Celebrating Social Awkwardness
OVERVIEW
Our exploratorium, Celebrating Social Awkwardness, studies how social awkwardness can produce unexpected moments of kinship and closeness. We inverted the perception of social awkwardness from something meant to be avoided to something that could be embraced as a new mode of social engagement. In order to achieve this, we designed a series of interactive experiences that invite you to explore social scenarios that are premised by a condition of awkwardness. We encourage visitors to tease out the hidden possibilities in everyday interactions and enjoy feeling confidently awkward.
Collaborators: Reina Imagawa, Justeen Lee, Hyejin Lim
WALKTHROUGH
This exploratorium is the result of a a 54 hour rapid making design charrette. Our four person group discussed overlapping interests based on past projects in order to develop the concept. The deliverable for this project was an interactive exploratorium in which participants engaged in a series of increasingly socially awkward activities.
Our team realized that the experience we were creating would be most effective when experienced with another guest. For this reason, visitors were asked to enter and navigate the exploratorium in pairs.
The flow of the exploratorium had a defined entrance and exit. The three exhibits we designed were laid out in order of increasing awkwardness, from low, to moderate, and finally a high level of awkwardness.
Exhibit 1:
PEOPLE FURNITURE (awkward level: low)
The first exhibit, People Furniture, required the pair of visitors to get into and hold a randomly assigned pose for 45 seconds. During this time, they were to carry on a casual conversation with their partner. The poses were loosely modeled after furniture, either the actual physicality of a "hammock" or a scenario such as "in a train at rush hour in Tokyo." The purpose was to deliberately make things more awkward between the people in pairs by making them do out of the ordinary postures in public.
Breaking into the awkward state, our first exhibit was People Furniture
____
A random card with pose instructions is assigned to each visitor
____
Hold your pose for 45 seconds on the floor mat while carrying on a conversation.
____
Exhibit 2:
TUNNEL (awkward level: moderate)
In the second exhibit, Tunnel, one person was asked to cover their head inside a box with me. The rules for both of us were: keep a straight face (no expression of emotion), and no talking for one timed minute. The second visitor circled the box and used a hand mirror to try and see what was happening inside.
The second exhibit, the Tunnel raises the level of social awkwardness
____
The box and mirrors
____
One minute in the box. Straight faced and no talking.
____
Exhibit 3:
AWKWARD BOUND (awkward level: high)
The third and final exhibit was Awkward Bound. We used large rubber bands to bind the wrists and elbows of visitors with their arms crossed over. They would then have shuffle over to an exit gate where one person had to cover a light sensor and the other person has to press a button in order for a motor to raise the gate so they could pass through.
For the final exhibit, complete a challenge together with your partner
____
With wrists and elbows bound. To open the gate, one person blocks the light to trigger the sensor while the other simultaneously presses the button on the wall
____
Upon success, navigate around the google eyed ball to exit the exploratorium
____
Finale:
At the finale of the third exhibit, a picture was taken to commemorate the experience. This is much like the photo memories from amusement park rides. Visitors were then invited to sign a “guestbook” about their experience and select a parting gift.
Sign the guestbook and pick up a commemorative pin with a special message
____
REFLECTION
Celebrating Social Awkwardness started as a goofy idea that we had a good time brainstorming. As we discussed the connotations regarding social commentary, it became apparent that this could be a viable idea that was fun and layered with meaning. Ultimately we paired the exhibits down to the three described above. It was felt that these were a nice progression beginning with role playing awkward positions, moving to being comfortable with an uncomfortable situation, and finally being physically tethered in an awkward position while needing to work together.
I grew to appreciate the requirement of using all the materials that were given to us, and being allowed little else. This restriction helped us get creative with use of materials and even helped craft the way we thought about the flow of our exploratorium experience.
MATERIALS AND TOOLS
required use materials:
light sensor
goggly eyes
pink zipties
mini clothespins
Media projector
car side mirrors x3
extra large rubber bands
inflatable ball
Additional materials:
Arduino Uno
Servo motor
light bulb
yarn
tables and wire rack
masking tape
cardboard
markers, empty cereal box, butcher paper
string
PROJECT BRIEF
Design your assigned space as your exploratorium, following the rules listed below. Design how a visitor moves through it, how they engage with your interactive exhibits, and how they develop an understanding of your topic. All exhibits should be working and ready for multiple users to walk through and engage. We'd like to see creative use/misuse/re-use of the materials on hand and your exhibits should be playful, inventive, and thought-provoking.
Design Parameters:
• Must have a name and signage
• Must have a clear way to move through and interact
• Must be built with tech and materials according to the constraints listed below
• Must have a minimum of 3 interactive exhibits
• Must leave visitors with a few new ways to think about your topic
Tech and Materials:
• Each team has a table with specific items. Every item on the table MUST BE integrated into the exploratorium
• Avoid purchasing additional materials or supplies or equipment
• Utilize the table of additional materials that you are free to make use of
• No print-outs of any kind. All graphics should be hand-drawn or projected
• Avoid going to hillside or off campus to external vendors
CLASS
ConFab Exploratorium
INSTRUCTOR
Anne Burdick