<aside> 💬 #7 Strategy for public engagement- How are you inviting them to engage with your project?

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We created a truly unique scene in the middle of Willoughby Street in downtown Brooklyn—an eye-catching neon pink air sofa paired with a unicorn-colored carpet. This almost surreal setting captivated passersby, prompting them to stop and question its purpose. Indeed, many people, including high school students and their teacher, engaged with us, asking about the scene, which perfectly achieved our goal.

Our intention was to craft a dramatic scene that pulls people away from their routine lives and typical street expectations, transporting them into a different atmosphere and hopefully shifting their mindset. In this vibrant setting, interactions were uniquely intimate; despite being in a public space, people could communicate quietly, maintaining privacy amidst the buzz.

<aside> 💬 #8 How do you measure curiosity? (no right or wrong answers)

How long did a person engage in the piece? What did they do? Did they stay on one part of the piece than another?

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We hoped that people would be drawn to ask about the neon pink sofa, and that's exactly what happened, confirming it was a successful design. The length of time people spend engaged with the sofa really depends on the dynamic between them, as it's meant to be a conversation starter. Both parties need to be actively involved to keep the interaction lively.

People's behaviors varied widely: some enjoyed casual chats while lounging on the sofa and gazing up at the sky; others used the opportunity for deeper discussions on topics like politics or school life. The way individuals chose to interact with the neon sofa and headphones varied significantly, reflecting their personal preferences for the space.

<aside> 💬 #9 Reflections

Fabrication- How did the construction of the piece aid in engagement?

Any challenges or interesting notes

If you were to iterate on this idea what would you do differently? Or next?

Is it still a curiosity portal? Are you still curious about it? Has it sparked other curiosities?

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challenges:

Personally, I think one challenge is getting complete strangers to talk to each other. Most of the people who stop to chat with us have some connection to NYU, whether they're students or involved in some way, like with the ITP program. This connection seems to spark their curiosity and willingness to engage. I believe it's important for both parties in a conversation to have some basic understanding of each other's backgrounds. This shared context helps lower the cognitive load, making it easier for them to communicate. If you were to place two completely random strangers together, it could be difficult for them to find common ground. The lack of shared context can be a significant barrier, making it hard for them to understand each other's motivations and overcome the hesitation to engage.

do differently:

If I were to do it differently, I might change the location of our setup. I think placing it within a smaller, more familiar environment like NYU or the ITP community could be more effective. It would likely motivate people to talk more, as they would have more in common and share similar interests.

Another idea would be to provide more prompt questions to help start conversations. This could make it easier for strangers to engage with each other without needing to know a lot of background information first.