traces OF
plants
Lissy & Ellen
- 07.
work in progress
After the briefing from Lydia from the exhibition team, we contacted the team using the address she provided to arrange equipment requests and risk assessments. We met with Alex, who helped us confirm the screen size and made the booking. Amy also advised us to prepare a risk assessment for exhibiting with live plants.
ideation
From a posthumanist perspective, we aim to rebuild a sense of connection between humans and nature within everyday environments. By making the invisible responses of plants visible or audible, it helps people perceive and understand their subtle forms of communication. The project also seeks to challenge traditional human-centered design by considering the plant’s perspective within interactive systems, encouraging a more balanced relationship between humans and non-human entities.
Our initial idea was to create a “plant diary” that encourages people to engage with their plants by tracking their conditions over time. However, since our sensor collects proximity data, we found the readings too inconsistent for accurate monitoring. Instead, we repurposed the proximity data as a parameter in our interactive device, using it to generate dynamic and engaging responses.
We plan to build a system where houseplants behave a little like pets, seeking your attention when you’ve ignored them for a while by making gentle sounds, and expressing delight through playful audio-visual cues when you interact with them. After prolonged interaction, the plant would also show subtle signs of “annoyance,” reminding users that plants shouldn’t be touched endlessly and also need personal space. Through this interaction model, we hope people can form a more intimate, pet-like emotional connection with the plants in their home.
story board
script for plants
In exploring ways to enhance interaction with plants, we developed the idea of creating a “script for plants”-short, playful messages that could surprise and encourage plant owners to engage more actively with their plants. We brainstormed several lines for different scenarios, aiming to make the interaction more personal and engaging.
plan for final
Ideally, the setup would include a laptop and a dedicated screen, with all technical components hidden inside the plinth or a custom-built box to conceal the wires and sensors. A 24-inch screen would be used to clearly display the visual changes, allowing visitors to easily observe and compare the interactions in real time.
weeklyreview.
The feedback we received suggested that the script felt too direct and lacked a sense of imagination. Inspired by the theremin — an instrument known for its abstract and ethereal sound, we explored ways to make the interaction more expressive and unique. Based on this idea, we brainstormed a range of sounds and musical elements that could add playfulness and depth to the experience.