Xinquan Zhu
Gaze | The Emotions of Seagulls
2024 BDes
Partner: Resilio Studio & Waitematā Local Board
[email protected]

" We gaze, we understand, we coexist. "

Gaze is a cross-species design project aiming to foster better relationships between urban residents and seagulls, addressing growing conflicts in Auckland and other coastal cities. It includes seagull emotion signal light installations, an app, and a zine. These components work together to help people understand the emotions and behavioural intentions of seagulls, guiding the proper interaction between these two species. Ultimately, Gaze’s goal is not only to reduce conflicts between humans and seagulls but also to increase awareness of wildlife welfare in urban environments. When animal emotions are visually represented, will we be more inclined to respect their needs and coexist peacefully with them? Hopefully, the answer will guide us toward a future of sustainable, multi-species prosperity.

As the core product of this cross-species project, the seagull emotion signal light installations are placed in areas frequently gathered by seagulls in Auckland CBD, particularly in coastal commercial and entertainment areas like Britomart. These signal lights will capture real-time images and sounds of passing seagulls through built-in cameras and sound sensors. With the aid of AI analysis, seagulls' body language and vocalizations are assessed to determine their emotional states. The signal lights will turn blue if they detect that passing seagulls are in a positive mood. If the seagull is in a negative emotional state, the signal lights will turn red to alert people to potential conflicts and promote awareness of seagull needs. Through these signal lights, the emotional states and needs of seagulls are visualized. They encourage people to be mindful of these emotional cues, fostering respectful and empathetic interactions with urban seagulls.
To provide personalized and portable support for individual users, the app is designed to help people understand the emotions and behaviours of seagulls they encounter anytime and anywhere. This app is connected to all the seagull emotion signal light installations within the Auckland CBD. This means that users can check the status of each installation via the app to understand the real-time emotional states of seagulls in different areas. People, especially those afraid of seagulls, can avoid areas where negative states are indicated to prevent conflict. When the app detects a signal light displaying a negative state within 100 meters of the user, it will actively send a pop-up notification as a reminder. Additionally, the AI-powered analysis in the app will not only allow users to understand seagulls' emotions but also provide detailed analysis and predictions of their behavioural intentions. When encountering a seagull, users can record a video via the app and upload it. After the upload, the app will analyze the seagull's body language and calls to provide a detailed analysis of their behaviour and offer guidance. With the app's assistance, a communication bridge between humans and seagulls will be established. People will understand the seagulls' emotions and needs, promoting harmonious interactions between the two species.
To convey knowledge about New Zealand seagulls in a fun and understandable way, a zine in the style of an illustrated picture book was created. It narrates the life of New Zealand red-billed seagulls from their own perspective, covering their habits, feeding behaviour, and the emotions behind their different actions. By reading this zine, people can quickly grasp basic facts about red-billed seagulls. The zine aims to teach readers how to interact with these birds respectfully and foster a positive attitude, contributing to the local seagull population's health and long-term sustainability.

In the future, Gaze will strive to expand its target animal groups to include other species across New Zealand, ultimately fostering a sustainable future where humans and animals thrive together.

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