Interactions offline.

23 Oct 2012 - 10:39pm
29 weeks ago
2 replies
4478 reads
Richard Carson
2010

Hi,

I've been focusing on non-digital based interactions. I know these threads often get bogged down with a digital focus. Either you're designing the next hardware, software, webware interaction, but my interactions go beyond the need for electricity. We do have an online shop, but our innovations are focused on interactions, people make off the computer rather than on. At the same time, our products are a combintation of design and art, or art and science. Never are we just science without the presence of beauty. Just wondering if people here wanted to discuss offline matters, or have any to share.

– Richard C.

Comments

24 Oct 2012 - 4:26am
Steve Baty
2009

Richard,

Whilst a lot of the IxDA's members work in the design of digital environments, over the past few years there has been a strong trend towards the application of Interaction Design methods and techniques to non-digital problems. 

The upcoming Interaction 13 conference (being held in Toronto in late January -interaction.ixda.org) will demonstrate this area of interaction design as they explore innovation with impact - including non-digital projects. 

A great deal of the work of students at Jon Kolko's design school - the Austin Center for Design - deals with problems of social innovation, some of which is made manifest physically; some digitally. Similar work can be seen at schools in Australia, US, and Europe.

You'll also see this diversity evident in the Interaction Awards (being judged soon). One of my favorite designs from last year was completely physical. I'm expecting to see a similar diversity in this years crop of shortlisted entries. 

All of which is to say: there is a great deal of interest across the IxDA and interaction design for non-digital interactions. I would be interested to hear more about how you're using interaction design in your offline projects. 

Steve

24 Oct 2012 - 9:20am
chrischandler
2008



On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 9:06 PM, Richard Carson <richard.carson75@gmail.com> wrote:
Richard Carson posted about Interactions offline. on IxDA.org:

Hi,

I've been focusing on non-digital based interactions.
Cool! I'd love to hear more.
 
I know these threads often get bogged down with a digital focus.
Hmmm. "Bogged down" seems unnecessary and pejorative. I've been doing a lot of service design work lately, and the difference between digital and non-digital raises a lot of issues worth discussing, but certainly I feel capable of thinking of interaction as bridging and holistic, not either/or.
 
Either you're designing the next hardware, software, webware interaction, but my interactions go beyond the need for electricity.
Wow. 
If you're making a claim that un-electrified interactions are every bit as important, I'm on board, but if you're trying to imply they are deeper or more fundamental, you can count me as a critic.
 
We do have an online shop, but our innovations are focused on interactions, people make off the computer rather than on. At the same time, our products are a combintation of design and art, or art and science. Never are we just science without the presence of beauty.
Again, I'm not sure what you're getting at. A personal standard, a lofty and even admirable goal, but it reinforces my opinion that you are after a divide, not a unity.
 
Just wondering if people here wanted to discuss offline matters, or have any to share.
All of that for such little payoff? I was totally expecting to hear about the marriage of of science and beauty. 
I obviously woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, but I think a better strategy would be to actually share some of the great amazing "non-digital" work that you've done or that inspires you... if discussion is what you're after.
-cc

 

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