Video file
Graduates
Yuna Kim
BS in Interaction Design — Interaction DesignCourse:
IxD Topic Studio: Inputs / Intro to Transmedia 1
Faculty:
Yasaman Sheri, Miles Mazzie
Term:
2025 Fall
Olfactory Passage
This Project is an immersive scent-based installation that transforms personal memories of Los Angeles into a multisensory experience. Using ultrasonic sensing, custom-blended fragrances, and generative visuals in TouchDesigner, visitors activate a circular fabric portal in response to their presence. The work explores how memories fade, shift, and resurface, inviting participants to step into a shared emotional landscape shaped by smell, distance, and time.
Process:
The process started with sensory research, mapping personal LA memories into distinct fragrance blends that visitors can physically smell from curated bottles. I then built a proximity-based interaction system using an ultrasonic sensor and Arduino, connected to reactive TouchDesigner visuals. Iterative prototyping—testing materials, fabric translucency, and structural forms—led to the creation of a large circular portal that frames the visual experience. The final integration combines physical scent exploration with interactive digital atmospheres.
Learning Outcomes:
Through this project, I learned how to translate abstract emotional concepts—such as memory, distance, and atmosphere—into tangible multisensory interactions. I strengthened my skills in physical computing, fragrance formulation, and spatial storytelling while developing a deeper understanding of how scent can shape user perception. The iterative prototyping process also taught me how to merge material exploration with digital systems to create a cohesive immersive installation.
Project Website: