With the last couple of weeks left of BBC Sounds brief, the team and I retraced our steps and conducted a quick Crazy 8’s. This allowed us to visually see our initial ideas and combine the strongest elements to create outcomes. Based on the Crazy 8’s, we have determined that we wanted to experiment with the concept of augmenting material and sound.
The team and I also conducted a role-playing exercise in which Malavika and Mita took the role of a user, while Pranjal and I played the AI. In this scenario, we gave the users options to decide which artistic direction they want to draw. As an AI, we asked the users various questions about their moods, and what types of inspiration they were looking for.
We decided on creating the BBC Sounds Masterclass based on our role-playing exercise. The team and I were concerned about missing the “So What” and the substance. The masterclass allows for guidance while allowing people to explore different themes based on their interests and expertise. In this, Lara wrote the initial masterclass script encompassing the fundamentals of drawing, from drawing lines and shapes, light and shadows, and colour theory. I uploaded the script along with ambient and natural sound based on the comments during the interviews to Voiceflow. The Voiceflow allows AI to read the script, and it, unfortunately, sounded too robotic and ingenuine. One of BBC’s values and missions, which emphasised trust, accountability, and support, and the idea of using an AI voice takes away the idea of the authenticity of BBC. From there, we decide on having a British person read the script to stick with the BBC Sounds theme.
At this point, we were concerned that our outcomes were not going in the direction we were expecting, but regardless, we continued to enhance the masterclass and turn it into a soundscape. The BBC Soundscape consisted of a quiz on the BBC Sounds app, based on the person’s mood: Happy, Sad, Calm and Inspired, from an affinity map. From there, Lara and I worked on creating the quiz and interface included in the BBC Sounds app. After the quiz, it will take you to a page which plays an introduction from the masterclass, followed by curated songs based on the person’s mood used for inspiration when drawing.
Afterwards, we conducted a workshop, in which we invited UAL art students from various courses to take the BBC Soundscape quiz and to listen to the soundscape while they draw. During our final presentation, we invited our BBC Sounds partners, classmates, and tutors to view the drawings in the gallery space while carrying their phones and headphones so they can scan and listen to the soundscape.
During our feedback, our BBC Sounds partners, Tom and Simon appreciated how the experience was engaging and interactive. We also received feedback from our classmates on how they enjoyed how the authenticity of the gallery space, and how they enjoyed the sound introduction of the soundscape. Our mentors unfortunately believed that we could elevate the visuals and focus more on the essence of drawing, and its elements. I agree with this statement, and with more creative guidance, we would have executed the outcomes wholly.
Looking back, this was the most difficult and challenging experience I have encountered thus far in the UAL MA UX course. Overall, it was rewarding as it allowed my team and I to communicate more effectively, and the dedication and passion that my team had pushed us to the finish line.
