Moving (in the) City

Interaction / Spatial Design

Brief

The Salone del Mobile is an International Furniture Fair held annually in Milan. Our challenge for this project was to enhance the way visitors experienced and moved around in the city. This was a two week project which our team first studied the nature of the Salone del Mobile and how it impacted the city. Our goal was to discover meaningful ways to connect people to the city, event and to each other by providing tools for people to help share and recall experiences.

Process

We first established who our users and audience were. The visitors of the Salone del Mobile gather in Milano from around the world. Although they may speak different languages and come from different cultures and backgrounds, they all understand the language of design and come to the Salone with a specific purpose; whether it is attending the Fiera trade show, exploring the Fuori, or attending specific events held at the Salone.

Then we conducted precedent studies to study designers, and architects to draw inspiration from them. At this point, the team and I began to brainstorm as many interventions as we could, before agreeing to a few ideas then refining them.

Central Hubs

Located at the central points of each zona of the Salone del Mobile. They provide interactive experiences for visitors as well as a variety of information sources for the salone.

Installation

An interactive art installation in the form of a customizable honeycomb structure central hub. Users can upload photos, video or write messages on their honeycomb that they get.

Scarves

Each central hub will provide scarves with maps of Milano embroidered into it. This offers a discrete way of viewing a map throughout the city while also providing visitors with a souvenir from the Salone.

Vespas

Each zone will have Vespas to serve as transportation for locals and visitors from event to event.

An overlay of a map of Milano will also be covering the body of each vespa the form of paint. Users are encouraged to scratch the places they had taken the vespa to. When other users get a vespa, they will be able to see where previous users had taken it.

Project Presentation

© Christine Poh, 2011