circular, oval plates /frame plates (rocker/skid for smoother entry/exit?)
conclusion: simplicity of the straight pipes is important to underline the seating surface design.
We found that other shapes would be too much & wouldn’t contribute to the concept.
Bottom Plate should be oval, but will stay a plate. Without a rocked element, we purposefully create a communication piece that relies on cooperation & commitment.
… deciding between final 2 upper seating options
!staying with circular shape, no backlean (try out feedback)!
1.velvet pillow cushions
soft pillows invite to sit, they break the harshness of the metal down.
This is important to us: prioritising difficult conversations by creating space where they can happen.Too often, these conversations are avoided instead of being prioritised.
How can we Create a Physical Space for Difficult Conversations ?
APPLYING RESEARCH ON DESIGN
EXPERIMENTS:
We gave up on the idea of the Veil between the users talking
“I want to stay, to listen to you”.
WHAT WE WANT
enclosed seating space for two acquainted people
a neutral “space within a space” that removes hierarchy and ownership, creating shared ground
setting that helps create comfortable, easy intimacy
invites open conversation and preventative confrontation
no set hierarchy between users
adjustable seating to support individual preferences (height, position, direction)
FURTHER SKETCHES:
TESTING SHAPES & SEATING:
What Shaped Space is suitable?
Weighing the Importance of Proximity
Playing with Adjustability
WHAT WE ARE STILL FIGURING OUT
How can we best translate our communication research into practical applications within our project?
Finding the sweet spot between universal and personal approaches to meaningful conversations – balancing diverse user needs while designing an experience that naturally invites deep, one-on-one exchanges
QUESTIONS
How can we embed guidelines for productive conversations into the design without overwhelming users with instructions?
How can we embed a sensory feature into the object that supports users during difficult conversations—providing a calming effect while remaining cohesive and purposeful within the overall design?
