Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Light-Based UI Design
Perception collaborated with Marvel Studios to conceptualize the advanced technology for Wakanda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. We spent 2 years designing, building and visualizing technology that has progressed from the technology we crafted for Black Panther. We contributed a range of new technology for this film, including light-based interfaces for Shuri’s lab.
Light-based interfaces in Shuri's lab
Since our team served as consultants to develop the new design language, purpose and functions of Wakanda’s updated technology, we examined our work from Black Panther and studied how we could elevate it. We found that while most of the technology in Black Panther revolved around our concept of Vibranium Sand, our work for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would become more light-based.
Light-based technology is a much higher fidelity, expanding the limits that Vibranium Sand held in the first film. This allowed us to build more detailed and intricate designs that displayed the complexity and sophistication of the wide range of Wakandan technology.
For the interfaces in Shuri’s lab, we used a white and orange color scheme. White shows how clean and organized the UI is, while orange is representative of the warmth of Wakanda.
Shuri’s lab interactive smart screen interfaces are made of glass and utilize light-based elements to display information. These screens are used to share information and can be written on using a compatible pen. Since Shuri is often handling several pieces of information at once, we crafted her screens to include several graphs and data visualization displays in order to lay out her work in an organized manner that is easy for her to interpret.
Motion test for light-based interfaces
To develop the operations of this screen, our team was sent footage of Letitia Wright interacting with the screens and “writing” on them using a pen. We studied her gestures and interpreted what they meant through fine pen tracking.
Writing sync test
After examining her movements, we constructed an idea for the screen where it would translate Shuri’s writing into a sturdier, concrete text, formula or drawing. As Shuri writes on this board, her AI, Griot, would digest what she is writing, solidify it, change it and add data to it.
Motion test for light-based interfaces
The screens were also very gesture based, stemming from Letitia Wright’s animated hand movements during filming. Data and information can be expanded upon, moved or thrown away by Shuri pushing, swiping or rotating her hands.
Motion test for light-based interfaces
We also constructed a suite of widgets that Shuri interacts with on each of her glass interfaces. These widgets would all react to information that Shuri is inputting, interacting with one another and animating based on Shuri’s movements.
Just like the rest of Shuri’s technology, these widgets are data driven, therefore they are comprised mostly of graphs and visual data displays. Even though they are small, they are meant to be interpreted and understood at a glance from Shuri.
Widgets seen throughout Shuri's lab
See all of the futuristic technology we designed for Wakanda in our
