The lights : pushing buttons & boundaries.

Abstract

In this dissertation, it is argued that designing for the complex nature of human beings, with all their irrational and often contradictory emotions is necessary in order to draw attention to issues that mass production typically ignores. Living in a complex world where technology plays an integral role in everyday life, the human desire and demand for control, convenience and instant gratification has intensified. With research and investigation across theories and frameworks such as critical design, systems of interaction, emotional design, new forms of human behaviour patterns and interactions are implemented to shape and formulate the design and development of a series of interactive objects. With these, the project aims to subvert known expectations of the relation between push button, light bulb and user as a means to engage people to reflect on the way they interact with others, technology and culture; to be mindful of one’s action and consequence of action. While doing so, the project speculates and proposes technological futures that demand for an accentuated consciousness in people as they interact with products in everyday life.