UX of Dirt Week 2
UX of Dirt Week 2
UX of Dirt Week 2
"what is it more than matter out of place" ~ mary douglas
"what is it more than matter out of place" ~ mary douglas
"what is it more than matter out of place" ~ mary douglas
UX Studio Practices
UX Studio Practices
Ritual Design
Ritual Design
Team, research methods & Duration
Team, research methods & Duration
Team, research methods & Duration
Aoqi, Jade, Rui, Sarthak, Sakshi
Aoqi, Jade, Rui, Sarthak, Sakshi
Aoqi, Jade, Rui, Sarthak, Sakshi
Love Letter, Breakup Letter and AEIOU
Love Letter, Breakup Letter and AEIOU
Love Letter, Breakup Letter and AEIOU
4th Oct - 11th Oct
4th Oct - 11th Oct
4th Oct - 11th Oct
THE brief
THE brief
THE brief
"Design an embodied experience of dirt."
"Design an embodied experience of dirt."
"Design an embodied experience of dirt."
Re-evaluation & re-thinking
Re-evaluation & re-thinking
Re-evaluation & re-thinking
Instead of focusing on guilt, we decided to explore the emotion of ‘feeling dirty.’ We wrote love letters and breakup letters to this feeling. Then, we analyzed the insights to uncover the common positive and negative emotions we all share about it.
Instead of focusing on guilt, we decided to explore the emotion of ‘feeling dirty.’ We wrote love letters and breakup letters to this feeling. Then, we analyzed the insights to uncover the common positive and negative emotions we all share about it.
Instead of focusing on guilt, we decided to explore the emotion of ‘feeling dirty.’ We wrote love letters and breakup letters to this feeling. Then, we analyzed the insights to uncover the common positive and negative emotions we all share about it.
Love Letter & Breakup Letter to 'Feeling Dirty'
Love Letter & Breakup Letter to 'Feeling Dirty'
Love Letter & Breakup Letter to 'Feeling Dirty'
Our Insights, Common Positives & Negatives
Our Insights, Common Positives & Negatives
Our Insights, Common Positives & Negatives
Observation & Research
Observation & Research
Observation & Research
We explored the ceramics workshop at Camberwell College of Arts to examine the positive implications of dirt and visited a local dump to investigate its negative associations. Using the AEIOU research method, we systematically documented observations in both locations.
We explored the ceramics workshop at Camberwell College of Arts to examine the positive implications of dirt and visited a local dump to investigate its negative associations. Using the AEIOU research method, we systematically documented observations in both locations.
We explored the ceramics workshop at Camberwell College of Arts to examine the positive implications of dirt and visited a local dump to investigate its negative associations. Using the AEIOU research method, we systematically documented observations in both locations.
AEIOU - Feeling dirty in ceramics workshop & local dump
AEIOU - Feeling dirty in ceramics workshop & local dump
AEIOU - Feeling dirty in ceramics workshop & local dump
The embodied Experience
The embodied Experience
The embodied Experience
Feeling dirty is unique to each person, often triggered by emotional or physical factors like old memories or specific states of being.
Feeling dirty is unique to each person, often triggered by emotional or physical factors like old memories or specific states of being.
Feeling dirty is unique to each person, often triggered by emotional or physical factors like old memories or specific states of being.
Our main question was how to transform the negative feeling of being dirty into a positive one.
Our main question was how to transform the negative feeling of being dirty into a positive one.
Our main question was how to transform the negative feeling of being dirty into a positive one.
We wanted to create an experience that helps participants embrace it fully. This could mean reminding them of the good things that came from it, how they overcame it, or how it made them stronger.
We decided to design a ritual for the final embodied experience. Multiple experiments suggest that framing basic actions as ritual can help regulate negative emotion and anxiety (Hobson et al., 2017).
We wanted to create an experience that helps participants embrace it fully. This could mean reminding them of the good things that came from it, how they overcame it, or how it made them stronger.
We decided to design a ritual for the final embodied experience. Multiple experiments suggest that framing basic actions as ritual can help regulate negative emotion and anxiety (Hobson et al., 2017).
We wanted to create an experience that helps participants embrace it fully. This could mean reminding them of the good things that came from it, how they overcame it, or how it made them stronger.
We decided to design a ritual for the final embodied experience. Multiple experiments suggest that framing basic actions as ritual can help regulate negative emotion and anxiety (Hobson et al., 2017).
Feeling dirty through Ash & Grease
Feeling dirty through Ash & Grease
Feeling dirty through Ash & Grease
To make the experience multi-sensory, we decided to use physical dirt to represent the feeling. In many cultures, dirt symbolizes both contamination and fertility. We discovered that ash, historically used as a natural scrubbing agent, is a form of dirt that can cleanse other dirt.
To make the experience multi-sensory, we decided to use physical dirt to represent the feeling. In many cultures, dirt symbolizes both contamination and fertility. We discovered that ash, historically used as a natural scrubbing agent, is a form of dirt that can cleanse other dirt.
To make the experience multi-sensory, we decided to use physical dirt to represent the feeling. In many cultures, dirt symbolizes both contamination and fertility. We discovered that ash, historically used as a natural scrubbing agent, is a form of dirt that can cleanse other dirt.
AEIOU - Using Ash to Clean.
AEIOU - Using Ash to Clean.
AEIOU - Using Ash to Clean.
Designing the Ritual
Designing the Ritual
Designing the Ritual
We designed a ritual to help participants confront and embrace feelings of being dirty. Individuals were asked to recall a memory or situation that made them feel dirty, write it down on a sheet of metal using grease, and reflect on how they could embrace it. They would then use ash to clean away the grease, symbolising acceptance of this state.
We designed a ritual to help participants confront and embrace feelings of being dirty. Individuals were asked to recall a memory or situation that made them feel dirty, write it down on a sheet of metal using grease, and reflect on how they could embrace it. They would then use ash to clean away the grease, symbolising acceptance of this state.
We designed a ritual to help participants confront and embrace feelings of being dirty. Individuals were asked to recall a memory or situation that made them feel dirty, write it down on a sheet of metal using grease, and reflect on how they could embrace it. They would then use ash to clean away the grease, symbolising acceptance of this state.
Creating the Ritual (Ritual Design Lab, n.d., Ritual Design Network, n.d.)
Performing & refining the ritual outdoors
Performing & refining the ritual outdoors
Performing & refining the ritual outdoors
Testing the ritual in an outdoor environment
Testing the ritual in an outdoor environment
Testing the ritual in an outdoor environment
To engage the audience, we created small packets containing cotton swabs and oiled paper pins. This was mainly to allow them to clean with ash and experience the ritual from a distance, creating a shared yet personal connection to the process.
To engage the audience, we created small packets containing cotton swabs and oiled paper pins. This was mainly to allow them to clean with ash and experience the ritual from a distance, creating a shared yet personal connection to the process.
To engage the audience, we created small packets containing cotton swabs and oiled paper pins. This was mainly to allow them to clean with ash and experience the ritual from a distance, creating a shared yet personal connection to the process.
Presentation & Feedback
Presentation & Feedback
Presentation & Feedback
Two participants took part in the ritual, and it was well received.
Two participants took part in the ritual, and it was well received.
Two participants took part in the ritual, and it was well received.
Participants understood the concept of cleaning negativity by dirtying their hands and using ash to clean grease.
Participants understood the concept of cleaning negativity by dirtying their hands and using ash to clean grease.
Participants understood the concept of cleaning negativity by dirtying their hands and using ash to clean grease.
The ritual performance was impactful, with a silent and reflective atmosphere created by ambient music and a soft guiding voice.
The ritual performance was impactful, with a silent and reflective atmosphere created by ambient music and a soft guiding voice.
The ritual performance was impactful, with a silent and reflective atmosphere created by ambient music and a soft guiding voice.
The audience was unclear about the purpose of the packets due to the lack of instructions during the ritual.
The audience was unclear about the purpose of the packets due to the lack of instructions during the ritual.
The audience was unclear about the purpose of the packets due to the lack of instructions during the ritual.
Final Ritual Experience
Final Ritual Experience
Final Ritual Experience
my thoughts
my thoughts
my thoughts
We should have focused on the main experience with two participants instead of involving everyone with small packets, which distracted and hindered the experience.
We should have focused on the main experience with two participants instead of involving everyone with small packets, which distracted and hindered the experience.
Collecting ash from burning incense sticks
Collecting ash from burning incense sticks
Collecting ash from burning incense sticks
References
References
References
Hobson, N.M. et al. (2017) ‘The psychology of rituals: An integrative review and process-based framework’, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc., p. 7.
Ritual Design Lab. (n.d.). The importance of ritual design. Ritual Design Lab. Available at: https://www.ritualdesignlab.org/about-ritual-design/#importance
Ritual Design Network. (n.d.). Ritual Design Network. Available at: https://ritualdesign.net/
Wilkinson, A. (2021). How rituals help us to deal with uncertainty and stress. BBC Future. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210914-how-rituals-help-us-to-deal-with-uncertainty-and-stress
Hobson, N.M. et al. (2017) ‘The psychology of rituals: An integrative review and process-based framework’, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc., p. 7.
Ritual Design Lab. (n.d.). The importance of ritual design. Ritual Design Lab. Available at: https://www.ritualdesignlab.org/about-ritual-design/#importance
Ritual Design Network. (n.d.). Ritual Design Network. Available at: https://ritualdesign.net/
Wilkinson, A. (2021). How rituals help us to deal with uncertainty and stress. BBC Future. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210914-how-rituals-help-us-to-deal-with-uncertainty-and-stress
Hobson, N.M. et al. (2017) ‘The psychology of rituals: An integrative review and process-based framework’, Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Inc., p. 7.
Ritual Design Lab. (n.d.). The importance of ritual design. Ritual Design Lab. Available at: https://www.ritualdesignlab.org/about-ritual-design/#importance
Ritual Design Network. (n.d.). Ritual Design Network. Available at: https://ritualdesign.net/
Wilkinson, A. (2021). How rituals help us to deal with uncertainty and stress. BBC Future. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210914-how-rituals-help-us-to-deal-with-uncertainty-and-stress
Thank You For Reading.
Thank You For Reading.
Thank You For Reading.
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© 2025 | Designed and developed by me with ♡ | All Rights Reserved.