Designing for Experience and Social Innovation

In this workshop, we looked at service design and social innovation. We were challenged to design a sort of 'virtual' shopping experience - a store that doesn't sell a product, but rather sells ideas. We chose to look at a travel agency that sells the customer the experience associated with foreign countries, allowing them to make an informed decision about a travel destination.

To this end, the storefront would be equipped with several smaller booths, each featuring a large touchscreen, speakers, and examples of local aromas. The store staff are there to direct customers into the booths and to answer any questions they may have. The selection of countries would change every so often, allowing regular visitors the chance to experience many possible destinations.
Customers can immerse themselves in the experience, closing the doors of the booths will make the experience private and enveloping. The touchscreen functionality will allow the user a more organic experience, without the hindrance of a mouse and keyboard. The speakers will play ambient noise from major cities in each country, as well as traditional music. A small aromatherapy burner will enable the customers to experience a more involved experience - perhaps examples of local foods and spices, foliage, the smell of the ocean.

The diagram shows the layout of the store, as well as sample 'Start Screen' images for the touchscreens in each booth.