Mapping the Senses is a conceptual exhibition that explores some of the radical innovations in the realm of multi-sensory design practices through unique projects of leading brands, products, architects, graduate students, independent artists, and designers. Multi-sensory design engages the five senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound to provide a holistic experience for all audiences.

This is a conceptual exhibition proposed for V&A, London. The focus of this project is the exhibition catalogue which is bound with a Japanese technique. The reason to choose Japanese binding method is to add a tactile ‘touch’ element to the catalog. The thread being a raised element works as a metaphor for braille maps meant for audience with low vision. The sound experiments are shown with the waveforms of the sound bite.

Each project featured here has been complimented by the use of materials, textures and illustrations. To illustrate one of the project by National Geographic, Sounds of Future Ocean, the waveforms are stylized to give a cluttered effect. The french fold is created to resonate the endless consumption and disposal of plastics in the oceans. It is an interpretation of the sounds in the record label. The smells are preserved in swatches pasted inside the catalogue spreads.

Sensory design, when combined with technology, creates immersive experiences through virtual reality. Immersive experiences are designed for entertainment, gaming and shopping. Nowadays, these experiences are beginning to be seen in product innovation. One of the projects featured here is a bathtub by Toto, the world’s largest toilet company from Japan. They developed an ergonomic floatation bathtub that recreates the sensation of floating in the space while controlling lights and water pressure.

With each project, there is a conceptual merchandize to promote the artists and their works.
The artists featured here are: Nikola Bašič, Roni Levit, Ruggerro Baracco, Vincent Meertens, Virginia San Fratello, Ronald Rael, Victor Yves, Hideaki Matsui, Momo Miyazaki, Yuri Suzuki, Sen Lin, Toto Japan, National Geographic, Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s.