The Love Note Exchange Debuts at Flatiron Plaza
How might we foster simple moments of interaction, collaboration, and joy in public spaces?
Designed by students Emma Brigaud, Erica Fink, and Harsha Pillai for our first-year course, Interaction Intervention, The Love Note Exchange is a public installation that invites passersby to collaborate on letters of love. Following the end of the course, the installation took on a life of its own, swiftly venturing beyond the speculative realm of the classroom and into the bustling heart of New York City.
In May 2024, Pillai, Fink, and Brigaud (pictured above, left to right), collaborated with the NYC Parks Department to bring the pop-up to life in Flatiron Plaza by Washington Square Park. Over the course of an afternoon, over 500 passersby interacted with The Love Note Exchange; strangers shared notes of encouragement with one another, wrote love letters to the city, and stepped out of their regular routine for a moment to smile and share in a laugh.
How it works
Fill out a note, Mad Libs style, and add it to the pegboard.
Browse notes written by other New Yorkers.
Select one that resonates with you.
Keep it for yourself or deliver it to someone in your own life — be it a loved one, coworker, favorite barista, recent acquaintance, or someone on the subway!
Concept Development
The team began their ideation by visiting the site and understanding the space and context of the project. After discussing the various types of physical interactions and the opportunities that stood out, they began sketching a flurry of sticky notes.
They categorized these sticky notes by themes of interactions and went on to make sketch models of three concepts, ultimately focusing on The Love Note Exchange for its conceptual dexterity and evergreen nature. The first full-size prototype allowed for real-time testing and feedback from classmates on the key interactions of exchange. User feedback made it clear that the text on the notes and accompanying instructions needed to be as obvious and unambiguous as possible.
While starting construction for the next prototype, the team consulted with various faculty and VFL staff on construction techniques and form-finding. Discussions on wind and other exterior conditions as well as transportation were all considerations when it came to creating the next version. The team incorporated the feedback, refreshed the brand visuals, and built a new form, designed to be easily deconstructed and reconstructed for portability.
What Makes A Good Public Intervention?
Brigaud, Fink, and Pillai were guided by instructors Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger of Antenna Design as they explored the key ingredients for a good public intervention.
How do you capture someone’s attention in a public space? How do you design an activity that strangers can navigate on their own? How do you create a concept that people—such as neighborhood regulars—will participate in more than once?
Design With Simplicity
Capturing someone’s attention is a highly competitive game—especially in NYC. In the precious seconds that someone glances up from their phone, you must strike the perfect balance of intrigue and clarity.
Expect the Unexpected
Public spaces range widely across factors such as access, levelness of ground, weather conditions, traffic, and so much more. With support from the woodshop specialists at the Visual Futures Lab, the team reinforced and triangulated their structure for stability, while also designing it to be easily deconstructed and reconstructed for portability.
Potential for Brand Partnerships
through Customization
Brigaud, Fink, and Pillai are continuing to explore ways that the Love Note Exchange could foster community in different site-specific contexts. One potential is through brand partnerships with digital organizations that want to bring their customer interactions into the real world, or NYC institutions—such as the Brooklyn Botanical Garden or SummerStage—that want to expand their reach. Whatever the case, the team is hoping to bring this exchange of love to more and more communities.
