Introduction
We were invited by Director Junbo Qiu and Production Designer Will Mansel to develop fictional spaceship interfaces for their sci-fi short film Oneiros, produced at the National Film and Television School.
Working in close collaboration with the filmmakers, we designed interfaces that integrate seamlessly into the film’s visual language and narrative world, supporting both storytelling and atmosphere.
The film tells the story of a lonely astronaut who is stranded on a distant planet. He embarks on a journey where the search for others becomes a search for himself.
Introduction
For Oneiros, we designed two core interface systems: the spaceship’s cockpit displays and a handheld tracking device used by the protagonist on the planet’s surface. Both interfaces were developed to feel believable within the film’s universe while functioning as storytelling tools rather than decorative elements.
The cockpit interfaces were conceived as dense, industrial control systems inspired by retro-futuristic sci-fi aesthetics. During the spacecraft crash and engine failure sequence, the visual language shifts into a critical failure state.
The tracking device interface adopts a restrained and utilitarian design. A monochrome grid visualizes the planet’s rugged surface, with pulsating markers indicating the direction and proximity of an unknown signal. Interference effects and subtle distortions suggest environmental hostility and unreliable technology.
Set Images & Production
The spaceship cockpit was fully constructed as a practical set, allowing for an immersive and authentic filming experience. Each screen displaying the interfaces was captured in-camera during the shoot, seamlessly integrating the digital elements into the physical environment.
This approach not only enhanced the realism of the scenes but also provided the actors with direct interaction with the interfaces, reinforcing the tactile and lived-in aesthetic of the spacecraft
