(W)HOLE
A public-space project revealing the invisible infrastructures behind digital life.
How do public spaces can reveal hidden powers behind digital infrastructures?
The challenge
Starting from a simple urban object — the manhole cover — the project opens a speculative portal into the infrastructures that shape contemporary digital life. Cables, servers, addresses, interfaces, users, and cloud systems are translated into tangible layers that can be encountered in the city.
The approach
(W)HOLE is a cooperative, world-building art project aimed at unveiling the invisible power structures behind global digital infrastructures. The project brings together 6 physical manhole installations, AR environments, and digital archives to activate public engagement and reclaim agency over the future of tech. 6 Realms that take the Stack by Benjamin Bratton and attempt to augment it.
My role
I was Co-Creative Director alongside Clusterduck members Arianna Magrini, Francesca Del Bono, Noel Nicolaus and Silvia Dal Dosso. My responsibilities encompassed UX/UI and product design, integrating the physical and digital experiences. Information architecture and user flows were defined across six realms, ensuring that a low-carbon website provided an optimal experience without sacrificing performance.
1. Club Originals lockup2. Photoshop tee, sunflower3. Folded star4. Magic wand5. Memoji, shrug6. Illustrator tee7. RUN
How it works
03
01Conversational onboarding to build trust
Bud uses a conversational interface instead of a traditional sign-up. By asking light, human questions, it lowers the perceived commitment of joining and fosters emotional safety, framing onboarding as a dialogue, not a form.
02Emotional profiling instead of demographics
User inputs create emotional dating profiles instead of static attributes. Bud responds based on confidence, experience, and emotional state, offering empathetic guidance as an advisor.
03One AI entry point for diverse needs
Bud offers a single AI-driven entry point for various intents: asking questions, seeking advice, or engaging with an advisor. This approach simplifies navigation while ensuring expert help is accessible without prior knowledge.
Key interventions
0301
Public Space Became Interface
The manhole cover was used as both urban artifact and symbolic entry point. Instead of treating public space as a backdrop, the project turned the city into an interface where people could encounter hidden infrastructures through familiar objects.
02
Infrastructure Became World
The six AR environments translated technical layers into experiential worlds. Earth, Cloud, City, Address, Interface, and User became narrative strata, helping visitors move from abstract infrastructure to embodied understanding.
03
Website Became Repository
The digital platform extended the installation beyond the moment of encounter. Through the low-carbon website, interactive map, and open repository, the project became a civic resource rather than a closed artwork.
