Dutch designer Merel Bekking undertook a project titled 'Your Brain Manufacturing' to see if she could design a chair which reflected a person's individualized subconscious design style. Marcus Fairs, design journalist and founder of online design magazine, Dezeen, was Bekking's subject for the project.
Bekking collaborated with neuroscientist Steven Scholte who used an MRI scan as a tool to reveal what Fair's really liked, despite what he said he liked. Images of Fairs' brain were captured while he was presented a variety of objects, colors and shapes. The results were then interpreted, revealing that Fairs exhibited heightened brain activity when shown "orange, plastic, closed rounded shapes and chairs."
The collaboration between art and science creates a possibility for individualized designs and explores personal aesthetic without the interference of societal pressures altering someone's preferences.
Scientifically Perfect Chairs
'Your Brain Manufacturing' Uses MRI Results to Design Chairs
Trend Themes
1. Neuro-design - The use of MRI scans to reveal individual aesthetic preferences opens up opportunities for customized design experiences.
2. Brain-informed Design - Integrating neuroscience insights into design processes allows for the creation of products that align with subconscious desires.
3. Personalized Aesthetics - Designing based on individual brain activity patterns enables the development of products that reflect personal style accurately.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Design - Applying neuro-design techniques in the furniture industry can revolutionize how customized chairs are created, tailored to each person's subconscious taste.
2. Interior Design - Brain-informed design methodologies can disrupt the interior design industry by offering personalized aesthetic experiences that align with individual preferences at a subconscious level.
3. Market Research - Incorporating brain activity analysis into market research practices introduces a new dimension of understanding consumer preferences, allowing companies to design better products that resonate with customers' subconscious desires.