Engima Mobile Cafe

Encountering Enigma

Navn
Christopher Brett Tuyay
Uddannelsesgrad
Kandidat
Fagfelt
Design
Institut
Bygningskunst og Design
Program
Spatial Design
År
2024

Encountering Engima

Catalyzing cultural conversations between Trianglen Metro Station and Enigma Museum

As a pilot project exploring how transportation systems can connect to cultural institutions, this two-fold project investigates the connection between the Trianglen Metro Station and Enigma Museum through spatial anchors and digital triggers that invite Metro passengers and museum visitors to explore an installation that hosts Engima’s Mobile Cafe and an augmented-reality exhibition experience.

This project explores the question of how cultural institutions can harness their agency with local transit stations in fostering community conversations in these often overlooked non-places where the spatial meets the digital.

Be sure to download the Design Report below to get a closer glimpse into the full theoretical background and developmental process.

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Site
Site
Trianglen
Engima

The Site

This site is located in the northern area of Copenhagen in the neighborhood of Osterbro. It sits at the east-most corner of Faelledparken where Trianglen Metro Station meets Enigma Museum.

Macro Axo

Encounter, Explore & Engage

With these design principles of as a guide, three spatial interventions are placed each sub-site between Trianglen and Enigma. As an encounter, Culture Tiles will be placed in the Metro concourse. Centered in the plaza, the Engima Mobile Cafe welcomes visitors to explore digital exhibitions. And at the entrance of Enigma, a seating module will encourage visitors to engage with content outside the walls of the museum.  

Engima Mobile Cafe

Proposal

With the Culture Connection feature on the DOT ticketing app, Metro passengers can connect to cultural experiences between transit stations and cultural institutions around Copenhagen. As a summer activation in Trianglen Metro station plaza, the Engima Mobile Cafe invites the public to explore an augmented-reality exhibition installation whilst enjoying a coffee or snack. 

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Concourse
Placing
Apps

Encounter on the Concourse
Connecting With Culture

Within Copenhagen Metro stations, tourists and passengers can opt into the Culture Connect feature on the DOT mobile app to receive information about a partner cultural institution. On the concourse level of Trianglen Metro Station, subscribers in proximity to Culture Tiles receive push-notifications that lets them know about the Enigma Mobile Cafe in Trianglen Plaza above.

Learn more about Culture Connect

The Culture tile integrates with the same 30x60cm dimensions and materiality of the existing tactile paving.The added tiles in red guide individuals towards exits as well as anchors the encounter with the culture tile. The distinct radial pattern represents connectivity, and hopes to be associated with a space for digital experiences. 

The Culture Tiles are both visual and tactile anchors for everyone to encounter. For maintenance purposes, the bluetooth is integrated into the wall panels and set to a 2.5 m signal distance to reach those passing over the culture tiles. It is the intention that adding this experience activates this non-place where users can now associate with finding cultural connections.

Through marketing, users learn that they can opt into the Culture Connect feature via the DOT mobile ticketing app. Once downloaded and push-notifications enabled, they will receive a notification that will link them to the Trianglen profile which has information about the Enigma Mobile Cafe.

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Module
Digital
Plan

Enigma Mobile Cafe
— Exploring a Social Space around a Digital Experience

In Trianglen Plaza, visitors can explore a summer installation centered around a digital experience from Enigma’s AI exhibition. By positioning a social space with seating and tables around a digital experience, it is intended that curious visitors can naturally share their experiences over a casual coffee or snack.

By positioning the modules around a digital experience, this social situation puts people on display looking at nothing in order to bring other curious individuals into the experience. In my own personal field tests, multiple people have come up to me asking me what I’m looking at. 

The seating accomodates for a variety of users. The middle tables can be used by standing children or people with wheelchairs. It also opens up to face-to-face conversations. Bench allow for getting sun while the in-set high tables are inset to take cover from rain or sun.

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Digital Plan
AR Experience
Protector
Fountains
Scale
Audio

The Digital Experience

In the central space, visitors are introduced to Enigma’s digital exhibition featuring AR installations around the plaza. Signage instructs users how to download and explore the experience. 

The placement of culture tiles that trigger different digital experiences. In green are visual digital elements like AR. And the blue are invisible such as the bluetooth signals and the audio tour.

CLICK HERE  to download Adobe Aero for free on your mobile device try an AR Demo 

And not all digital experiences are visual. The audio walking tour isn’t just dictated descriptions of what is happening visually, but voice messages that discuss different topics. It also links to extended podcast talks that Enigma hosts in relation to these themes. Not only for the visually impaired, but everyone can get a different type of digital experience.

 

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Entrance
Entrance

Engaging the Threshold
— Beyond the Museum

And at the entrance of Enigma, this temporary outdoor seating module encourages Engima  Museum visitors to engage with a digital extension of the exhibition outside the walls of the museum. The red seating module helps bring more awareness to the subtle entrance of the museum. 

Even with those without the DOT app, people can learn about Enigma Mobile Cafe with a QR to the Trianglen profile landing page. For those already with Culture Connect, a push notification will more easily link them to info about the Enigma Mobile Cafe.

Det Kongelige Akademi understøtter FN’s verdensmål

Siden 2017 har Det Kongelige Akademi arbejdet med FN’s verdensmål. Det afspejler sig i forskning, undervisning og afgangsprojekter. Dette projekt har forholdt sig til følgende FN-mål
CV

Hello! My name is Christopher Tuyay.  I've worked professionally in the realm of graphic design and art direction for fashion and lifestyle brands. I've recently completed my master's in Spatial Design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Art in Copenhagen. With a strategic approach, I'm a creative designer who can take on any brief for digital, print or environments.

Studio CoolCool represents both my professional and artistic practice. It acts as a personal platform which strives to combine graphic communication and artful awareness to foster mutual understanding. 

Competitions, Publications & Awards

Best Visual Design Award

Intel Design Expo
Presented “Bloom”, a student project about a garden of responsive plants that react to one’s carbon footprint.
Education & Relevant Courses
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University of California Los Angeles

Bachelor’s Degree: Design | Media Arts
Dean's Honors List
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Royal Danish Academy

Master's Degree: Spatial Design
Extracurricular Experiences & Activities
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360 Exhibition Curator

360° was a student exhibition held during 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen - which featured work from master's students from the Royal Danish Academy's Institute of Architecture and Design. I was part of the curator group in charge of the concept and construction.

CoolCool Copenhagen Solo Art Show

CoolCool Copenhagen was a solo art show held at Mikkeller & Friends in New York City.

NY Cityscapes & Artifacts Curator

NY Cityscapes & Artifacts was a photo exhibition in collaboration with photographer Rene Fragoso. I partnered with him in curating an exhibition and a photo book at the O.N.S Clothing store in New York City.

Cooulture Solo Art Show

Cooulture was a solo art show in New York City that featured functional textile pieces made from upcycled materials from O.N.S and graphic collage pieces that worked with reuse

Imperishable Curation

I designed and curated an temporary installation with Lichen NYC for NY Design Week for O.N.S Clothing
Professional Work Experience

Freelance Art Director

• Retail interior directives
• Develop collection inspiration & design apparel graphics
• Design brand books, look books & packaging
• E-Com/Editorial Photo Retouching
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Freelance Graphic Designer

Beyond Yoga (LA)
• Design social media graphics
• Design campaign logos, signage & packaging
-

Art Director

O.N.S Clothing (NYC)
• Manage all visuals for brand: digital, print, in-store
• Develop brand/seasonal campaigns
• Art direct/produce shoots (photography & video)
• Develop collection inspiration & design apparel graphics
• Design brand books, look books & packaging
• Design store pop-ups, window, installations & fashion show
• Written and directed short films
• Manage social media content
• Manage Graphic Designer & Freelance Photographers/
Stylists/Videographers/Illustrators
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Senior Graphic Designer

Steven Alan (NYC)
• Develop brand/seasonal campaign directives
• Art direct/produce photoshoots
• Design website, emails, landing pages & ad banners
• Design invites, look books & signage
• Manage Junior Graphic Designer
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Sr. Graphic Designer

Freelancers Union (NYC)
• Design blog, landing pages & websites
• Design illustrations for social media and website
• Design branding books, print ads & campaign collateral
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Print Graphic Designer

• Design catalogs, look books, apparel graphics, & signage
• Art direct product laydown shoots
• Manage print design intern
IT skills
Art Direction
Graphic Design (Print/Digital)
Spatial Design
Apparel Graphics
Packaging
Branding
Illustration
Production
Styling