Brainscapes Week 5
Brainscapes Week 5
Brainscapes Week 5
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.
Following last week’s feedback, we realised that digital data can't truly capture the authentic moments & the sensory nature of human experience.
After learning from Robyn, the founder at Kinda Studios, that oxytocin is released on the Tube due to synchronised movement, we did our research and found out that oxytocin is often called the “love hormone” (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998).
This supported our direction of looking into the idea of “Tube crushes” — those fleeting moments of connection with strangers during a commute.
We explored gently boosting oxytocin through scent, touch, and vibration—each engaging memory, calm, and sensory grounding (Uvnäs-Moberg et al., 2015).
Following last week’s feedback, we realised that digital data can't truly capture the authentic moments & the sensory nature of human experience.
After learning from Robyn, the founder at Kinda Studios, that oxytocin is released on the Tube due to synchronised movement, we did our research and found out that oxytocin is often called the “love hormone” (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998).
This supported our direction of looking into the idea of “Tube crushes” — those fleeting moments of connection with strangers during a commute.
We explored gently boosting oxytocin through scent, touch, and vibration—each engaging memory, calm, and sensory grounding (Uvnäs-Moberg et al., 2015).
Following last week’s feedback, we realised that digital data can't truly capture the authentic moments & the sensory nature of human experience.
After learning from Robyn, the founder at Kinda Studios, that oxytocin is released on the Tube due to synchronised movement, we did our research and found out that oxytocin is often called the “love hormone” (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998).
This supported our direction of looking into the idea of “Tube crushes” — those fleeting moments of connection with strangers during a commute.
We explored gently boosting oxytocin through scent, touch, and vibration—each engaging memory, calm, and sensory grounding (Uvnäs-Moberg et al., 2015).
Graph showing the sensory elements that we wanted to incorporate in the fidget toy
Graph showing the sensory elements that we wanted to incorporate in the fidget toy
Graph showing the sensory elements that we wanted to incorporate in the fidget toy
This led to the idea of creating a line of fidget toys that combine scent, touch, and vibration to support and enhance oxytocin release during travel.
A concern was raised that creating a generalized physical product—one that assumes it can address the very personal feelings and moments — might lead to its constant need to prove its effectiveness for everyone. Instead, we want to highlight the value of ambiguity and open interpretation, as a way to invite more authentic responses.
This led to the idea of creating a line of fidget toys that combine scent, touch, and vibration to support and enhance oxytocin release during travel.
A concern was raised that creating a generalized physical product—one that assumes it can address the very personal feelings and moments — might lead to its constant need to prove its effectiveness for everyone. Instead, we want to highlight the value of ambiguity and open interpretation, as a way to invite more authentic responses.
This led to the idea of creating a line of fidget toys that combine scent, touch, and vibration to support and enhance oxytocin release during travel.
A concern was raised that creating a generalized physical product—one that assumes it can address the very personal feelings and moments — might lead to its constant need to prove its effectiveness for everyone. Instead, we want to highlight the value of ambiguity and open interpretation, as a way to invite more authentic responses.
Fidget mockups [AI generated - for visual representation only]
Expanding the concept
Expanding the concept
Expanding the concept
Looking back at all our research, conversations & experiences, we saw how the mechanical nature of tube journeys often make us feel like robots - stuck together in a giant machine - which we are.
However, there are often fleeting moments that feel beautiful — visually, emotionally, or atmospherically. Experiencing ‘tube crushes’ was one such moment.
These moments might go unnoticed, but they can carry a quiet aesthetic value - which for a moment, makes our day a little brighter, and a little warmer.
Going forward, we wanted to help people become more aware of these fleeting moments through sensory and participatory methods—encouraging them to notice the small experiences that can make their day a little brighter, a little warmer.
Looking back at all our research, conversations & experiences, we saw how the mechanical nature of tube journeys often make us feel like robots - stuck together in a giant machine - which we are.
However, there are often fleeting moments that feel beautiful — visually, emotionally, or atmospherically. Experiencing ‘tube crushes’ was one such moment.
These moments might go unnoticed, but they can carry a quiet aesthetic value - which for a moment, makes our day a little brighter, and a little warmer.
Going forward, we wanted to help people become more aware of these fleeting moments through sensory and participatory methods—encouraging them to notice the small experiences that can make their day a little brighter, a little warmer.
Looking back at all our research, conversations & experiences, we saw how the mechanical nature of tube journeys often make us feel like robots - stuck together in a giant machine - which we are.
However, there are often fleeting moments that feel beautiful — visually, emotionally, or atmospherically. Experiencing ‘tube crushes’ was one such moment.
These moments might go unnoticed, but they can carry a quiet aesthetic value - which for a moment, makes our day a little brighter, and a little warmer.
Going forward, we wanted to help people become more aware of these fleeting moments through sensory and participatory methods—encouraging them to notice the small experiences that can make their day a little brighter, a little warmer.
Observing tube journeys
Exploring sensory activities
Exploring sensory activities
Exploring sensory activities
As a potential outcome, we wanted to design a sensory, interactive installation set up in a tube station (or adjacent public space), inviting people to reflect on, contribute to, and re-experience fleeting emotional moments. The idea was to shift the project from passive data collection & generalised product design, to a generative, participatory experience.
As a potential outcome, we wanted to design a sensory, interactive installation set up in a tube station (or adjacent public space), inviting people to reflect on, contribute to, and re-experience fleeting emotional moments. The idea was to shift the project from passive data collection & generalised product design, to a generative, participatory experience.
As a potential outcome, we wanted to design a sensory, interactive installation set up in a tube station (or adjacent public space), inviting people to reflect on, contribute to, and re-experience fleeting emotional moments. The idea was to shift the project from passive data collection & generalised product design, to a generative, participatory experience.
Interactive installation - the idea, plans & questions
Interactive installation - the idea, plans & questions
Interactive installation - the idea, plans & questions
We started by conducting a sensory, participatory activity - asking people to recreate their memory of an aesthetic tube experience with the help of sensory items like textures, scents, colors.
Our aim here was to collect stories, and make brain activity responding to these aesthetic moments interactive through sensory mediums.
We started by conducting a sensory, participatory activity - asking people to recreate their memory of an aesthetic tube experience with the help of sensory items like textures, scents, colors.
Our aim here was to collect stories, and make brain activity responding to these aesthetic moments interactive through sensory mediums.
We started by conducting a sensory, participatory activity - asking people to recreate their memory of an aesthetic tube experience with the help of sensory items like textures, scents, colors.
Our aim here was to collect stories, and make brain activity responding to these aesthetic moments interactive through sensory mediums.
Testing the idea with people who travel via tubes often
Testing the idea with people who travel via tubes often
Testing the idea with people who travel via tubes often
Final results & what we found
Final results & what we found
Final results & what we found
Feedback & My thoughts
Feedback & My thoughts
Feedback & My thoughts
We could look for chill places in the underground where this could be organised.
We could look for chill places in the underground where this could be organised.
We could look for chill places in the underground where this could be organised.
Consider making them re-do it over a few days' duration.
Consider making them re-do it over a few days' duration.
Consider making them re-do it over a few days' duration.
What does the token that people take back look like? How does it function?
What does the token that people take back look like? How does it function?
What does the token that people take back look like? How does it function?
Feelings stickers feel too generalised – we experience many emotions at once, so it doesn’t make sense to pinpoint just one.
Feelings stickers feel too generalised – we experience many emotions at once, so it doesn’t make sense to pinpoint just one.
Feelings stickers feel too generalised – we experience many emotions at once, so it doesn’t make sense to pinpoint just one.
Ticket design works well because it fits within the system.
Ticket design works well because it fits within the system.
Ticket design works well because it fits within the system.
Fix the messaging – 'cute' words might not work given the context. Be clearer about the emotions we’re addressing.
Fix the messaging – 'cute' words might not work given the context. Be clearer about the emotions we’re addressing.
Fix the messaging – 'cute' words might not work given the context. Be clearer about the emotions we’re addressing.
Consider how to humanise the dehumanised Tube experience.
Consider how to humanise the dehumanised Tube experience.
Consider how to humanise the dehumanised Tube experience.
Maybe scale down the size of the card so it’s easier to carry around.
Maybe scale down the size of the card so it’s easier to carry around.
Maybe scale down the size of the card so it’s easier to carry around.
media References
media References
media References
Uvnäs-Moberg, K. (1998) ‘Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions’, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 23(8), pp. 819–835.
Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Handlin, L. & Petersson, M. (2015) ‘Self-soothing behaviors with particular reference to oxytocin release induced by non-noxious sensory stimulation’, Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1529. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01529
Uvnäs-Moberg, K. (1998) ‘Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions’, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 23(8), pp. 819–835.
Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Handlin, L. & Petersson, M. (2015) ‘Self-soothing behaviors with particular reference to oxytocin release induced by non-noxious sensory stimulation’, Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1529. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01529
Uvnäs-Moberg, K. (1998) ‘Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions’, Psychoneuroendocrinology, 23(8), pp. 819–835.
Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Handlin, L. & Petersson, M. (2015) ‘Self-soothing behaviors with particular reference to oxytocin release induced by non-noxious sensory stimulation’, Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 1529. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01529
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.