TRANSVERSION: Creating Better Spaces for Introverts
Growing up in a traditional Chinese family where extroversion is highly regarded, Yufei Wang—a self-identifying introvert—explored how introverts can thrive in an extrovert-centric world. In her thesis, Transversion: Creating Better Spaces for Introverts, she advocates for introverts by designing spaces in which they are not expected to alter their behavior or personality. Unlike existing social spaces, which reward extroverts and are challenging for introverts to navigate, Yufei’s designs support introverts rather than asking them to “rise to the occasion” through design interventions that include reflection, culture sharing, communication, and recharging.
The following suite of provocative designs can be integrated into existing spaces to create more immersive and inclusive environments where introverts can better digest, learn, communicate, and participate in social experiences, rather than changing an introvert’s characteristics.
Needle&Thread
According to Yufei, the value of introverts are often misunderstood and undervalued, while the typical hallmarks of extroverts (such as verbal expression and assertiveness) are often how success is measured. There is a misconception that introverts are hiding; however, introversion is just a unique way to process and deliver information. While there are many communication and expression routes, personal style and fashion are among the most visible and creative ways to do so for a visually expressive, yet socially introverted person.
Needle&Thread is an interactive virtual experience that aims to express and celebrate introversion by using the unique language of fashion. The entire space of this experience is architected like a dressing room with an interactive mirror that allows introverts and extroverts to walk in and experience the particular facet of an introverts life related to characteristics such as caution, concentration, and empathy. A series of speculative fashion items were created to allow participants to embody introverts’ experiences in the world.
For example, the “I see it in my own way” glasses amplify the feeling of sensory overload that introverts often experience in public. The “Do not disturb” hat gives the autonomy of closing off the world. The “Be careful” coat is a protective armor against close encounters with people in public. And the dressing room is a space of privacy, security, and intimacy where each person is invited to dig into a deeper part of themselves to embody and empathize with the introverts’ experience.
Needle&Thread is not just a space meant for introverts to grow. But it ultimately encourages all participants, both introverts and extroverts, to have a conversation about the unique experience that introverts have and to share the understanding of the language of introvert culture through fashion and visual expression.
Dome
Introverts have relatively limited reserves of social energy, and they crave connection, too. To gain career opportunities, introverted college students can become easily overwhelmed when attending too many networking events.
Dome is a service that offers a customized healthy networking plan for introverted students based on their current interests and energy levels. Dome partners with colleges, connecting user’s accounts with their school calendars and gets permission to access the social networking events held by colleges. When a user signs into their Dome account, there is a questionnaire to assess the user’s energy levels, willingness to socialize, and career interests. Dome will match and select the appropriate gatherings for the user and then generate monthly recommended events based on the user’s stated preferences. Users can accept recommendations, and register for the events via the Dome app.
Dome provides an opportunity for a stress-free social life that gives introverts sufficient time to recharge before going to the next event. It ensures they don’t need to worry about missing any important ones.
AllAccess
Communication is an essential part of group collaboration. The high stimulation of group collaboration in the workspace is often upsetting to the introvert, however. The group may lose the introvert’s voice—an opportunity lost, especially in a meeting where everyone’s voice is crucial to the growth and development of the project at hand.
AllAccess is a chat and audio-based meeting platform that provides introverts with space to freely express their ideas. Compared to other online meeting platforms that demand a continuous on-screen presence, which often results in exhaustion and less participation, users can choose their own avatar and use it to communicate with other teammates.
The animated human avatar provides a simple and calming environment for introverts, making sure the process is still interactive and collaborative. Introverted users can easily find access to raise the need for processing time immediately. When one person is preparing to speak, other people cannot talk until that person finishes. Instead of being cautious about speaking up to avoid making mistakes, AllAccess also includes a translation feature for individuals whose primary language differs from that of the larger group. AllAccess supports and recovers those lost voices and helps individuals make more significant contributions to the group’s success.
To learn more about Yufei Wang’s work, take a look at her projects in more detail at yufeiwangdesign.com.