VITAL VOICES

Generative Research/Rapid Prototyping/ arduino

The word refugee conjures negative emotions and images, creating perceptions Syrian refugees want to disassociate from. This installation facilitates the practice of storytelling, giving Syrian refugees the opportunity to tell the stories they want other people to hear. My goal was to empower refugees and restore pride while “taking back” the word refugee.

I created an ambiguous object, that was placed in a public space, to collect and disseminate stories from Syrian refugees. The object responds to user voice and touch using colored light.

I took a research by design process, using artifacts and triggers to elicit reactions and stories. I used a combination of collage-making, photograph triggers, sensitizing booklets, change charts and improv exercises.

My first round of prototyping was to understand the qualities of a prompt that might trigger someone to tell a rich story. My second round of prototyping was a materials’ exploration to understand properties that are inviting and comforting. My final round was to understand which of my prototypes provided an overall satisfying storytelling experience.

To create this ambiguous object, I created a clay model, which I 3D scanned using my phone to create a CAD file. I printed this file to create a hollow, transparent object, with enough room for an Arduino, 2 LED strips and sensors.