The Third Space - 2023

Matthew Nazarian, Ecem Öztürk, Yanjia Yi, & Xinzhou Zhang

The Third Space is an interactive installation that explores collaborative digital composition through smartphone screens. Built using p5.js, the project invites participants to create a dynamic cityscape collage by scanning a QR code and placing their phones on an articulating wooden shelf. This physical augmentation allows the collage to be viewed in two distinct orientations—axial and vertical—each altering the arrangement and interaction of the displayed visuals.

As participants contribute their screens to the installation, the collage evolves, responding to changes in orientation and the collective placement of devices. By combining digital content with a physical structure, The Third Space encourages people to interact with both the installation and each other in new ways, turning personal screens into a shared experience.