KODAMA
Interaction Design
The interactive system that creates a connection between humans and spirits
In a time when bonds are scattered by the frenzy of everyday life, Kodama invites us to slow down and rediscover the value of presence, human connection, and communion with nature, at the heart of the Woodoo Festival in Varese. Its name is inspired by the spirits of Japanese mythology that dwell in trees, silent guardians of a living and responsive nature. The kodama embody a sensitive ecosystem, capable of relating to everything around it.
The interactive system transforms the forest into an entity that responds with lights, sounds, and movements to participants’ gestures—jumps, claps, raised hands—making collective energy visible. Each person corresponds to a light on the LED wall, and every interaction generates organic visualizations created in real time with TouchDesigner.
Through a handshake, an authentic and symbolic gesture, digital profiles are exchanged thanks to a fully prototyped system. Kodama reveals how even the simplest gesture can leave a trace that extends beyond the time of the festival, with nature as its silent ally.
University project
Collaborators: Giovanni Bassi, Eva Cupellini, Sharlotte Garcia e Angelica Ranieri.
Collaborators: Giovanni Bassi, Eva Cupellini, Sharlotte Garcia e Angelica Ranieri.
