Cosmic Connections
Projection Mapping, Data Visualization
Year-2022
This project explores my personal relationship with astrology, zodiac signs, and crystals through a research-based design process. What began as a spiritual curiosity evolved into a critical reflection on belief, knowledge, and subjectivity. Inspired by Donna Haraway’s concept of Situated Knowledges, I focused on how personal experiences shape understanding. The goal was not to educate, but to visualize my perspective while leaving space for others to form their own interpretations.
Understanding astrology and crystal healing from a spiritual and scientific standpoint was the main goal of my research. I investigated how people use these systems to create meaning, particularly in times of stress or uncertainty. I also questioned the veracity and inconsistencies of widely used sources. This stage made it clear to me that there are only individual belief systems influenced by experience rather than a single "truth" in this field.
Ideation
I began with multiple ideas, including VR environments, interactive installations, and physical displays. Early brainstorming helped me explore how an audience might engage with this topic without feeling overwhelmed or lectured. I struggled with narrowing down a medium, but this exploration helped clarify what I didn’t want: a purely educational or static experience. Over time, I leaned toward something more abstract, open-ended, and experiential.
Development of Concepts
The project became interpretive instead of informational. I wanted to visualise my own understanding rather than explaining the meaning of crystals or zodiac signs to others. I concentrated on subjectivity, overlaps, and contradictions—reflecting the real workings of belief systems. This rephrasing turned into a pivotal moment that influenced all subsequent decisions.
Prototyping
Due to time and technical limitations, I shifted from interactive mapping to a motion-based visual prototype. I experimented with MadMapper’s built-in materials such as gradients, grids, and light effects. These early tests helped me understand how motion, rhythm, and layering could communicate complexity without relying on text.
Visual Design
The final composition consists of two circular rings: the outer representing zodiac signs and the inner representing crystals. The structure was inspired by the zodiac wheel. Lines connect multiple signs to multiple crystals, highlighting overlap rather than fixed meanings. I refined the visuals to reduce clutter, replacing text with symbols and simplifying the palette to create a more atmospheric experience.
Audience Testing
I tested the visuals by projecting them onto a wall and walking peers through the concept. Feedback emphasized reducing text, strengthening mood, and letting visuals speak more intuitively. Some viewers connected the form to planetary imagery, which validated my abstract approach. This phase helped me refine clarity without over-explaining.
Final Outcome
The final piece is a motion-based visualization that represents my personal interpretation of zodiac–crystal relationships. It avoids definitive meanings and instead embraces ambiguity, overlap, and subjectivity. Rather than instructing the viewer, it invites reflection. The work exists as a visual experience rather than a fixed explanation.