Do you feel awkward and self-aware when using an elevator with strangers? You're not the only one. From awkward greetings to dead silence, pressing the wrong button to avoiding eye contact through the mirror, everyone has had some awkward experiences inside this little steel box. What makes riding the elevator so uncomfortable? How can we make this experience more enjoyable? This project explores these questions. ​

Case: 
Design a meaningful interaction and create pro-social behaviour.
Personal goal: reduce the awkwardness between strangers riding the elevator in order to makethe ride more enjoyable.

Project:
​5 months part time, individual

Featured:
​This project is featured on the website of idStudioLab

In short 

This project focused on interactions, and how to change them. I chose to focus on the problem of elevator awkwardness. I used literature research, interviews, questionnaires, observations and experiments to gain insights on the context, current interactions and the problem of awkwardness in the elevator. I used an interaction vision to clarify how I wanted the new situation to feel. Based on research insights and the interaction vision, I explored different interventions and their effect on the personal and social context. This iterative process resulted in product concepts which I tested with real users inside the elevator. 

Interaction vision

​The interaction vision is an analogy of my desired interaction.
​This interaction should be like fireworks:
inviting, shared, uplifting and better when with more.

The "outside inside" interactive elevator

​The result of this project was an interactive elevator.
The walls play sounds when touched. I chose to use elements of nature, as an opposite to the normal elevator experience. The sounds are known to be calming and can have many positive effects on the listener. Different parts of the landscape play different nature sounds. When multiple elements are touched, more sounds play. This way passengers can create a whole soundscape together, which creates a sense of space and control. The combinations get more interesting as more people take part. Everyone can participate.
As tests with my interactive prototype showed, my design reduces the awkwardness between strangers riding the elevator and makes the ride more enjoyable.
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