THE CONCEPT

The Rabbitfarm is a community in the virtual world. The virtual community is an interactive installation that enables audiences to create avatars and interact with them. The avatars are represented by rabbits. The main objective of The Rabbitfarm is to investigate the effectiveness and experiences regarding the usage of visual language as the medium of communication. The virtual rabbits communicate with each other using icons and symbols.

The Rabbitfarm portrays a fantasy world – a farmland inhabited by rabbits. They communicate with each other using visual language which mainly consists of icons and symbols. The Rabbitfarm provides a unique communication experience for its audiences. Users are able to use rabbits as metaphors to communicate with others in the virtual community.

Many icons were designed and well-considered based on specific contexts to form a visual language system. The contexts were categorised into 6 groups based on the most common living activities, they are: emotion, communication & tools, leisure, environment & living, food and work. Users are able to identify icons that they want to use according to different activities. In addition, users are able to create their own icons and use them within the system.

The possibility of using visual language to enhance the communication experience is not fully testified by technology available today. The popularity of icons and symbols in digital realms such as mobile phones and the Internet indicates that the potential of visual language will become more favourable in modern communication. This project provides a unique experience of using visual language in communication. It helps its audiences visualise the scenario: How will visual language unite society by breaking the language barriers? Will visual language be acceptable by society?