Envisioning Reflective and Relaxing Design with ASMR
Josephine Klefeker, Laura Devendorf · 2019
In this paper, we aim to acquaint the sensory phenomenon of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) with the DIS community and investigate its relevance via research through design. We inquire if the aesthetics of ASMR media can inspire the design of technology that is reflective and relaxing. In order to do so, we created a sonic toolkit that encourages users to explore their environments and make recordings inspired by the detail-oriented, intimate, and mundane nature of ASMR media. Over the course of a self-directed user study, we invited five participants to engage the toolkit and interviewed them about their experience. We present a description of ASMR and its connection to ongoing conversations within DIS as well as our findings from the user study. We conclude with a provocation which suggests that fostering relaxing designs may be as simple as providing people with a microphone.