Brainscapes Week 3
Brainscapes Week 3
Brainscapes Week 3
noticing the fleeting moments, romanticising the everyday
noticing the fleeting moments, romanticising the everyday
noticing the fleeting moments, romanticising the everyday
Micro Unit
Workshop Design
Workshop Design
Team & Duration
Team & Duration
Team & Duration
Dylan, Izzy, Sakshi, Sarthak, Stav
Dylan, Izzy, Sakshi, Sarthak, Stav
Dylan, Izzy, Sakshi, Sarthak, Stav
6th Mar - 13th Mar
6th Mar - 13th Mar
6th Mar - 13th Mar
THE brief
THE brief
THE brief
Design a way to make brain activity responding to aesthetic experiences visible, tangible, or interactive.
Design a way to make brain activity responding to aesthetic experiences visible, tangible, or interactive.
Design a way to make brain activity responding to aesthetic experiences visible, tangible, or interactive.
We began by researching the Tube through behavioural mapping and observations. Most people were focused on their phones and wore headphones, creating a sense of isolation. They kept to themselves, maintained distance, and held belongings close to protect personal space. This finding matched our own secondary research (Goffman,1963).
Because of the loud noise, conversations were rare and mainly happened through eye contact, gestures, or brief smiles. More eye contact was noticeable when the train stopped or new passengers got on. Some exchanged glances but avoided interaction. Still, once someone broke the ice, others responded—removing headphones and opening up. These small cues revealed how people share space while staying in their own bubbles.
We began by researching the Tube through behavioural mapping and observations. Most people were focused on their phones and wore headphones, creating a sense of isolation. They kept to themselves, maintained distance, and held belongings close to protect personal space. This finding matched our own secondary research (Goffman,1963).
Because of the loud noise, conversations were rare and mainly happened through eye contact, gestures, or brief smiles. More eye contact was noticeable when the train stopped or new passengers got on. Some exchanged glances but avoided interaction. Still, once someone broke the ice, others responded—removing headphones and opening up. These small cues revealed how people share space while staying in their own bubbles.
We began by researching the Tube through behavioural mapping and observations. Most people were focused on their phones and wore headphones, creating a sense of isolation. They kept to themselves, maintained distance, and held belongings close to protect personal space. This finding matched our own secondary research (Goffman,1963).
Because of the loud noise, conversations were rare and mainly happened through eye contact, gestures, or brief smiles. More eye contact was noticeable when the train stopped or new passengers got on. Some exchanged glances but avoided interaction. Still, once someone broke the ice, others responded—removing headphones and opening up. These small cues revealed how people share space while staying in their own bubbles.
Observing people on the tube
Exploring the context
Exploring the context
Exploring the context
However, in addition to all the nice encounters happening on the tube, we were also reminded to be mindful of safety, and be aware of all the anti-social activities, especially when talking about public encounters on the tube. There’s a risk of crossing into uncomfortable or unsafe territory, so it’s important to think about consent and ethical boundaries.
We were also encouraged to think beyond just asking people how they feel. What if we gave them creative tools and let them show us instead—what does their brain look like when they imagine or witness a meet-cute?
Maybe it's less about personal experience and more about observing others.
Like seeing a kiss cam or old couples holding hands. That moment of witnessing 'love' could also be studied—linked to brain activity or soft scientific cues like heart rate. It’s about shifting the focus from personal emotion to shared observation.
However, in addition to all the nice encounters happening on the tube, we were also reminded to be mindful of safety, and be aware of all the anti-social activities, especially when talking about public encounters on the tube. There’s a risk of crossing into uncomfortable or unsafe territory, so it’s important to think about consent and ethical boundaries.
We were also encouraged to think beyond just asking people how they feel. What if we gave them creative tools and let them show us instead—what does their brain look like when they imagine or witness a meet-cute?
Maybe it's less about personal experience and more about observing others.
Like seeing a kiss cam or old couples holding hands. That moment of witnessing 'love' could also be studied—linked to brain activity or soft scientific cues like heart rate. It’s about shifting the focus from personal emotion to shared observation.
However, in addition to all the nice encounters happening on the tube, we were also reminded to be mindful of safety, and be aware of all the anti-social activities, especially when talking about public encounters on the tube. There’s a risk of crossing into uncomfortable or unsafe territory, so it’s important to think about consent and ethical boundaries.
We were also encouraged to think beyond just asking people how they feel. What if we gave them creative tools and let them show us instead—what does their brain look like when they imagine or witness a meet-cute?
Maybe it's less about personal experience and more about observing others.
Like seeing a kiss cam or old couples holding hands. That moment of witnessing 'love' could also be studied—linked to brain activity or soft scientific cues like heart rate. It’s about shifting the focus from personal emotion to shared observation.
The creative toolkit provided
The creative toolkit provided
The creative toolkit provided
Following this, we conducted a creative toolkit research, where our aim was to find out how people express their memories visually and using their senses. We provided them with a couple of tools and asked them to create an environment & abstract visualisation of how their brains felt/behaved when they experienced tube crush.
Following this, we conducted a creative toolkit research, where our aim was to find out how people express their memories visually and using their senses. We provided them with a couple of tools and asked them to create an environment & abstract visualisation of how their brains felt/behaved when they experienced tube crush.
Following this, we conducted a creative toolkit research, where our aim was to find out how people express their memories visually and using their senses. We provided them with a couple of tools and asked them to create an environment & abstract visualisation of how their brains felt/behaved when they experienced tube crush.
People taking part in the activity
People taking part in the activity
People taking part in the activity
Creative toolkit - what people made
Creative toolkit - what people made
Creative toolkit - what people made
We saw the idea of witnessing love on the Tube begin to take shape. Beyond simply experiencing a Tube crush, we were curious about what happens in the brain when someone sees a moment of affection or connection—how do they feel, and would they want to preserve that memory?
To explore this further and begin ideating potential outcomes for our project, our group carried out a 'Crazy 4s' activity. Each of us generated four ideas in response to a set of prompt questions that would help shape the direction of our final concept.
We saw the idea of witnessing love on the Tube begin to take shape. Beyond simply experiencing a Tube crush, we were curious about what happens in the brain when someone sees a moment of affection or connection—how do they feel, and would they want to preserve that memory?
To explore this further and begin ideating potential outcomes for our project, our group carried out a 'Crazy 4s' activity. Each of us generated four ideas in response to a set of prompt questions that would help shape the direction of our final concept.
We saw the idea of witnessing love on the Tube begin to take shape. Beyond simply experiencing a Tube crush, we were curious about what happens in the brain when someone sees a moment of affection or connection—how do they feel, and would they want to preserve that memory?
To explore this further and begin ideating potential outcomes for our project, our group carried out a 'Crazy 4s' activity. Each of us generated four ideas in response to a set of prompt questions that would help shape the direction of our final concept.
Crazy 4s prompt questions
Crazy 4s prompt questions
Crazy 4s prompt questions
Some of our responses
Some of our responses
Some of our responses
One idea that stood out to all of us was that of a large vending machine — an interactive machine where people could reflect on what they experienced and have their brain scanned. While this leaned heavily into the speculative realm, the concept got us all excited. Realistically, building such a structure and engineering a functional brain-scanning mechanism was beyond the scope of our project, but the idea offered a compelling direction for further exploration.
One idea that stood out to all of us was that of a large vending machine — an interactive machine where people could reflect on what they experienced and have their brain scanned. While this leaned heavily into the speculative realm, the concept got us all excited. Realistically, building such a structure and engineering a functional brain-scanning mechanism was beyond the scope of our project, but the idea offered a compelling direction for further exploration.
One idea that stood out to all of us was that of a large vending machine — an interactive machine where people could reflect on what they experienced and have their brain scanned. While this leaned heavily into the speculative realm, the concept got us all excited. Realistically, building such a structure and engineering a functional brain-scanning mechanism was beyond the scope of our project, but the idea offered a compelling direction for further exploration.
Feedback & My thoughts
Feedback & My thoughts
Feedback & My thoughts
Make the idea practical and achievable with accessible, low-tech solutions.
Make the idea practical and achievable with accessible, low-tech solutions.
Make the idea practical and achievable with accessible, low-tech solutions.
Reframe the message to avoid sounding invasive or creepy.
Reframe the message to avoid sounding invasive or creepy.
Reframe the message to avoid sounding invasive or creepy.
Use existing Tube infrastructure creatively while considering safety and consent.
Use existing Tube infrastructure creatively while considering safety and consent.
Use existing Tube infrastructure creatively while considering safety and consent.
Embrace contrast: small, unexpected connections in noisy, isolating spaces.
Embrace contrast: small, unexpected connections in noisy, isolating spaces.
Embrace contrast: small, unexpected connections in noisy, isolating spaces.
References
References
References
Goffman, E. (1963) Behavior in Public Places: Notes on the Social Organization of Gatherings. New York, NY: Free Press.
Goffman, E. (1963) Behavior in Public Places: Notes on the Social Organization of Gatherings. New York, NY: Free Press.
Goffman, E. (1963) Behavior in Public Places: Notes on the Social Organization of Gatherings. New York, NY: Free Press.
Thank You For Reading.
Thank You For Reading.
Thank You For Reading.
✨ Keep Exploring ✨
WORKSHOP DESIGN
WORKSHOP DESIGN
WORKSHOP DESIGN
WORKSHOP DESIGN
WORKSHOP DESIGN
WORKSHOP DESIGN
© 2025 | Designed and developed by me with ♡ | All Rights Reserved.
© 2025 | Designed and developed by me with ♡ | All Rights Reserved.
© 2025 | Designed and developed by me with ♡ | All Rights Reserved.