Discomfort Design
Lingfei Cao
When exploring the concept of discomfort design, I aimed to create a visual experience that elicited mild or unexpected discomfort. To achieve this effect, I incorporated sounds from our surrounding environment typically associated with discomfort. By categorizing these sounds into three levels of discomfort, I created a unique and impactful visual and mental experience.
Visual discomfort is a subjective experience, and what may be unsettling to one person may not be to another. However, the sound is more universally perceived, and people generally react similarly to certain sounds. Drawing on this idea, I curated sounds from the urban environment and categorized them into three levels of discomfort. From there, I created three distinct visual effects, each based on one of the sound categories.
Thesis Book Cover
The DDD: Level MIX
Level MIX: Motion
The first video features a combination of all three discomfort levels, with the highest level - the sound of the subway - taking center stage. (Warning: the sound may cause discomfort)
The DDD: Level 10, Level 05, Level 00
The other videos in the DDD consist of three levels of discomfort: Level 10, Level 05, and Level 00. Level 10 features only the most jarring and unpleasant sounds, such as the electric noise from a construction site (please note that this sound may cause discomfort and should be played at a moderate volume). Level 05 captures the everyday noise of the city, including street noise and other everyday sounds. Finally, Level 00 features white noise, with the soothing sound of ocean waves chosen to help viewers relax. To create a relaxing effect, this video's sound is intentionally quieter than the others.
Level 10: Motion
Level 05: Motion
Level 00: Motion
Thesis Book
Thesis Book: Part of Inside
