Faculty of Design

Industrial Design

Ivy Li

AURA - The City As Playground

In cities shaped by speed and efficiency, meaningful connection often gets lost. Many urban dwellers move through public spaces feeling invisible—navigating routine paths while craving depth, beauty, and belonging.AURA responds to this quiet disconnection. It is a multisensory urban exploration system that reawakens the relationship between people and place. Through emotionally aware AI, AR-enhanced storytelling, and reflective design, AURA transforms the city into a living, responsive landscape—where every step uncovers hidden layers of history, culture, and self.

“AURA is an urban exploration system designed to transform city engagement into a medium for creativity, emotional connection, and serendipitous discovery. Unlike traditional navigation tools that prioritize efficiency and goal-oriented movement, AURA encourages curiosity-driven exploration, where users actively shape their own urban narratives. Rooted in the philosophy of Urban Flânerie, the project challenges linear, utility-driven ways of experiencing the city, instead fostering identity awareness, deep presence, and interaction with space and history. Whether residents, travelers, or cultural observers, users engage with their surroundings in ways that transcend navigation—experiencing cities as dynamic landscapes of meaning rather than static backdrops to daily life.”