Magical Pond: Exploring How Ambient and Tangible Art Can Promote Social Interaction at Work

Social interactions between employees are beneficial for employees’ well-being and a company’s productivity. We are interested in how interactive technology can be designed to create a more enjoyable work environment and support social interactions at work. Using a four-step design process (research, ideate, prototype and test) and rapid prototyping, we created a prototype implementing elements of both ambient and tangible user interfaces to engage employees during coffee breaks. We created a concept of a magical pond to increase the ludic design and playfulness of the prototype. Glass crystals, ambient lighting and fairy wings cause an anticipated contrast to the normal work environment. Here, we present our design process and prototype to inspire future work in the field.