The Other Side of the Market
The Other Side of the Market
ID4250 - Exploring Interactions​
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Semester 1 - DfI Masters @TU Delft
September 2022 - December 2022
Tools Used - Miro, Figma
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Exploring Interactions is a course with no predefined design goal. Students were given freedom of choice to explore a context, research, and formulate a design goal. The theme of this course was Balance.
The Context
Delft Market is a vibrant, must-visit tourist attraction in the heart of the city. Every Thursday, it transforms into a lively social space filled with vibrant flower stalls, cheese vendors, fresh stroopwafels, antiques, books, and toys.
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However, it is not just the availability of fresh produce that draws people to the market; it is the enriching experience created by the vendors themselves. These hardworking vendors begin their day at 4 AM and go until 6 PM, providing a diverse range of products and an enjoyable shopping experience by offering help, building trust, and providing valuable information on their produce. Unfortunately, some customers behave rudely towards these vendors, projecting their unpleasant behavior onto them.
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My project aims to foster a more positive and meaningful connection between customers and vendors, ensuring that vendors feel valued and appreciated for their tireless efforts.
"My Design Goal is to make vendors feel appreciated while interacting with customers in the delft market"
Prototype Test in Context
As a designer, my goal is to create a better balance in the lives of vendors. I want customers to appreciate and acknowledge the hard work that vendors put into crafting a positive shopping experience, and find ways to reciprocate that appreciation. I created a quick high-five hand prototype (based on the desired interaction qualities) and tested it at the market. In real life, a high-five is a common gesture used to express gratitude. It made me wonder, what if we could use this same concept as a means to show appreciation to the vendors? And will the customers notice this object? Can this object enhance the mood of the customers? Will it draw a connection between both customers and vendors?
The Concept
Process of Building the Prototype
Final Concept & Prototype Test
Customers found it really playful, fun, and interactive. Without any explicit instructions, the customers hit the hand and started having a conversation with the vendors. The testing was successful with a few suggestions from the customers and vendors that I incorporated into my final concept. I also had to explore a different material as the high-five hand made of foam broke due to constant hitting at the context.
The High-Five