A Survey of the Senses: An Exploration of Daily Life, Emotions, and Memories through Sensory Design is a personal reflection on the role of sensory design in shaping my everyday experiences. Through documenting my daily routines, emotions, and the objects I regularly interact with, this publication examines how design connects with the five senses and influences the way we feel and behave. Created as my senior capstone project, its purpose is to uncover the relationship between sensory engagement and human emotion, revealing how thoughtfully designed experiences can shape memory, perception, and well-being.
The inspiration for my journey into sensory design came from a trip to the Skogskykogården (also known as The Woodland Cemetery) in Stockholm in December of 2019.
"I was astounded as I walked around the cemetery, often forgetting that it was even a cemetery at all. Instead, it felt like I was walking in the depths of some enchanted forest, surrounded by tall narrow trees that seemed to reach the sky, long winding paths, and greenery that stretched as far as my eyes could see. I felt a sense of enthrallment, curiosity, and mystic - not the usual emotions one has when visiting a cemetery."
One visit to the Skogskykogården was all it took to spark my interest in sensory design. Recognizing it as a crucial component in understanding human centered design, I began paying attention to and noting my daily habits and uses, exploring how sensory design shapes our everyday experiences. Using myself as the test subject, my discoveries and research began to form the basis of what would eventually become my final publication during undergrad.
