Project Overview: Circolo del Design - Earthrise Festival 2023

Circolo del Design is a cultural production center dedicated to enhancing, nurturing, and promoting design. It fosters connections between designers, companies, public administration, and institutions through various activities such as research, experimentation, and cultural programs. Circolo del Design aims to create a design system that serves the community and the territory, making it an open, inclusive, and participatory space.

The Festival: Earthrise 2023

Earthrise is an annual festival focusing on the relationship between design and environmental sustainability. The first edition in 2023 explores the connection between society and forest ecosystems, emphasizing how the objects we produce mediate this relationship. The festival includes:

• Talks by leading figures in design, culture, and science.
• Workshops and participatory activities.
• Screenings and performances.

The festival aims to provide a space for discussion and reflection on our relationship with the environment.

The Exhibition: May Contain Traces of Forest

Curated by Elisabetta Donati de Conti and Giorgio Vacchiano, this exhibition bridges science and design. It showcases a variety of perspectives—scientific, design, and imaginative—highlighting the complex relationships within ecosystems, from forests to our homes.

The Project: MAInD SUPSI Interactive Installation

Project Brief: MAInD SUPSI students are tasked with creating an interactive installation for the festival. The installation should communicate the importance of forests as interconnected ecosystems, emphasizing their role in Earth's processes and their impact on humankind.

Objectives:

• Increase understanding of ecosystems as interconnected networks.
• Raise awareness of humans' integral role in these ecosystems.
• Highlight the critical functions of forests, such as regulating climate, supporting the water cycle, and sustaining biodiversity.

Target Audience:

• Designers and  Architects interested in contemporary and experimental themes.
• Academics and Researchers from related fields.
• Entrepreneurs and Managers seeking to leverage design for development and innovation.
• Students aiming to enhance their skills and engage with the city's design network.

Research and Concept Development

Biophilic Design: Enhancing occupant connectivity to nature through direct (light, air, water, plants) and indirect(materials, views) experiences. Benefits include improved health, well-being,and environmental quality.

Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku): A Japanese practice of immersing oneself in nature to reduce stress, boost the immune system, and improve mental health.

Key benefits:

• Reduced stress hormone levels.
• Enhanced immune function.
• Lowered blood pressure.
• Increased creativity and mood improvement.

Urban Forests: Trees in urban environments offer numerous benefits, including air purification, temperature regulation, and flood protection. Urban forestry integrates these benefits into city planning for sustainability.

Insights and HMW Question

Key Insights:

• Forests provide significant psychophysical benefits, including stress reduction and immune system enhancement.
• Human affinity for nature (biophilia) suggests an innate connection that can be harnessed in design.
• Forests offer a peaceful respite from the fast pace of modern life, emphasizing the need to reconnect with nature.

HMW Question:

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How might we evoke a positive experience for the user where they can recall the sensations of being immersed in nature while raising awareness of its importance with a hopeful message?

Sensory Paradise is a technological exploration of forest ecosystems, that touches on multiple senses. Through a path of interactive stations, users will explore the intricacies and beauties inviting them to connect with nature and learn more about shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing

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SMELL Station

Concept: Interactive Fragrance Experience

Components:

• Servomotor: To open doors containing fragrance samples.

• Proximity Sensor: To detect user presence and trigger interactions.

• Smell Distribution: Utilize small bottles or perfume tabs.

• Arduino: To control the servomotors and sensors.

User Interaction:

1. Proximity Activation: When a user approaches, a servomotor opens a door to reveal a fragrance sample.

2. Fragrance Information: A voice or text on a screen provides information about the fragrance and its psychological benefits.

3. Interactive Smell Release: Users can pull out tabs or turn a potentiometer to release more fragrance.

Budget-Friendly Tips:

• Recycle small containers or perfume samples.

• Use a single Arduino to control multiple servomotors with a multiplexer.

TOUCH Station

Concept: Forest Texture Totem

Components:

• Different Textures: Moss, leaves, grass, etc., inside holes in the totem.

• Simple Lighting: LED lights to highlight each hole.

User Interaction:

1. Tactile Exploration: Users insert their hands into different holes to feel various forest textures.

2. Information Display: Small screens or printed information next to each hole explain the texture and its significance in a forest ecosystem.

Budget-Friendly Tips:

• Collect natural materials from local parks or use synthetic equivalents.

• Use battery

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SOUND Station

Concept: Personalized Forest Soundscape

Components:

• Potentiometers: To control sound levels of different nature sounds.

• Speakers: To play the sounds.

• Arduino: To manage sound inputs and outputs.

User Interaction:

1. Sound Selection: Users turn potentiometers to mix and match different sounds (e.g., birds, water streams, wind).

2. Sound Information: A small display shows which sound is being adjusted and provides context.

Budget-Friendly Tips:

• Use inexpensive potentiometers and small speakers.

• Pre-record and store sound files on an SD card for easy playback.

VISION Station

Concept: Interactive Forest Visualization

Components:

• Projector or Screen: To display videos or interactive content.

• Joystick/Gamepad: For navigation.

• Arduino and Sensors: To handle interactions.

User Interaction:

1. Video Projection: Users press a button to start a video projection of a forest scene.

2. Interactive Navigation: Use a joystick or gamepad to explore different parts of the forest, view trees in 360°, and access information about forest bathing.

Budget-Friendly Tips:

• Use an affordable mini projector.

• Simplify interaction by using basic directional buttons instead of a complex gamepad.

Integration and Execution

Electronics Setup:

1. Arduino Boards: One for each station, connected to the respective sensors and actuators.

2. Power Supply: Ensure all components have adequate power, possibly using power banks for simplicity.

User Flow:

1. Introduction: Brief visitors about the installation and how to interact with each station.

2. Engagement: Guide them through each sensory experience, ensuring smooth transitions.

3. Feedback: Provide a way for visitors to leave feedback about their experience.

Low Budget Considerations

• Reuse Materials: Utilize recycled or second-hand materials where possible.

• DIY Approach: Build as many components as possible in-house.

• Community Involvement: Engage local communities or students to assist with construction and setup.

The User Journey:

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The Experience:

Sensory Paradise is a technological exploration of forest ecosystems, that touches on multiple senses. Through a path of interactive stations, users will explore the intricacies and beauties inviting them to connect with nature and learn more about shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing.

Sensory Paradise is inspired by different philosophical, artistic and industrial concepts, such as the Rousseau’s thinking that man needs to return to nature (to his original essence) to rediscover his natural goodness; the biophilia hypothesis, which suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life; the forest bathing concept (also called Shinrin Yoku), the simple method of being calm and quiet amongst trees, observing nature whilst breathing deeply; the biophilic design, the use of direct and/or indirect nature, space and place conditions to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment.

STATIONS

SMELL

Feel the different textures and shapes of the forest and imagine yourself among the trees, touching and exploring the world around you. Reflect on the importance of tactile experiences in connecting with nature and fostering a sense of awe and wonder about the natural world.

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TOUCH

Take a moment to close your eyes and breathe deeply, allowing the scents to transport you to a place of peace and tranquillity.

HEARING

Let the sounds wash over you, transporting you to a place of calm and serenity. Listen to the different rhythms and melodies of the forest, and imagine yourself among the trees, feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin and the coolness of the forest floor beneath your feet.

SIGHT

Appreciate the intricate patterns and textures of leaves, the stunning colors of flowers and fruits, and the diverse array of animals that call the forest home. Forests are home to a wide range of plant and animal life, from towering trees to tiny insects. They provide essential ecosystem services, from regulating the climate to purifying the air and water.

OVERVIEW

We also gave out the forrest bathing posibilties in Italy, as the exhibition was in Turin.

Conclusion

Despite our thorough planning and prototyping efforts, we ultimately did not proceed with the installation at Circolo del Design, Torino. However, the project provided valuable insights into multi-sensory design and interactive installations. Future iterations will build on this foundation, potentially finding new venues and opportunities for implementation.

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