformative journey of the main character towards self-acceptance through animation.
Technical Execution
The project uses Adobe Animate to create interactive animations depicting the journey of self-acceptance influenced by social beauty standards. Makey Makey acts as a bridge, connecting a physical clock interface to the computer, enabling users to control the animations. Rotating the clock clockwise triggers the future animation, while anti-clockwise rotation shows the past. Special actions activate the final scene. This integration of digital animation with a tangible interface provides an engaging, hands-on experience that reinforces the theme of embracing imperfections and recognising self-worth.
