Expressive Signals

Background

Working with design systems can have perks, but something gets lost when we systemise how we communicate. The aesthetic universalisation of modern technology contributes to the perception that diversity is lost. The web has a consistent look and feels, leaving little room for unanticipated cultural variety. lf these are the platforms we mostly use to connect with our loved ones these days, I am asking the question: How much can we express ourselves when we communicate digitally? I argue to open up rigid design systems and loosen their boundaries to elicit something new that's cute, weird, and so unique: it becomes magical. I apply research through design and user-centred methods to gain insights while prototyping along the way to test and tweak communication features.

Result

The result is "Expressive Signals," a repository of explorations promoting personalised digital communication. Shifting micro-interactions from visual appeal and individual pleasure to expressivity and newness.

Expressive Signals allow users to cut through the noise and generate strong signals to enhance expression in digital systems. The focus is on combining, tweaking, and exploring new digital communication elements to enhance expression and connect on a deeper level. They utilise micro-interactions and tools with purposefully loose constraints to invite to be braken, to elicit what we don't expect.

I designed five examples of how these signals could come into play, following a flow of steps to have each represent a different feature. The design proposals are:

1. Presence's Poise: What if we could play with presence, visually enter conversations and give a sneak-peek at what's about to come, adding an element of anticipation and engagement.
2. Tactful Treasures: Deprived of comics, while texting speech bubbles do a great job of visually differentiating content. What if they could match their content.
3. Personal Palette: Emojis are the hand gestures of the internet. What if they could become even more unique, like your way of speaking.
4. Twinkling Trove: Similar to holding onto cherished letters, this feature allows users to keep messages that hold sentimental value, creating a digital repository of meaningful exchanges.
5. Dedicated Delivery: For some messages, there needs to be the right place, the right time or the right mood. What if we could ensure our message doesn't drown somewhere in between.

To make an empathic connection with people in their context. Expressive signals promote play, joy, and other aspects of life that have been neglected in favour of utility or pragmatism in digital communication spaces.

Design bursts with self-expression. I intend to design for precisely that.

This passion project dwells on my interest in language, communication, storytelling and every nerdy cognitive science bit around it. It explores how to combine and tweak new features to enhance expression, ultimately aiming to design for self-expression and unexpected magic.

To all the misunderstood and those who over-interpret, To the emoji-tweakers and message decorators who know how to perfect, For the letter-writers, silent fighters, and oppressed-speakers too, Heart-sharers, know that we hear you. Your voice rings true.