Multimodal Semiotics and Collaborative Design

Synthesis of the findings on experiential meta-functions in the three
collaborative design cases
The first section of the multimodal analysis focused on the construction of the experiential metafunction,
and investigated the ways in which virtual places and artifacts in the three case studies
have been designed to accommodate movement, sense of presence and avatar interaction. The
analysis of Metrotopia and PAL cases shows that designing virtual islands (sims) in SL requires the
consideration of more than just avatar interaction with artifacts, as there are many issues about
access, navigation and orientation of avatars in three-dimensional space, which have been
mentioned by the co-designers. The student projects show considerable similarities to the other
two projects in terms of students’ intentions to design working models, whereas their lack of time,
resources and experience with SL limited their possible solution spaces, especially in relation to
signifying experiential meta-functions. As mentioned above, the student projects varied in size, but
all of the four projects were smaller than the design projects in Metrotopia and PAL cases. The
large-scale spatial organization of these two virtual places allows them to accommodate different
types of avatar interaction with multiple visitors, and provides more comprehensive insights for the
analysis of the experiential meta-function. On the other hand, the analysis shows that certain visual
and structural elements are used to convey meaning and accommodate actions in all three cases.
The use of graphics, textures and visual styles are among such elements, which not only determine
the experiential potentials for movement and interaction, but also refer to the interpersonal and
textual meaning potentials.
The analysis also considers the affordances for movement between and within these places as parts
of their experiential meaning potentials, and investigates the modes of signifying movement,
direction and orientation in the designs. This aspect brings forth the theoretical notions of
chronotopes and phenomenology of avatar experiences in virtual places. Although certain design
references to chronotopes were observed in the Workshop projects, the lack of large scale spatial
creations make it harder to analyze this particular topic through this case study. On the other hand,
examples such as the ‘brainwashing machine’ and ‘magical jail’ idea of the Superheroes and
Supervillains group (figure 8.4), who attempted to connect these two compositional elements by an
animated crane, show that avatar chronotopes were also considered as a part of the problem space.
However in Metrotopia and PAL, various other strategies were used by the co-designers to afford
particular types of movement, while constraining others. While the overall layout of space, location
of entry point, and flow of chronotopes among interaction spaces are important considerations for
place-making, semiotic coherence of experiential, textual and interpersonal meta-functions defines
these places as meaningful communication environments.
213