For centuries, humans have easily described what imagination can do, rather than what it is.
Open Sesame is a journey of curious discovery. By collecting how imagination exists in the lives of different people, both universal and personal patterns may be deconstructed into a love letter. Six months of research, ideation, and building were panel and expert evaluated over 10-plus rounds.
While finding distinctions between expressive art and communicative design, unorthodox methods of image-making and typography were used. With the idea of “small precious boxes” to peek into, six whimsical worlds were created from six interviewees. These kaleidoscope-like canisters were filled with layers of lenses, graphics, and mixed-material to reflect the diverse shapes of six imaginations.
Approaching experience design as a choreography meant finding ways to invite imagination engagement and new personal interpretations. A major conflict was finding the balance of a warm, intimate space that wasn’t too subjective nor coldly blank. Information had to be presented as a new perspective, rather than a new invention, while the last self-reflection interaction had to take inspiration from the canister process.
