HARNESSING DISORDER AND DISASTER IN RESPONSIVE NARRATIVE SYSTEMS

The paradigm of clarity of outcome, concreteness and signified singularity is the prevailing hegemony in responding to most design problems, however within interactive / responsive systems such outcomes are proven to be problematic, as one of the defining characteristics of the medium is in resisting unified, all-encompassing, and universally valid explanations. This paper reflects on the specialism learned in designing for responsive systems and discusses the role of disorder and the threat of disaster in the participants’ experience.

Informed by research from doctoral practice, this paper will highlight how contrary to most design senarios disorder and the subsequent dissonance within responsive narratives are positive attributes. Responsive media, by virtue of their non-linear structures have built in possibilities for disorder, non-sequitur experiences and participant confusion – often seen as “disastrous” in narrative terms. I will discuss my design process and detail a new aesthetic that fundamentally requires disorder.  Data from a selected group of expert readers will highlight how they as participants reacted to significant levels of disorder and specifically how this altered their cognitive attachment.

Within the same practice the participants were presented with the notion of imminent narrative disaster and a pervading sense of danger. The paper will analyse how contrary to expectations this relationship generated a more conscious observation and investigation of the experience presented. It was found that the readers made personal parallels, albeit with some difficulty, in a phenomenological manner that in turn fostered an emotional attachment and immediacy.

The paper goes on to propose that being placed within a disordered experience of shadowy structures and being underpowered to alter them has relevance to the contemporary malaise of cultural disempowerment and disaffection. Using a combination of practice and theory I will explicate how this model of dissonant communication can be harnessed into a positive - creating an opportunity to reframe, comment, reflect and critically appraise our role in society. In conclusion the model presented will be further mapped onto other design applications, specifically looking at how it can elicit a sense of participant ethic.