Today was our first class for the 304 module, Playful Interactions. It’s a massive shift in energy compared to yesterday’s class, which was heavy on the research and systems thinking. This module feels a lot more relaxed and focuses on bringing a bit of light and "life" to design work. We’re going to be diving into Speculative Design, basically looking forward and imagining what’s next, rather than just sticking to what we know.
We talked a lot about how animation and micro-interactions can take something dull and make it feel alive. A big point of discussion was the rumoured Apple Home Hub and how we look at future living and home tech. It’s interesting because companies like Google and Amazon have had their hubs for ages, but it’ll be cool to see how Apple tries to innovate in that space.
Kyle introduced us to the Japanese concept of Shoshin, or "beginner’s mind." This really resonated with me because of where we are as students. Unlike designers who have been in the industry for twenty years, we don't carry the "baggage" of being stuck in our ways or being tied to existing technology. Because we are still at the beginning, we’re naturally more adaptable and ready to embrace the massive changes happening in the industry right now. It feels like a genuine advantage to be starting our careers at a time when the tools and the tech we design for are shifting so quickly, we can be adventurous because we haven't learned to be "safe" yet.
One thing that really hit home was the idea that we are still designing for the same "app-focused" world that started 17 years ago when the first iPhone launched. Things are shifting so quickly now, yet we often design with yesterday’s logic. This module is about breaking that habit and designing for new technologies. Kyle shared a great resource for this: HUDs and GUIs, which features speculative interfaces from films and TV.
We actually got both briefs for the module at once. The first is about designing five purposeful micro-interactions, and the second involves implementing those into a "Future Living" scenario set in 2050.
Kyle mentioned that we’ll be looking at the role of sound design within interfaces. The first thing that jumped to my mind was Apple Pay. It’s such a prominent example of how sound and animation work together, the "ping" confirms the payment went through and gives the user that bit of certainty. It's that kind of functional, purposeful interaction I want to aim for in my five micro-interactions.
