Smarter Cities Table
2017
Client
Verizon Communication
Project Overview
Verizon teamed up with Downstream to create an interactive experience that brings its urban IoT solutions to life. Designed for potential business partners, the platform focused on storytelling through intuitive and user-led interaction, transforming complex smart city technologies into a clear and engaging journey.
01 ABOUT
The Project
01
Problem
Verizon needed a way to communicate five distinct IoT solution narratives, such as surveillance and transportation, in a format that was intuitive, engaging, and user-led. The challenge was to present complex, layered information through an interface that felt clear, immersive, and easy to navigate in both business and exhibition environments.
02
Outcome
Downstream designed an augmented reality table that let users explore a three-dimensional city model through touch and motion. Each story unfolded with floating graphical elements, revealing layered scenarios from multiple perspectives. The final experience was immersive and impactful, making Verizon’s smart city capabilities tangible and memorable for business stakeholders.
02 CONCEPTING
Crafting The Experience
Early client discovery clarified both business goals and user needs. With no platform or surface defined, I partnered closely with 3D designers, AV specialists, and developers to shape the experience from the inside out, grounded in storytelling and user intent. Those UX insights led to unique user viewports that gave each person control over how they experienced the story. The result was an immersive and flexible narrative built for exploration, not instruction.
03 STORYBOARDING
Formulating an Engaging Story
Defining the platform naturally led the team into storycrafting. The narrative was approached like a motion piece, using storyboards to shape the visual flow alongside our writer. Simplicity guided the process, and clean iconography was carefully aligned with the verbal narrative to create a seamless and engaging experience.
04 ART DIRECTION
Collaborating To Meet Perfection
As the design and content teams focused on storytelling, the project began to feel siloed across teams. To realign, the creative team partnered with developers to rebalance the city layout, creating a structure that supported the story and delivered a more cohesive, user-friendly experience.
The greatest challenge during the launch was encouraging prospects to step away from the experience.
— Jason (Client)
Waltham Executive Business Center President
05 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Meant For Storytelling
In the final phase, the team worked with development to bring each mini-story to life through chapters triggered by the presenter’s device. Midway, a user-driven interaction creates a defining moment that gives the audience a sense of influence and sparks conversation during the presentation.