During a research programme in primary schools, the issue of bullying and how staff were trying to combat it with communication and developing an understanding of those around us was highlighted.
Through observation of the playground and children’s natural behaviour, we created an interaction to facilitate communication an interactive school bench for children, forming a communication tool for the playground.
Every time a child swung their legs, the bench played a pre-recorded note. This provides the children with something engaging to use and communicate with. The object subverted the product language of the archetypal school bench that the children are familiar with. The product allowed children of different social ages to interact with one another in an uninhibited way.
Collaboration with Chris Hand,
RCA Design Interaction.
