Magnus Feil, Dipl. Designer (FH), M.F.A., is a faculty member of the Industrial Design program at FH JOANNEUM—University of Applied Sciences in Graz, Austria. His work and research focus on sustainable solutions for circular economies, social good, storytelling, tangible interactions, and re-envisioning design education. His course on User Experience particularly impressed me, which is why I spoke with him.
Professor Feil told me that it is very important that I look more into a history of photography, since tactile experience was more present in early days of photography.
The next thing Professor Feil emphasized was not just to focus on adding tactile elements, but to connect these elements with the emotions present in the photograph. Thus, the addition of new information serves a greater purpose.
He consistently stressed the importance of not being literal. This means, for example, not placing a fluffy material on the part of the picture where a blanket is shown. He advised interpreting the images artistically and poetically, as this approach leads to truly innovative design.
Another idea that I hadn’t considered is: ‚Where are our fingers positioned when touching the photograph?‘—both in front and behind. Therefore, it would be very interesting to place tactile elements not only on the front but also on the back of the photograph, and perhaps even on the edges.
One possible approach to my task/topic could be: ‘How could you recreate pictures in a tactile way?’ I need to think about how to express a photograph in a tactile manner if the visual aspect were not visible. This approach also touches on designing for visually impaired people.
Professor Feil told me that tactile elements serve like a memory bridge. He advised me to investigate whether combining visual and tactile elements with other senses could produce interesting results. Considering we have multiple senses, it might be intriguing to incorporate them as well. For example, applying a specific scent to a photograph.
Finally, the professor advised me to concentrate on the process rather than the outcome. He suggested engaging in extensive photography and experimentation to determine the direction I want to take. Since it’s a broad topic, it’s crucial to explore extensively to define the problem and then work towards finding a solution.
