Get in touch with me at ananyamanishdesigns@gmail.com
UX OF
AIR
Design Brief
Explore air as a material and the materials that make up air, and use them as mediums to craft experiences.
Designers
Ivy Wang, Yuning Wang, Dina Alkhouri, Ananya Manish
Research Methodologies
Body storming, Data Physicalisation
Keywords
Breath, Sensory Cocoon, Intimacy
Introduction: Unravelling the layers of Air
Air, seemingly intangible, possesses a spectrum of characteristics – it can be light or heavy, hot or cold, stagnant or stirred by the wind, carrying with it fragrances, tastes, and textures. We initiated the project with a secondary research phase, delving into how individuals and designers across the world perceive and connect with air. When analysing all of the research uncovered, we found a recurring theme emerging, painting air with an unexpected depth: Intimacy.
It became apparent that our relationship with air extends beyond the act of breathing; it transcends dependence, becoming a constant presence that envelops us. In a sense, air is a silent companion, always touching us, consistently cradling us in its embrace. This revelation sparked our curiosity, leading us to conceptualise a journey into the sensorial facets of air, envisioning it as more than just a life-sustaining element.
To deep-dive into the intimate dance between humans and air, we used two research methods - bodystorming and data physicalization.
Body storming: A dance with the Intangible
Body storming is a UX research method that involves physically immersing oneself in the user experience. The aim of our research was to breathe life into the intangible, to feel the pulse of the air that surrounds us, and to understand the unspoken dialogue between humans and this ever-present companion.
1. The Texture of Human Air: Visualising the Unseen
To capture the texture of human air, participants were asked to blow on wet paint dropped on a piece of paper. This exercise created mesmerising ripple like patterns. Although the results did not yield a direct path, the exercise illuminated interesting visual patterns which can be used in the latter stages of the project.
2. The Cycle of Air Within Us: Enhancing Inhales and Exhales
Turning inward, we explored the cycle of inhaling and exhaling through
body storming. We experimented with partially and fully blocking external stimuli with masks and headphones to intensify the focus on the internal experience. Enclosed in our own sensory cocoon, we were drawn to the smell, texture and feel of our own breath, which weaved an intimate connection with the very essence of life.
3. Transference of Human Air: A Symphony of Warmth and Tingling
Seeking to understand the transference of human air, we blew air through cardboard tubes onto participants. Human breath, warm and alive, elicited diverse reactions, akin to an exchange of energy. Contrasting this with air blown through a balloon revealed a distinct difference - human air felt vibrant, almost alive, while the balloon's air lacked the same vitality.
Data Physicalization: Mapping the Intangible
Complementing body storming, data physicalization allowed us to externalise the intricate nuances uncovered during our exploration. Through visual representations, we attempted to translate the intangible qualities of air into a more comprehensible language.
The first two attempts did not work the way we had imagined. We were focussing on communicating abstract ideas physically rather than physicalising complex data. In other words we were working with qualitative data and had a hard time finding related quantitative counterparts, revealing the need for a more refined approach.
For the purpose of this blog I have tried to attempt another data physicalization. I decided to recreate the last bodystorming exercise and map my heartbeat with regular air and balloon air. It was fascinating to see the quantitative data validate our earlier findings.
The Outcome: Crafting Intimacy with Air
For the final outcome we wanted to amplify and make users discover the intimacy that lied within the breath we so often take for granted. We wanted to create an experience journey for users that explores the subtle symphony of sensations that air orchestrates. We decided to iterate our journey maps and our experience while keeping some baseline points which can help direct the process.
Reflecting Back
Upon reflection, it is evident that our project encountered challenges primarily stemming from inadequacies in project and time management. The research methods were very engaging, however, we found ourselves entangled in their intricacies, inadvertently losing sight of time constraints. Regrettably, our time management shortcomings directly impacted the completion of our final outcome. The absence of a completed outcome also deprived us of the opportunity to conduct user tests.
In addition, I believe the group approached this brief with strong biases which overshadowed the researched findings. This divergence from an evidence-based approach led us astray multiple times, contributing to a lack of clear direction in the project.
References
Designing with breath - simon fraser university. Available at: https://www.sfu.ca/~tschipho/PhD/Thecla_Schiphorst_PhD_Chapter_Six.pdf.
Dumičić, Ž. et al. (no date) Design research society DRS Digital Library, Design elements in data physicalization: A systematic literature review . Available at: https://dl.designresearchsociety.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3032&context=drs-conference-papers.
Bodystorming’ (2021) Automotive Human Centred Design Methods, pp. 28–29. doi:10.1515/9783110677515-004.