The journey unfolded across three distinct phases.
In the early weeks, peer interviews revealed how everyday coffee consumption directly reflected shared student stress, allowing me to frame the project narrative around a clear three-part manifesto.
I then translated these insights into software architecture by dividing the installation into Input, Translation, and Output modules. Breaking anxiety down into six perceptual dimensions, I built a custom pipeline in TouchDesigner using feedback loops and displacement nodes that turned mouse gestures into real-time, organic liquid stain simulations.
Finally, I brought the installation into the physical space during the Degree Show using a dual-screen setup, a custom black-and-white booth, and an instructional Zine. Taking the posters into outdoor public spaces after the exhibition offered one last valuable lesson, showing how non-gallery environments encourage far more spontaneous and creative user interaction.
Ultimately, this project shifted my role from a traditional visual designer to a system author. I learned that generative design is not merely about writing clever code or creating attractive visual effects—it is about establishing meaningful rules for human engagement.
By materializing invisible stress into fluid, overlapping liquid marks, the system successfully bridged personal emotion with collective dialogue, giving me deep confidence in designing responsive, human-centered visual identity systems for the future.