“A great interactive installation that brings to light the neglected history of underrepresented communities.” —Martijn van der Does

“The use of light to reveal past stories is both haunting and impactful. It would be amazing to see this idea work at scale.” —Boo Wong

Overview: For her master’s thesis project, Veronica Tsai, student at Pasadena-based ArtCenter College of Design, created Phantom Limbs: Design Interventions and Site-Specific Storytelling to explore the idea that site-specific design can tell the stories of underrepresented communities. Focusing on the surrounding area of Pasadena, Tsai delved through local history to discover where displaced communities had once existed, namely those of working-class people of color. Through projecting graphics onto the contemporary spaces, Phantom Limbs tells the story of these communities that have been destroyed and relocated, reviving them temporarily to educate the people currently living there.

While Tsai was the sole designer, she worked with professionals in the fields of history, urban studies and interpretive design on the content of Phantom Limbs.

The project’s core features include site-specific, projection-mapped environmental graphics.

As Phantom Limbs involved in-depth research, design explorations and finalizing executions, it took Tsai a year to complete.

Comments by Veronica Tsai: 
Was the subject matter or execution of Phantom Limbs new for you? “I have always been drawn to the story of a place. For my master’s thesis, I was determined to explore a combination of my undergraduate studies in architecture and graduate studies in graphic design. Focused on Pasadena, where I live, I selected several sites where displacements of communities—mainly those of working-class people of color—occurred. The stories of these communities remain untold. As designers, we have the responsibility to activate neglected places, bring hidden history to light and expand notions of social value.

“The subject matter and medium—urban studies and projection mapping—are not new to me. However, bringing the project outdoors was a new challenge. Even though I was able to plan my installations beforehand to a certain degree, most of the final results were improvised on site. I brought the equipment and assets—type- and image-based videos—to the locations, and then I mapped the content to the architecture on the spot. I chose projection mapping as my primary medium for two reasons: first, it literally brings hidden history to light, and second, it does not leave a permanent mark on existing sites.”

How did time constraints affect Phantom Limbs’s final execution, and how did your thesis project differ from your other work? “Phantom Limbs is a prototype, a proof of concept that focuses on Pasadena’s history. If I had more time, I would have liked to extend my exploration to other parts of the San Gabriel Valley to form a network of installations for a historic tour. I also would have liked to interact with community members to incorporate their voices into the project. Compared to my previous work, Phantom Limbs is for sure the most ambitious in terms of scope and scale. I learned tremendously through research, writing, design exploration, and the support of my peers and mentors.”