In a second iteration I looked for a way to actively involve participants in a search for possible interpretations of living spaces. My goal in this design sprint was twofold, on the one hand I want to learn from my designed approach and method (i.e. How can I frame a challenge in such a way that it stimulates enough but is not too difficult to execute?), on the other hand I am curious about how the designers who participate look at the topics and what ideas arise from them (i.e. When given a certain type and topics, what ideas form their creative space, and why? And, what importance or preference can be derived from these (future) concepts?)
My participants in this iteration were visiting students from Bern University of the Arts (HKB). Like me, these students, coming from art, design and engineering, work on their own research within a MA in Design program.
Brainstorming, structuring the design sprint and scrapping the ‘big’ ideas.
Topics or Trigger Words
In order to give some guidance within the challenge and to make the participants think about possible opportunities, I chose to have them scramble for different trigger words before they started sketching. First, the participants had to randomly choose one of Katja Thoring’s space types: Personal Space, Collaboration Space, Presentation Space, Making Space or Intermission Space (transition space). I introduced these five types of creative space in my post Framing Creative Spaces. In addition to obtaining a type of space, each participant received two ‘building blocks’ from which their space could be designed. I have chosen the building blocks (or trigger words) below because for me they are in some way related to my research topic living spaces.
Trigger Words: Knowledge Processor — Indicator of Culture — Process Enabler — Social Dimension — Source of Stimulation — Calm Technology — Blending Physical & Virtual — Flexibility — Direct Manipulation — Power of Adaption — Actively Influence — Natural Patterns — Digital Layers — Sentience (to feel) — Satience (to know) — Identity — Personification — Agency — Sense of Awareness — Physical Presence — Multi Modal — Sensory Data — Intimacy — Playfulness — Liquid and Solid — Tangible Interactions — Gestural Interactions — Ambiance — Ownership — Ambient Intelligence
Postcard Sketches
My main objective was to let the participants share their interpretations of a living space. For this I developed a template postcard with two predefined questions and plenty of space on the front and back to sketch, color or write down their thoughts and ideas. This colorful collection shows what they came up with:
Collecting Ideas
To get to the heart of the stories these postcards represent, I looked at the details and quotes and tried to find patterns or other similarities. By shuffling and rearranging them I discovered they could be grouped by different qualities and attributes (not necessarily meaning the picked subjects of course). Interesting is the contrast between sketches that suggest ideas on a functional, practical and realistic level and sketches where the ideas are more emotional, conceptual and futuristic level.
In the first group we see solutions like comfortable or changeable lights, scanners to display who is in the building, and a system to find the best spot for your current mood (or mode?). I like subtlety in some of these ideas and in a space where current concepts are mainly focused on aesthetics, they show that there is also room for more functional solutions that encourage interaction.
The solutions in the second group are more ‘out there’ and abstract. For example, an invisible (personalized) ‘cocoon’, or some kind of tube system that shows actual physical and information transfers. The ‘how’ of these concepts often remains unclear.
“When I imagine future spaces, a ‘living’ space will … need holographic communication options! And wouldn’t it be great if these new spaces … still have a great coffee machine?”
When iterating on these results I noticed the living space is also often combined with natural (sometimes truly living) elements. From plants and gardens in the office to aquarium walls, a stone path walkway (for walking discussions) and even roaming pets. Although for me this is not directly the same as a living space, I do understand that these elements might enhance a sense of living in a space.
The concept I find most interesting responds to (the need for) flexibility. It is one of few that actually physically alters the space / architecture through moving walls and floors (and a machine to make pasta!?) and it is precisely the adaptation of these fundamental parts that, in my opinion, has a lot of influence on our sense of space.
Looking Forward
Reflecting on this iteration, I am quite satisfied with the amount of creativity, ideas and information the participants were able to show through this generative method. It seems interesting to me to see whether the experts in the field of architecture, spatial design and experience or interaction design, given the same subjects and triggers, come up with even more specific concepts and designs. That is why I have decided to introduce (and ‘give’) this activity at the end of my upcoming discussions with experts. I hope this will keep them engaged and open up opportunities for a second, more in-depth conversation.