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Synesthesia – A Multisensory Cocktail Experience
Synesthesia – A Multisensory Cocktail Experience
An interactive installation that brings cocktails to life through sight, sound, touch, taste and scent.
An interactive installation that brings cocktails to life through sight, sound, touch, taste and scent.
Project type: Interactive Installation
Industry: Interaction Design
Team: Sanja, Ethan, Julia, Kate, Ahmed
Exhibitions:
Roboexotica Festival, Vienna (Dec 2024)
Space Exhibition, Graz (Jan 2025)
Duration: Q4 2024 – Q1 2025
Project type: Interactive Installation
Industry: Interaction Design
Team: Sanja, Ethan, Julia, Kate, Ahmed
Exhibitions:
Roboexotica Festival, Vienna (Dec 2024)
Space Exhibition, Graz (Jan 2025)
Duration: Q4 2024 – Q1 2025
Project Overview
Project Overview
Introduction:
Introduction:
In the Interaction Design course during my exchange semester at FH Joanneum, we were given the task to design an interactive installation for Roboexotica Festival—an event exploring the fusion of drinks, technology, psychology, and sound.
In the Interaction Design course during my exchange semester at FH Joanneum, we were given the task to design an interactive installation for Roboexotica Festival—an event exploring the fusion of drinks, technology, psychology, and sound.
We wanted to create something that went beyond just tasting cocktails, transforming it into a full sensory journey.
We wanted to create something that went beyond just tasting cocktails, transforming it into a full sensory journey.
Problem Statement:
Problem Statement:
Traditional cocktail experiences are limited to taste, but our senses work together to shape perception. The challenge was:
Traditional cocktail experiences are limited to taste, but our senses work together to shape perception. The challenge was:
How can we enhance the cocktail experience beyond just taste by integrating multiple senses—sight, sound, touch, and smell?
How can we enhance the cocktail experience beyond just taste by integrating multiple senses—sight, sound, touch, and smell?
We aimed to create a playful, immersive experience where users could explore cocktails not just by drinking them, but by interacting with their essence.
We aimed to create a playful, immersive experience where users could explore cocktails not just by drinking them, but by interacting with their essence.
Solution:
Solution:
To achieve this, we developed Synesthesia, an installation where four seasonal cocktails were represented through animations, sound, textured fabrics, and scent cards. Each drink had a unique visual and sensory identity that immersed the user in a cocktail-themed experience.
To achieve this, we developed Synesthesia, an installation where four seasonal cocktails were represented through animations, sound, textured fabrics, and scent cards. Each drink had a unique visual and sensory identity that immersed the user in a cocktail-themed experience.
How It Works:
How It Works:
A slider mechanism allowed users to explore different drinks. Each position on the slider represented a seasonal cocktail:
A slider mechanism allowed users to explore different drinks. Each position on the slider represented a seasonal cocktail:
🌞 Summer – Mojito
❄️ Winter – Old Fashioned
🍂 Autumn – Espresso Martini
🌸 Spring – Lillet Rose Spritz
🌞 Summer – Mojito
❄️ Winter – Old Fashioned
🍂 Autumn – Espresso Martini
🌸 Spring – Lillet Rose Spritz
As users moved the slider, the screen displayed animations, soundscapes changed, and textured fabric corresponding to the drink was available for touch. Additionally, scent cards replicated the aroma of each cocktail.
As users moved the slider, the screen displayed animations, soundscapes changed, and textured fabric corresponding to the drink was available for touch. Additionally, scent cards replicated the aroma of each cocktail.
Outcome:
Outcome:
The installation successfully created a memorable, immersive experience where users could engage with cocktails in a completely new way. The Roboexotica audience responded positively, praising the multi-sensory approach and the way it enhanced cocktail appreciation. The final exhibition in Graz built upon this feedback to complete the experience with taste elements.
The installation successfully created a memorable, immersive experience where users could engage with cocktails in a completely new way. The Roboexotica audience responded positively, praising the multi-sensory approach and the way it enhanced cocktail appreciation. The final exhibition in Graz built upon this feedback to complete the experience with taste elements.
My Role & Contributions:
My Role & Contributions:
I shot video footage for animations, photographed cocktail glasses for the AR poster, and helped implement the slider mechanism. I also worked on sound design and user testing, refining the experience after Roboexotica by adding taste elements for the final exhibition in Graz.
I shot video footage for animations, photographed cocktail glasses for the AR poster, and helped implement the slider mechanism. I also worked on sound design and user testing, refining the experience after Roboexotica by adding taste elements for the final exhibition in Graz.
🎬 Videography & Animation – Shot videos for animated visuals
🎵 Sound Design – Developed custom soundscapes for each drink
🛠️ Technical Implementation – Assisted in building the interaction system
🎛️ User Testing – Ensured a smooth and engaging experience
🎬 Videography & Animation – Shot videos for animated visuals
🎵 Sound Design – Developed custom soundscapes for each drink
🛠️ Technical Implementation – Assisted in building the interaction system
🎛️ User Testing – Ensured a smooth and engaging experience
Exhibition & Feedback:
Exhibition & Feedback:
At Roboexotica Festival in Vienna (Dec 2024), the installation received positive feedback, but many visitors felt something was missing—the taste. While they enjoyed the sensory aspects, they wished for a way to experience the actual flavors of the drinks.
At Roboexotica Festival in Vienna (Dec 2024), the installation received positive feedback, but many visitors felt something was missing—the taste. While they enjoyed the sensory aspects, they wished for a way to experience the actual flavors of the drinks.
Based on this feedback, we improved the installation for the Final Exhibition at FH Joanneum (Jan 2025, Graz). This time, we added taste elements using gummies and mints that mimicked the flavor of each drink. This addition completed the sensory experience, making it more immersive and well-rounded.
Based on this feedback, we improved the installation for the Final Exhibition at FH Joanneum (Jan 2025, Graz). This time, we added taste elements using gummies and mints that mimicked the flavor of each drink. This addition completed the sensory experience, making it more immersive and well-rounded.
Installation:
Installation:
Reflection & Learnings:
Reflection & Learnings:
This project highlighted the importance of iteration in interactive design. Testing at Roboexotica helped us identify a missing element, which we later integrated for a full experience. The addition of taste significantly enhanced user engagement.
This project highlighted the importance of iteration in interactive design. Testing at Roboexotica helped us identify a missing element, which we later integrated for a full experience. The addition of taste significantly enhanced user engagement.
Balancing technology and emotion was another key takeaway. While the technical setup had to be precise, the real challenge was ensuring users felt emotionally connected to the cocktails. Every small detail, from sound design to textured fabrics, played a role in making the experience feel natural and engaging.
Balancing technology and emotion was another key takeaway. While the technical setup had to be precise, the real challenge was ensuring users felt emotionally connected to the cocktails. Every small detail, from sound design to textured fabrics, played a role in making the experience feel natural and engaging.