Multisensory Design

Course Description

Our users have senses which they use to perceive information in different ways. Some perceive best through sight, some through hearing, others through touch. Designers often prioritize visual information, excluding participants who would benefit from auditory and tactile feedback. 

Pen and ink illustration of the 5 senses on a beige background: a nose, a finger pointing upwards, an ear, a mouth, and an eye

In this class, we’ll take a multisensory approach to design that makes interfaces more inclusive and accessible to everyone. Students will learn how to design for the senses (think tactile controls combined with atmospheric sounds and olfactory or taste experiences), while gaining an understanding of the assumptions we make about our users’ sensory preferences.

Over the course of 7 weeks, students will design an interface for the 5 senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell), culminating in one 7-week final project that includes at least 3 sensory modalities that communicate the same information to the user.

Students should come with prior experience with at least one of the following physical computing and fabrication skills:

  • Arduino/microcontroller programming
  • sensors
  • laser cutting
  • 3D-printing
  • CNC
  • paper craft
  • graphic design
  • interaction design
  • art and crafting skills (textiles, painting, sculpting)