Create holistic experiences with atmosphere

You have recently finished your advanced studies in Atmospheric Design. What is Atmospheric Design?

With Atmospheric Design you create holistic experiences that appeal to all senses and change the perception of users. A room is influenced by its design and the objects in it - their properties, materials and surfaces. Furthermore the colors, the acoustics and the light inside. Our senses inform us about a space. Each of us is able to describe the atmosphere in there.

What does that have to do with websites and applications?

I believe that websites will also change a lot in the future. They become virtual spaces or acoustic-visual experiences in 3D. Accordingly, we now have to learn how to design and expand them. In the future, digital content will increasingly be designed as a holistic experience for users.

How is atmosphere defined?

This is the relationship between a subject (i.e. a person) and an object (the object or space) and how they interact together. It is also influenced by the current situation of how I find myself right in the moment. Furthermore the staging and symbolism are important too. If you think of the interior of a church. It has its own special atmosphere and is perceived very subjectively depending on beliefs and attitudes, and yet the majority of people will agree on certain characteristics while describing it.

When did you become interested in Atmospheric Design?

I took part in a project in which a destroyed synagogue was rebuilt stone by stone into a virtual space. The Office for Monument Protection was involved. When the synagogue was finished and I entered it virtually for the first time, I was initially disappointed. Everything was perfectly recreated, but it was lifeless. There were no sounds, no entrance into the building and nothing around it. Later, a medieval market was built around it with an authentic background noise. Inside, flickering candles immersed the virtual space resulting in a sublime atmosphere. In the end, the design made the difference.

What about the sense of touch and smell in virtual space?

Such technical innovations are already underway, if you think about a 4D cinema where you smell and feel the wind. Car manufacturers invest a lot in scent, acoustics and haptics. But it's not just about atmosphere - the situation and surroundings are just as important. Where and how does the visit take place? What else will influence the experience?

How has your way of working changed since then?

I have learned to become much more involved in the creative process and to look for different perspectives. In my agency I often have to come up with a result quickly. Nevertheless, it is worth investing time in a concept. We now work much more with physical models, virtual simulations and even more consciously with prototypes.

Do you already create atmosphere for virtual projects?

Yes, we are currently creating an Innovation Lab, which we will design physically and atmospherically. The lab will be further expanded into the virtual space and can therefore be experienced by employees of foreign subsidiaries around the globe. We will provide the new lab with its own identity as a sub-brand of the existing corporate design. The lab must be able to be used flexibly for different stakeholders. This is a challenge which we will solve with modern technology and virtual expansion.