Design for all the Senses
A collaborative performance by Arts, Design & Architecture and Massive Change Network®
When we design for all the senses, we bring ideas to life with fullest possible impact - touching people holistically, deeply, profoundly. Creating inspiration. Sparking positive change. Making memories that last a lifetime – Bruce Mau
In September 2022, the ADA Innovation Hub and the Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture collaborated with Bruce Mau and Aiyemobisi (Bisi) Williams of ® (MCN) to bring to life an immersive production titled Design for all the Senses. Held in the Roundhouse, the performance was one part of the MASSIVE ACTION Sydney program. Written and directed by Bruce Mau, theperformance takes the audience throughexperience of their five senses.
The design and delivery of the Sydney performance was driven by an ADAcreative team including original music composed by Alister Spence, which was performed by a group of students and staff from across the faculty of ADA, original digital media design by Anna Tow and Melody Li along with students Wenjie Wang and Jacob Rendina, original choreography by Paul Matthews, original graphic design by Briedy Maher, and original production design by Dr Carly Vickers.
Nearly 300 people attended the show across a dress rehearsal and evening performance.
Take a look behind the scenes of Design for all the Senses at the Roundhouse.
“Our quality of life is our quality of design.
“We live a designed life. And we experience design through our senses. Yet most design is created exclusively for only one of our sensory organs: the eyeball. We look at design. But how often do we feel it? Experience it? Or even sense it?
“We’ve been taught to think of our minds as separate from our bodies. But our minds are our bodies. Our minds are our senses.
“If we design to enliven all our senses—not just what we see—to surprise and delight, to awaken us to our potential, to share and empower others to live a rich and full life, we will have a more beautiful and rewarding life.
“The power of design for all the senses is endless. Because our senses can change our minds. What we feel changes how we think.
“When we design for all the senses, we bring ideas to life with the fullest possible impact—touching people holistically, deeply, profoundly. Creating inspiration. Sparking positive change. Making memories that last a lifetime.
“Our journey to designing for all the senses starts now.”
- Bruce Mau
Production credits
Written and Directed by Bruce Mau
Executive Producers
Claire Annesley,
David Cami,
Aiyemobisi Williams, MCN
Producers
Carly Vickers,
Paul Matthews,
Amaris Galea-Orbe, MCN
Script Writer
Cathy DeRonne, MCN
Composer
Alister Spence,
Musicians,
Alistair Johnstontenor saxophone
Ben Phippsdouble bass
Blaize Calavera Sivisbaritone saxophone
Emma Korellsoprano, alto saxophone
Fergus Spencerelectric bass
Hayden White violin
Lara Van Den Holderviola
Madeline Mahervoice
Michael Bradyelectric guitar, voice
Xinghan Fengclarinet
Visual Design and Animation Team
Melody Li, (Lead)
Anna Tow, (Lead)
Jacob Rendina,
Wenjie Wang,
Graphic Design
Briedy Mahar,
Michail Vlasopoulo, MCN
Event Manager
Emma Snowden,
Communications Strategy
Trea Murphy,
Mask Production
Design Futures Lab,
Production Team
Nicolle Fierro,
Joanne Chiang,
Maria Thaddea,
Joe Eyre,
Zhuoya Wang,
Gretchen Gscheidle, MCN
Jessica Fenner, MCN
Brea Graber, MCN
Special Thanks
Roundhouse, Sydney
Big Picture
Indigigrow
Benji & Jono Bergmann
Itamar Kubovy
Carbon8