Interaction - Bachelor
Oasis
Oasis is an interactive tangible installation that encourages users to slow down, be present and to appreciate the quiet moments we often overlook in our busy lives.
Phat Duong
Interaction - Bachelor
Oasis is an interactive tangible installation that encourages users to slow down, be present and to appreciate the quiet moments we often overlook in our busy lives.
There has been a significant rise in occupational stress as technology has made work constantly accessible. The line between work and rest has become increasingly blurred, making it difficult for people to disconnect. This highlights the importance of designing experiences that promote genuine rest not as a luxury, but as an essential part of a balanced, sustainable work life.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything
Lao Tzu, philsopher and writer
is accomplished”
Oasis responds to this problem by creating a calm, interactive space that invites users to pause and reconnect with stillness. Through simple, mindful gestures the installation encourages people to step away from constant stimulation. It transforms the act of taking a break into an intentional, restorative experience, supporting wellbeing in an increasingly fast-paced, digital world.
As users gently place stones on the acrylic surface, a concealed webcam beneath captures their position in real time and feeds the data into TouchDesigner. The silhouettes of the stones are translated into digital form and displayed on the tablet, seamlessly merging with the generative visuals. Each placement subtly influences the rhythm and flow of the visuals, slowing their movement and creating a moment of calm reflection. The interaction is intentionally meditative, encouraging users to pause, observe, and become aware of how their simple actions shape the surrounding environment.
The exterior is constructed from 12mm MDF panels, spray-painted in matte black and assembled using chipboard screws and wood glue for a clean, durable finish.
Inside, a clear acrylic sheet is positioned above a webcam mounted at the base of the installation, allowing interaction to be captured seamlessly.
Adhesive mirrors are applied around the tablet display to enhance depth and reflection, amplifying the visual experience within the box.
TouchDesigner — Used to process user interactions captured by the webcam and generate the reactive visuals displayed on the tablet. The program interprets live input data, such as the placement and movement of stones, and translates it into dynamic, flowing digital patterns.
SpaceDesk — Utilised to mirror the TouchDesigner interface from the laptop to the tablet display, allowing seamless real-time visual output within the installation.
In 2023, I visited Floating in the Falling Universe of Flowers by teamLab in Tokyo. That experience taught me the beauty of stillness and reflection. Oasis was inspired by that moment, created to offer others a gentle space to pause, breathe, and reconnect with themselves through calm interaction.
Phat Duong is an interaction designer and graphic communicator that is passionate about creating digital installations. His work explores how technology can craft immersive, multisensory experiences that encourage users to pause, reflect, and engage more deeply with the world around them.