SWAN SONG

For this cool project produced by Apple. I was asked to design and animate elements for the memory device (the little badge/capsule attached on his temple), the smartwatch, and several user interfaces. Realising Benjamin Cleary’s near-future world, one where tech retains familiarity despite moving away from screens and handheld devices into a vision of personal and office interfaces being displayed via AR. Working closely with VFX Producing Supervisor, Ajoy Mani, Territory Studio was commissioned to imagine and realise the technology design for an entire AR-based technology infrastructure including a series of user interface types that feature throughout the movie Swan Song for AppleTV – a beautifully shot existential drama. Conceptually, the technology is based on the idea that whilst technology and gadgetry may still play a similar role it has in our lives today, in 30 years time, the "black mirrors" of mobile and stationary screens that are so prominent in our lives, and the interiors of homes and offices today, will disappear and be replaced by with smart contact lenses and holographic displays. The stylistic feel of Swan Song is strikingly cold, clean and minimalist. Throughout the film, Territory was careful to ensure the design of the UI on screen married up with the narrative of the scenes they feature in, and the character’s they are operated by. This allows the technology to become either the protagonist or a passive role within the scenes they are featured. As the mobile AR UI visual is displayed via contact lenses, navigation is gesture-based. The UI is summoned and controlled via hand gestures such as hand swiping, and finger or thumb gestures. The film’s protagonist, Cameron, is a product packaging designer by trade, and sketches as a hobby. The character’s creative job and hobby’s helped inform the style of the UI he would have selected for his mobile device. Cameron’s UI style is considered, uncluttered, unobtrusive, with gentle texture and clear text on a neat tile layout. For other interfaces that feature in different locations throughout the picture, Territory applied the same context-aware, narrative-lead thinking into the design of identities, layout and styling of the AR tech UI. The ideal home working setup, Cameron’s home office UI is a larger extension of his mobile interface that runs the design software he uses to design product packaging prototypes as well video calls.  Having imagined and designed the core AR technology in Benjamin Clearly’s imagined near-future world, Territory was asked to design for a number of other tech solutions. Whilst only a small and discreet piece of hardware, the Memory device placed on the temple of Cameron’s head allows technicians at Arra Labs to scan, and copy his memories. The charming Echo Butler, offers a personalised service to passengers on the train. As well as offering small talk, the Echo butler can conveniently retail snacks and drinks. Done@ Territory Studio, London