Our sensory system is constantly bombarded with various information about our surroundings. However, the majority of the stimuli have been the same or at least very similar to each other within the last few decades. Our senses weren’t stimulated enough. However, that started changing a few years ago when people started searching for especially immersive and stimulating spaces, products and experiences. Designers, architects, chefs, musicians and scientists started responding by creating environments which force us to pay attention and reinvent our dusty and bored neural pathways.
One of the examples is the Eindhoven designer Rene Siebum who has developed 24 textured door handlers by studying haptic properties of various materials and their influence on human perception. By simply using different materials and techniques he created a collection of handles with each handle delivering a unique haptic perception. For example, a handle made out of aluminium and iron wires is perceived as refined, detailed, full and firm, while grinded aluminium is felt as smooth, natural, cold and trustworthy.
This shows us how understanding the science of human perception can lead to more innovative and creative products creating unusual and surprising world for us to live in.
Article on Dezeen Magazine: Rene Siebum manipulates door handles to explore the sense of touch
Image Source: Dezeen Magazine
