Industrial - Bachelors

WITNESS

A SEAMLESS DIGITAL METATDATA SYSTEM FOR ANALOGUE PHOTOGRAPHY

Jaiken Mergard

THE RESEARCH

Name
RESEARCH REPORT
File Type
application
File Size
8 MB
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The project started with an in-depth research report, consisting of product benchmarking, a vast survey with 40+ responders who take part in analogue photography communities. As well as thorough interviews with career professionals as well as hobbyist photographers.

THE OPPORTUNITY

“I’D SOONER NEVER USE A PAPER LOG, THAN TO SOMETIMES USE IT AND NEVER CREATE A CONSISTENT SYSTEM OR HABITS”

Currently, users may use digital or paper log books to record the settings and environmental factors that went into their photos, But research showed that whether due to:
a) defining their artistic photos manually into a set of data points removing the creativity and intent behind photos,
b) lack of habit and consistency; if they are not going to make a log for every photo, what is the point.
c) ease of use; it takes time and effort to stop what you are doing to take a log.

THE IDEATION

Ideas were explored, producing a range of potential paths the project could follow. They ranged from integrated digital solution, to dynamic thermo-printer logs. All the products solved a varying level of the problem: “how could we seamlessly track the user settings, and produce an output that works with the systems already in use”.

The chosen outcome was closest to pitch 2, A smart tracking system that utelised the camera’s hot shoe mount to trigger a range of machine vision cameras. In this version, it would allow the user to retroactively look over their photos.

the Final product ideation

The products form was refined, starting first with defining the required camera positions to create accurate data. From this, the design was developed, using clear ISO standards, as well and a considerate design that would be compatible with every camera. As the product was finalised, the form was refined, and refined further into the final product…

Name
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT RECORD
File Type
application
File Size
9 MB
Download File

Design for people new to analogue photography, all the way to creatives that enjoy experimenting with new and novel film photos, the Witness captures over 10+ variables of the camera and environment that are then able to be seamlessly baked into the users digital scans. This data allows for deep analysis and understanding of ones photographic successes and failures, and also creates a vast historic archive of information.

THE WAY IT WORKS

These images show the Point of View of the witness system when taking data points of a scene. The camera uses its machine vision cameras to track points, that can be both user defined or automatically found by the Witness system. The users only need to set up each camera once, and the can easily swap the Witness between the camera that is currently in use.

Jaiken Mergard

What Is Industrial design to me? It is the perfect marriage of creativity combined with physical problem solving. The fact that I can work with my hands in a fulfilling way has been unparalleled, and I am only increasingly more excepted for where I will find myself in the future!