PostGeheimnis
A series of speculative experiments addressing the benefits and shortcomings of physical and electronic mail, and the possibility of combining the affordances of both.

PostGeheimnis consists of a series of "super-objects" that have been imbued with special communication behaviors. Once an object receives a message in its queue, it will attempt to attract your attention, letting you know that you have a message. The PostGeheinmis objects become little postmen within your home that deliver special messages from your close friends and family.

In a design research exploration, a series of experimental objects were created:

The Video Lamp
The Video Lamp acts as a portal to incoming video messages from your friends and family. The Video Lamp alerts you when it has a new Post to deliver. Let the lamp know when you want to view the message by touching the activator, and it will play the message by shining it on the floor around you.

The Talking Chair
The Talking Chair delivers special audio messages from your friends and family. The Talking Chair starts talking outloud in a series of strange musings when it has a new message to deliver. Simply sit down in the chair and your message will be softly whispered back to you.

The Texty Toaster
A delivery space for special morning messages. The Texty Toaster will toast your incoming Posts into your untoasted bread in the morning. Simply place some bread into the toaster, and wait and see who sent you an special morning message!

The project title "PostGeheimnis" is actually a German phrase, "post geheimnis," meaning "mail whisper." The project was given it's name because early on the system was never just about physical mail, nor was it electronic. Rather, the system draws inspiration from the two forms and creates a kind of hybrid channel of communication, where messages, or "posts" are sent to cultivate a sense of specialness of purpose from those closest to you.


Mapping of Physical Mail Interactions
To gain a better understanding of this transition, and the affordances of both the physical and virtual interactions, a map was created breaking out the behavioral and experiential flow of sending and receiving both physical and electronic mail.









Imagination as Research
Charting the differences between physical and electronic mail allowed us to clearly identify opportunity areas for design interventions. We took the understanding that emerged from this more critical analysis and took a step back from the information and let ourselves brainstorm freely, giving ourselves the freedom to come up with wild ideas without worry about practicality or feasibility. We allowed ourselves to let our imagination to drive the design, and to allow a sense of exploration and play to guide the project forward.

View project site here.