Arts Thread

Above: 1. NIIIR, Simon von Schmude / 2. AUTOMAT, Peter Sörries / 3. ROUSE, Yi-Ting Chen + Paola Aldana / 4. INTUITIVE LEVER, Tilman Holz / 5. COFFEE COMPOSER, Xinyue Yang + Antonia Nandori / 6. SOYUZ, Thomas Heyder / 7. BUNAA, Jacob Sasse

As part of Milan Design Week, Weißensee School of Art and Design Berlin students investigate new concepts for coffee preparation, merging high-tech capabilities with high-touch, sensually satisfying, human interactions.

So-called 'smart' objects are invading many areas of our lives. The way these new technologies are integrated often follows the logic of their creator, but still rarely matches the expectations and routines of everyday users. The 'progress' implied by these novel products often pales in comparison with the strides humans have made in other areas of life – our rich, cultural achievements.

The project 'HighTech x HighTouch' investigates this phenomenon in the context of coffee preparation.

Different traditions, needs and solutions 'collide' in this exploration of automation concepts, merging high-tech capabilities with high-touch, sensually satisfying, human interactions. Could 'clever' machines enrich the centuries-old ritual of coffee preparation? Is sensual enjoyment compatible with technology? Can we establish or revive forms of interaction that use new technical possibilities in a really meaningful way - one which leads to real added value for the individual and/or society?

A group of BA and MA students with a background in product and interaction design developed new interaction concepts for coffee preparation, which they tested through prototyping, aiming to propose alternatives for how high-tech can be implemented, in ways that are more enjoyable, sensual and enriching for users.

These seven concepts serve as a catalyst to successfully demonstrate that we need and can demand more from high-tech in the future.

NIIIR by Simon von Schmude: 'In truth, the automated coffee machine does not enable this pleasant experience, but hinders it. As it can only produce one coffee at a time, the social group ends up divided, and their conversations are interrupted. The machine demands your full attention, forcing you to face it instead of the people you want to share your break with. When the last coffee is ready, the first person’s coffee is already cold.

'Niiir facilitates the relaxation and shared enjoyment every break should provide. It acts as a central hub for the interaction: while you gather around it to talk to one another, your cups communicate with the machine. Coffee flows effortlessly from multiple heads, fulfilling multiple orders at once. When approaching the cups, it nods its head down in an elegant motion; when it comes to rest again, it retracts its beak, tucking it into its chest, where it cleans itself.'

AUTOMAT by Peter Sörries: 'It puts the device back in its rightful place, resulting in an ‘smart’ object which looks and feels like a sculpture – simple and pleasing to the eye. This design fully decouples the screen or input option from the object, and instead integrates the interaction into the digital interface we are most familiar with: the smartphone. Its counterpart does not appear to be ‘smart’, it is inconspicuous and modest. The two devices form a discreet partnership, working together under the radar.

'Automat functions like a two-way mirror: thanks to near-field communication, the artefact recognizes you, while you barely notice it. Its patterned skin acts as camouflage to the human eye; to its discreet companion, the smartphone, its code can be easily deciphered. While generally self-sufficient, in the case of an issue, Automat will invite you to attend to its needs via a subtle vibration conveyed by the smartphone.'

Supervision: Prof. Carola Zwick, Dipl.Des. Luise Dettbarn, MA Des. Hans Illiger, Dipl.Des. Felix Groll eLAB

Meet Weißensee School of Art and Design Berlin with HIGHTECH X HIGHTOUCH at Ventura Futura at BASE Milano, Tortona from April 09-14 2019.

Learn more from Weißensee School of Art and Design Berlin from their website.

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