Augmented Reality in Design. Thinking about Hybrid Forms of Virtual and Physical Space in Design

Abstract

This paper investigates how the technology of augmented reality and mixed media will shape and affect future design strategies. Although the technology was developed back in the 1990s, its dissemination has been slow. Particularly in the field of design practice, as well as in design research, new media technologies offer an interesting alternative for producing, visualizing, and embodying (data-enhanced) spaces. For scenography in terms of an integrated space-related design discipline, (focusing on spatial access to topics including perception and analysis of spaces) the use of interactive spaces provides a new variety of possibilities in organizing and solving problems by applying a spatial perspective. Therefore it is important, not to leave the emerging media spaces exclusively to the rapidly changing information-age technologies. This contribution aims at making designers aware of the technical possibilities and fosters their participation in its development and application.