Protected: VR Memorials | Josefina

Welcome to the legacy gift page for Josefina's family and friends.

About This Card Deck

AR, or augmented reality, technology enhances tangible media using computer-generated graphics, sound, and visual elements. Essentially, this tool adds a digital component to a physical object, bringing the art to life!

We aim to create a unique and heartfelt gift for Josefina and her family by incorporating contemporary media art with interactive technology. We chose AR technology because it bridges the real and the virtual, while remaining accessible through everyday mobile devices.

The AR card set is designed to reflect the number of family members Josefina wishes to include in the gift. Any two cards can be joined together through at least one matching edge motif, which can then be scanned to reveal an AR object. This design ensures that any two family members can form a connection, symbolizing harmony and unity within the family. Each card’s graphic design incorporates Josefina’s favorite elements: Plants and flowers, cute animals, her zodiac sign, and a meaningful quote, with the background color reflecting her preferred hue.

The complete set contains six AR objects in total, each created from personal details shared by Josefina. Many of her most personal memories, like her favorite band, games she once played with her children, or memories from a cherished trip are all treasured within these cards. When all 12 cards are assembled (symbolically when all 12 relatives are present), they can be arranged into a special shape, such as a circle or rectangle. Scanning the entire arrangement reveals an additional AR object that is distinct from the previous six.

About Josefina

Josefina is a provider at heart who enjoys uplifting her family and community in daily acts of love. Her devotion extends into every aspect of life, as she never fails to help someone in need, even if it may seem small. Guided by her hopeful spirit, Josefina has instilled her admiration for family, friends, and the beauty of life through her children. She encourages her family to prioritize their health above all else, even if it's work. She wishes for everyone she holds close to her heart to show themselves as much love as they’ve shown her. Josefina’s motivation to put others’ needs before herself guides her entire life, and she is grateful to be able to share her compassion and enthusiasm with the world around her. She plans to keep supporting her siblings, children, husband, and grandchildren as long as they need her. Her guidance and love have molded the people around her and will continue to do so as they experience her exhibit and motivational card deck.

With empathy and generosity being fundamental to her identity, we aimed to facilitate that support through the act of combining different sets of cards to produce a new message from Josefina to her family. The images printed on these cards pay homage to Josefina’s love of the natural world and spending time within such beauty. The messages written on each card, as well as those which appear after two cards are combined, encourage self-care, reflection, and connection. She believes that through these cards, her loved ones will gain a better insight into her advice and appreciation even when life seems most difficult. She hopes they will always remember her using this gift.

These bespoke cards are solely dedicated to Josefina’s life, and serve as a perpetual legacy for her profound care toward those who need it most. She hopes her memory will live on through her children Brenda, Miguel, Iris, and Jessica; her many siblings, notably Chela, José Luis, and Manuel; her loving husband Jesús; her grandchildren Gia, Adela, Luna, and Luca; her incredible father; and her uplifting friends, especially Aurora.

How to Download the Experience

Experience our special AR project and see your cards come to life. Each family member selects one card, and when two cards meet, something unique appears!

How to Play:

Scan Your Card
Use your phone to scan the back of your card. A link will appear on your screen.
Open the AR App
Tap the link and give permission to access your camera.
Bring the Cards Together
Place two cards front-side up and align them side by side.

That’s it! Watch as Josefina’s most cherished memories appear through AR, right on your screen!

Acknowledgments

Produced by the Creative Media & Behavioral Health Center’s Garden Lab of the School of Cinematic Arts in collaboration with the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of LA General Medical Center and the Keck School of Medicine, with support from the Arts in Action program at the University of Southern California.