The Shopping mall as a stranger interaction machine

To create a channel for strangers to build relationship. The relationship is fleeting but these momentary connection can be packed with meaning.

A turning point

When today’s consumers visit malls, they are looking for experience that go beyond traditional shopping. The shopping mall nowadays are facing a critical inflection turning point to transform the mall experience by leveraging technology and multichannel strategies to fit consumers’ new tastes. Kamppi is in the centre of Helsinki district which has a multiple role not merely a shopping mall but also works as a transportation terminal. Besides these practical function, Kamppi is now exploring more possibility by offering its customer novel experience.

A stranger interaction machine

In which case will you talk to a stranger? When is the last time you talk to stranger? 

The last time of myself talking to a stranger is the day that I was carrying a stack of carton when someone came up and offer me a hand. I felt so grateful meanwhile a bit embarrassed in that unusual situation. It recalled me of one concept design: an umbrella with a help button, the scenario is in rain day you can press the button that the other who need umbrella can ask you for help without worry of being rejected. This is part of urban culture when the strangers and cities are inherently intertwined. A culture of dense population with sparse interconnections is part of what defines ‘the urban’ by Kio Stark, a professor who did the stranger studies New York University’s interaction Telecommunications Program. Shopping mall, as the product of urbanization, is the interaction machine where we come across strangers everyday.

Finnish nightmares by Karoliina

Hello stranger

As I am interested in stranger interaction, I would like to start a project exploring themes as follows:

1. How stranger initiate interactions.
2. How the space can be designed to trigger meaningful stranger interaction.

The original concept is a bidirectional interaction device. Once two persons in different floors sit in the same sofa, the device would be triggered and people can start a conversation after a greet from the device. Re-considering the initial idea, the automatically talk could be a bit difficult for two people in different space. Voice could be a effective communication way but in this case may be not strong enough to trigger conversation. 

The new option is to do a silent communication. I agree with Kio’s point of view that even the simplest exchange among strangers can contain a tangled accumulation of meanings: what transpires may have physical, emotional, social, political, technological and historical dimensions. 

Hello stranger- Look into the box
see others face through a box