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 Skogskyrkogården (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 Skogskyrkogården 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.
The Skogskyrkogården in Stockholm, Sweden. Image taken during study abroad trip in December 2019.
My initial visit to the Woodland Cemetery sparked an interest in sensory design that would eventually become the foundation of my senior capstone. That experience eventually led me to discovering an unexplored area of design and inspired me to investigate the relationship between human senses and emotional experiences. As I developed my concept, I began formulating a personal framework for identifying, evaluating, and categorizing human emotions, using myself as the test subject, examining how sensory stimuli influence our perceptions and emotional responses. Through a process of experimentation, reflection, and discovery, I brought this book to life and gained a new perspective of sensory design as a field of study.
Beginning sketches for the layout and design of my capstone.