6 X 6 Briefs

6 X 6 Briefs


For the six briefs and six outcomes tasks that we were asked to complete, I decided to combine brief three to create a personalised experience with outcome one to bring in data visualisation for both exploration and interaction from the user. 

I started off by thinking about the NFC tag research that I carried out in order to understand how this technology works and how I would be able to use it in my work in the future.

My initial thoughts of how to use NFC tags for this brief and outcome combination were:

  • Personalised greetings
  • Time
  • Temperatures 
  • Weather
  • Air quality 
  • UV

However,  I decided to incorporate these ideas into the third floor studio space to make easy access to the sites that are frequently visited by myself and fellow students that work in this studio. I began by coding the NFC tags that I had purchased off of Amazon. I downloaded the application NFC Tools to my laptop but quickly realised I would need to either purchase or build an NFC reader to plug in to my laptop to be able to code the tags through this device. With some quick research I found out that I was able to code them with my phone as this has an NFC tag built in and it is able to use the same application to read and write new tags.

NFC Tag:

I began by finding the URL of the Met Office for weather in Leeds and using the ‘Add Record’ function on NFC Tools to turn the URL into writable code, from here I used the ‘Write’ function to scan the new tag with the link to Leeds’ weather. I then had a functioning NFC tag that i had personally coded so just needed to rinse and repeat this process with the different sites that I wished to create NFC tags for.

Weather NFC Tag:

The tags that i decided to create were:

  • CAGD
  • My Beckett
  • The Weather
  • The Library
  • iPrint

Once I had coded all of my tags I decided to create a poster that the tags could be added to in order for users in the studio to scan to access the sites.

First Prototype:

This prototype worked but I felt it didn't fit the look of the studio and was extremely basic so i created a more fitting design based on the feeling of the studio, I also ensured to split apart the tags a bit more so that there was no issues with scanning them as with the previous poster i encountered issues of them being placed too close together.

Once I printed the new poster I attached the NFC tags on their specific spots and put it on the wall of the studio for testing:

Second Prototype:
Attaching the Tags:
Poster In Use:
0:00
/0:08

In Use:

From here I started to think more about the user interaction and personal exploration aspects for users of this prototype as in both my first and second versions it was signposted how you were supposed to use the posters. I wanted to create curiosity about the NFC tags and decided to start making a new version where it was the outline of a phone with names of sites and services on which would hopefully make users curious and out their phone up to it which would scan the tag without the user realising what they were before and finding out through their own exploration and use.


I created the outline of my phone on Illustrator and placed the names of sites and services in four different variations which I then printed and attached the tags to.

Final Version:
iPrint:
Weather:
0:00
/0:06

In Use:


I am really happy with how this work came out as it allowed me to use one of the technologies that I had previously researched within this module and allowed for user interaction to be run by curiosity of other people working in the studio around me.

Finlay Clemens

Finlay Clemens

Graphic Design student at Leeds Beckett University currently discovering what techniques and styles I like to work with the best. Passion for live music which reflects heavily on my chosen subjects!
Leeds/Manchester