Project Requirement/Analysis

This project was part of my end-of-the-study design project in my master's, where I was doing design research on how we can improve the experience of cinema-goers in south India. It was a long project and I had to do a lot of fieldwork including interviewing different stakeholders then I tried to approach this project in socio-psychological solutions to intervene in some of the pain points. As a designer, I also looked into my social responsibility and tried to come up with a design that provides a positive experience for the people who want to go to the cinema.

Introduction

  • Movie Theatres/Cinemas/Salle de Cinema refers to the public outdoor or indoor spaces where a movie can exhibited for the public

  • Two specific geographic regions - Kerala, India and Nantes, France

  • Two Industries are divided by Language, Culture and the Heritage

  • There is high socio-political influence in the Indian Cinema Industry

  • As estimated there are around 545 screens in Kerala states

  • Decrease in the number of audience in Movie theatres

DEFINITION

“We can define the filmic experience as that particular modality through which the cinematographic institution allows the spectator to perceive a film and to re-elaborate the perception into knowledge and competence”

- Francesco Casetti,
Director of Graduate Studies,
Film and Media Studies Program,
Yale University  

Final Problematic

“How can we design movie theatres to create a better experience for its audience”

Survey Results

No of Responses

80

Targeted Geography

India  & 

France

Number of times a person visits movie theatres

No of people who likes go to Cinemas alone?

Initial Artistic Direction Workshop

A Workshop was conducted among media design students and we were asked to make some artistic creations based on the topics of each student. The following photos are the results of this workshop, It really helped me to think that I would love to see but some of them are too futuristic or unpractical at this point

Abstract embroidery Representation of Immersive theatre experience

AR Glass for Subtitles in the language of choice of the user

The Problematic Map of Modern Cinemas

Poor Infrastructures
(Sound Quality,

unclean Toilettes)

Bad Reviews

Not able to get the right seats

The habit of watching Television in the comfort of the home

Why do people

avoid Cinemas

Difficulty in Booking Tickets

Theatre Strikes

Internet OTT Platforms

Online Piracy

Not able to go to movies alone

Bad Audience

Parking Availability

Proposed Initial Concepts

After Movie Discussion Kit

Dating App for Cinema Fans

Games based on Questionaire

Concept Evolution

What was lacking in intial concepts:

  • Priority was given to movies that were screening nearby.

  • Lack of User information

  • Concentrated on more than two people

  • Benchmark: MovieSwipe

  • Lack of Planning  a movie together

  • Lack of building concrete relationship

  • Unclear User Scenario 

What should be there?

  • Be more user-centric

  • Helps people to find people with similar film interests 

  • Helps them to watch a trailer together

  • Helps them to plan a movie together

  • Categorise people based on Movie Genre

  • Give information about the nearby theatres and movies 

  • Help people find a date/Friend

  • To help people in lonliness 

Stakeholder Map

Feedbacks

Mental Health issues are in great discussion during this pandemic situation. This may reduce the risk of usual dating concerns because the matching element here is film interest. A film, when being discussed between two people or a group will enhance the theatrical experience because it adds the aspects and perspective from many minds. That’s the beauty that a film offers and this could effectively reduce a person’s loneliness. This will be a great tool for socialising for movie fanatics too.

Raisa Baiker
Movie Audience
Kerala

I honestly think this a great idea for the people who are isolated due to COVID-19, I think the economical aspect would be great. This socialization could help the economy of theatre

As for the Dating scenario, I believe theatres would be a great place to start

Jade Pasquier
Psychology Student 
Université de Nantes

That sounds interesting, will love to see how it will help the co-audience experience

Vivek Sivadas
Asst Cinematographer
Kerala

Final Concept

  • User-centric interface

  • Uses the GPS to find people's proximity

  • Have two options Dating or Friendship

  • Helps to plan movies

  • Broadcasts of the Trailers of movies screening nearby

  • It gives Movie Screening timing

  • It helps users to understand the movie tastes of other users

User Story

Gayus Eldho
Intern
Belgium

After completing his education in France moved to Belgium from Nantes

Loves Sci-Fi Movies

Kaja Kolar
Student
Belgium

Exchange student from Slovenia, Studying Belgium

“Marvel Fan”

After they matched eachother,

They Started  Chatting Together on Cinemate Platform

They even watched a movie together and had good discussing which helped them to plan movie date  together

What happened afterwards

They decided to meet in-front of the theatre for the movie

After the movie Gayus checked nearby bars to grab a beer together

In the bar they discussed each other and the movie, they even watched a new trailer of an upcoming Indian movie

Prototype

Tools that I have used

Miro Board

For Research

  • Interviews

  • Photography

  • Survey

  • Observations

  • Feedback and inputs from Stakeholders

Wireframe Sketching

Adobe XD/Figma

For Design Softwares

  • Adobe Illustrator

  • Adobe Photoshop

  • Adobe Indesign

  • Anima

  • Figma