The Overview
"Table of Contents: Books that Connect Us" (also known as the Living Library) was an experimental, AI-powered pop-up installed during Global Encryption Day at Google. Designed for Bay Area PeopleDev professionals and event attendees, the goal of the prototype was to foster authentic connection and community among leaders by having them share the books that shaped their paths.
The concept was rooted in neuroscience: research shows that learning retention significantly increases through immersive, multi-sensory experiences.
Role: Brand & Print Designer | Experience & Set Design
Team: Google School for Leaders (GSL)
Location: Google Community Space, San Francisco
Google School for LeadersTable of Contents
The Experience
We wanted to blend nostalgic, tactile elements with state-of-the-art technology for 2024 to create moments of surprise and delight.
Participants engaged with the installation by scanning custom physical "library cards." This triggered a vintage blue wall phone to ring. When they answered, they were prompted to share their leadership book recommendation. Powered by a live AI backend, their spoken recommendation was instantly processed and projected onto a physical, blank book in front of them. The low-latency projection mapped perfectly to the paper, allowing users to physically turn the pages and watch the community's catalog of books magically update in real-time.
My Contribution
My role was to ensure the visual narrative felt cohesive across both the physical and digital touchpoints of the space. My responsibilities included:
• Brand Identity & Collateral: The visual design for all print and digital assets, including the interactive library cards, instructional signage, table tents, and event communications.
• Digital Integration: Designed the visual layout and typographic styling for the live-projected book interface.
• Spatial & Set Design: Assisted the team in shaping the physical environment and user flow, ensuring the raw architectural elements (like the OSB wood archways) paired seamlessly with the technology to create an inviting, approachable atmosphere.
