Sommersemester 2024, BA/MA Produkt-Design eLab , Exzellenzcluster
Shaping Water | eLAB
Wir bestehen zu 70 % aus Wasser. H2O ist nicht nur eine Substanz, sondern die Essenz des Lebens selbst. Unsere Beziehung zu dieser elementaren Kraft ist vielschichtig und tiefgreifend, fest in das Gewebe der Zivilisation eingewoben. Verehrt, umkämpft und politisiert – die Bedeutung des Wassers ist beispiellos, besonders vor dem Hintergrund der sich zuspitzenden Klimakrise. Der Umgang mit Wasser prägt unseren Alltag. In seinen unzähligen Erscheinungsformen und Einsatzorten erfüllt Wasser vielfältige technische und soziokulturelle Funktionen, aus denen jeweils spezifische Formen der Verteilung, Speicherung, Inszenierung und des Verschwindens hervorgegangen sind. Lebenswichtige Flüssigkeit, Reinigungsmittel, integraler Bestandteil unseres Lebensraums sowie Ort der Entspannung oder Belebung: Die Formen der Interaktion mit diesem Medium und seinen Aggregatzuständen sind multisensorisch, vielfältig und komplex.
Im Projekt „Shaping Water" untersuchten und hinterfragten wir zivilisatorische Standards, Nutzungsmuster und Erfahrungen mit dem Ziel, das Medium Wasser und unsere Erfahrung damit neu zu denken. Durch diese Erkundung wollten wir neue Interaktionskonzepte und Produktideen entwickeln, die in Prototypen und Exponaten zum Leben erweckt wurden und die Nutzer:innen auf greifbarer Ebene ansprechen. Mit der Unterstützung und Beratung des eLAB während des gesamten Projekts haben wir uns praxisnah mit Physical Computing und Coding als Ausdrucksform des Designs auseinandergesetzt.
Das Projekt war Teil des Design Research Studio im Exzellenzcluster „Matters of Activity".
>>> shapingwater.designing-interactions.de
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We are composed of 70% water. H2O is not merely a substance but the essence of life itself. Our relationship with this elemental force is intricate and profound, deeply woven into the fabric of civilization. Revered, contested, and politicized, water‘s significance is unparalleled, especially against the backdrop of the escalating climate crisis.
The use of water shapes our everyday lives. In its myriad manifestations and places of use, water fulfills diverse technical and socio-cultural functions, each of which has given rise to specific forms of distribution, storage, display and disappearance.
A vital liquid, a cleaning fluid, an integral part of our habitat and a place of relaxation or revitalization: forms of interaction with this medium and its aggregate states are multi-sensual, diverse and complex.
In the project „Shaping Water“, we examine and challenge civilizational standards, usage patterns, and experiences with the aim of rethinking the medium of water and how we experience it. Through this exploration, we aspire to devlop new interaction concepts and product ideas, now brought to life in prototypes and exhibits that resonate with users on a tangible level.
With the support and advice of the eLAB throughout the project, we took a handson approach to physical computing and coding as expression of design. The project is part of the Design Research Studio in the Cluster of Excellency „Matters of Activity“.
The studio project was conducted as part of MoA Design Research Studio and supervised by Prof. Carola Zwick, Dominic Eger Domingos (MOA) and Simon von Schmude (eLAB) with support from Yolanda Leask, Hans Illiger and Dennis Stoermer for Storytelling (text, user journeys and concept video)
>>> shapingwater.designing-interactions.de
Traditionally a bathroom is a sterile and functional place, clean for the purpose of cleansing oneself. It has not been designed for a satisfying and enriching user experience. But to take a shower or a bath, or even to just wash one‘s face is an act that goes beyond the pragmatics of it. It is an act of self care and self love, not just for the body but also for the mind. By rethinking the traditional shower and turning it into a water wall that can be customised to the user’s preferences, everyone can gain the opportunity to have a luxurious experience at home and rediscover the play with water.
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Traditionally a bathroom is a sterile and functional place, clean for the purpose of cleansing oneself. It has not been designed for a satisfying and enriching user experience. But to take a shower or a bath, or even to just wash one‘s face is an act that goes beyond the pragmatics of it. It is an act of self care and self love, not just for the body but also for the mind. By rethinking the traditional shower and turning it into a water wall that can be customised to the user’s preferences, everyone can gain the opportunity to have a luxurious experience at home and rediscover the play with water.
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At first glance, this is just a typical wall in an apartment. It has no hardware, no distinguishing features. It blends in and allows the resident to maximise their limited living space. A transformation occurs when the user places an artifact on the wall. An archaic analogue gesture, placing an object feels empowering - hereby commanding the water to flow forth. The wall is operated through a family of beautiful, minimal artifacts shaped from curved wood, that truly evoke zen. The form of each artifact creates a specific flow and spa-like quality of water, ranging from a concentrated stream, to a diffused shower, to a strong gush. These artifacts can be placed in unlimited configurations, enabling the user to compose their own unique shower experience.
It is enticing to be able to control the flow of water with these sculptural modules. One’s very personal order can be created within a calm and private space, almost bestowing magical abilities on the user to guide the water into the form that they desire.
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In summer, the ‘concrete jungle’ turns into a harsh desert. Imagine an oasis could spontaneously spring up, right in the centre of the urban space. It could improve the quality of dense residential areas, offering inhabitants an accessible refuge from the heat. How could we transform the built environment into an oasis, in an approach that slots into existing infrastructure? Factoring in social climate justice, limited public budgets and accessibility, Urban Oasis reappropriates the Modernist formal language of the city’s architecture and reconfigures it to show what is possible with better design. More specifically, the oasis consists of standardised modules, assembled in a rectangular grid system. They can be installed as easily as concrete paving slabs. But these semi-porous modules are able to ‘soften the grid’ and invite nature and water back into the city, thanks to clever drainage.
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Sections of the oasis modules are permeable, allowing plants to grow. Channels in its surface design allow water to flow in different configurations and streams to emerge. The oasis modules are smart; a dynamic interaction begins when they recognise our presence. When a person enters the oasis, they become part of the fountain itself. Water begins to spray, fountains bubble up seemingly at random and geysers surge from the ground. A vibrating puddle encourages observers to jump in, or crouch down and glide their fingers across its rippling surface. Stepping onto certain modules produces a cloud of fine mist. Stomping one’s feet produces a surprise jet of water, while jumping up and down turns off the water altogether.
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Not only a cool sanctuary, the Urban Oasis is an attractive social space that encourages residents to hang out and interact with neighbours from their community, turning a hostile concrete environment back into a fertile green space.
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Not all information needs to be captured and saved for eternity, to be written in stone. A lot of information is only relevant for a short period of time. These types of data and messages are usually displayed using different forms of bright lights. While very effective at conveying urgent information that requires people‘s immediate attention, not all information needs to be ‘shouted’ at us visually.
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Droplets is a minimalistic installation that displays information in a calm tone of voice. Water embodies this ephemerality. In the form of drops, it mirrors the function of pixels. Yet its visual properties are starkly different. Water droplets present themselves as smooth and soft, unobtrusive “pixels”, only visible through internal reflections. The shape of the water outlet creates perfect round pearls of water, arranged in 5 parallel rows to allow for text to be displayed.
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These delicate droplets roll slowly down a surface that allows them to shimmer in the illumination of the ambient light, thereby allowing them to convey their intended message. Once they have completed their path, and their message expires, they disappear into the installation, as once again new droplets are formed.
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Access to water is an essential human need that is commercialised. With cities becoming hotter year by year, the European Union has now introduced legislation that underlines the city‘s increasing responsibility in providing its people with free water. This precipitates the introduction of more public fountains in the coming years, helping to reduce plastic waste. However, public fountains are typically monotonous: a single fixed jet of water is typically set to a specific angle and height, with no variation or accessibility considered for disabled users, children or animals. “Quell” is a smart public water hub that obligingly accommodates all users and their needs. Celebrating the analogue quality of water, “Quell” puts the user in dialogue with the stream itself.
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In stand-by mode, a fine mist is sprayed which attracts the attention of passers-by. This spray has not only a cooling effect, but also a self-cleaning function for the fountain. When a user approaches “Quell” a hands-free response from the fountain is initiated, allowing the user to modulate the way the water is presented. Artificial intelligence allows Quell to adapt to your height, react to your hand gestures, and in a polite gesture, bow down to fill up your water bottle. By moving the hands together and apart, the stream becomes more concentrated or diffused. This neo-analogue gesture allows the user to conduct the water stream, and represents the spectrum of variation possible, from a fine mist to a targeted jet. “Quell” could prompt a more inclusive and enjoyable interaction with water in the public space.in the public space.
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Houseplants can increase our quality of life, particularly in urban homes, where city-dwellers have few opportunities to experience the mental and physical health benefits of gardening. Many people just feel they aren’t green-fingered enough to take care of a pot plant. But what if someone would take you by the hand and walk you through the process? When you come home from a busy day at the office, Gisela, your watering buddy, is waiting for you.
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She knows exactly what your plants need and conveys this information through subtle, haptic vibration feedback. Gradually she teaches you exactly how many glugs of water each plant needs, and as you learn to interpret her vibration signals, over time, her knowledge is transferred to your muscle memory. As Gisela guides you around your living space, you experience a flow state. Engaging in the grounding and meditative ritual of watering the plants creates an opportunity for ‘me-time’.
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Gisela is a perfect example of ‘calm tech’ - her smooth and neutral form is made of natural clay, which does not hint at the electronics concealed within. The design combines two different recyclable materials: the technology module inserted in the base can be easily repaired or replaced. Advanced technology should not deprive us from satisfying analog sensory experiences. Gisela’s subtle cues provide users with an opportunity to detach from screens, but still learn from the knowledge embedded within.
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Stratus takes an experimental approach to artificially recreate the natural phenomenon of mist, water droplets suspended in air - a phenomenon we commonly recognise as fog or in the form of clouds. In an interplay of water and light, a clever installation allows mist to be experienced in a different environment. The tiny water droplets reflect light and act as a diffuser or ‘resonating body’ in motion for a concealed light source. Set against a contrasting dark background, the mist is rendered visible and its fascination for the viewer is amplified. What is typically a very temporary and transient weather condition is presented here as a continuous stream, a laminar flow.
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What is typically a very temporary and transient weather condition is presented here as a continuous stream, a laminar flow. This fog or mist has been ‘tamed’, and in this controlled, cylindrical form, it becomes a tangible phenomenon that is easier to grasp - literally. Witnessing this installation has an emotional effect on the user, inciting childlike curiosity and prompting them to grab at the water mist, putting their hand in the hazy stream and interrupting its flow. Mist consists of water – a liquid – but takes the form of droplets so tiny suspended in air, that it almost behaves like a gas.
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In Stratus, mist is presented in a deliberately condensed form that we find unfamiliar: it appears stronger and as if it has a will of its own. This challenges the viewer’s expectations, as we naturally expect fine mist to disperse according to the laws of physics, but this mist stream bounces back with almost magnetic determination, to follow a specified direction.
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