The Defectors

Project Type: Augmented Reality / Motion Graphics / Catalog

Spy History Book

Instruction: Scott Laserow

Institution: Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University

Introduction

Can a history book come to life?

Before the end of World War II, the USA and the USSR were already preparing for the Cold War, silently recruiting individuals to commit treason and spy on each other. These defectors spied for money or political ideals.  How can a history book be transformed into a multisensory experience?

Historical documents with a modern twist

The Defectors highlights the most prolific traitors of the Cold War in a declassified dossier. Case files of each defector profiles their motivations, espionage activities, and their fates. Stories on the page come to life in augmented reality with the Artivive app. Certain details are redacted, but can be revealed with the app as well.

Design

Reanimating the Past

Much of the details are redacted to reflect how many of the declassified files today still contain information deemed still too sensitive to become public knowledge. Scanning certain pages with the Artivive app will remove the redaction as well as animate elements on the page.