Throo: An Interactive Public Installation
Editor’s note: Throo was selected for inclusion in Next Up: Switchboard, a juried exhibition at SVA Chelsea Gallery.
An innovative installation inviting passersby to playfully maneuver themselves through a series of vertical panels, stimulating movement, play, and interaction.
Imagined and executed by Tao Tao Holmes ‘25, Zai Thakoor ‘25, and Jin Zhu ‘25 in our first-year course, Interaction Intervention, “throo” began with a mission to encourage physical movement and social interaction.
The installation consists of six curvaceous, vertical panels, each with a unique shape that prompts different body movements. Each pair of panels varies in size and difficulty, allowing users of different ages and mobility levels to challenge themselves to move “throo” the full set or simply strike poses and snap photos with their favorite shape.
Structural supports also double as benches and shelves, encouraging passersby to linger and mingle, fostering a social atmosphere where people can relax, play, and connect.
The design accommodates a broad range of ages and mobility levels, offering various interactions and opportunities for engagement.
Prototyping & Development
Combining their backgrounds in strategy, branding, and furniture design, the team went through many rounds of ideation and iteration before landing on their final concept, inspired by the Japanese game show, Hole in the Wall.
They began with more uniform shapes, then began sketching forms that evoked a greater sense of movement, variety, and dynamism. After brainstorming additional interactive elements, they streamlined the design to keep the user experience as intuitive and free of distractions as possible.
Testing & Validation
After several rounds of sketch models, the team moved on to multiple full-sized, mat board prototypes. Several rounds of user testing prompted new considerations in terms of form, stability, and structure. One key design pivot was to pair panels together rather than situate them in a parallel line. These pairings resulted in reinforced stability, an increased a sense of movement, a more flexible spatial blueprint, and new built-in components, such as a bench and shelf.
Live testing confirmed the proof of concept, prompting curiosity and play through new and creative forms of body movement.
Takeaways & Next Steps
Designing for the public is as exciting as it is unpredictable. When the team brought their flagship panel pairing to the street for a half-hour of guerrilla testing, they observed pedestrians interact with the structures in ways they’d neither considered nor anticipated.
A temporary or permanent installation would require further development of the shapes, user testing, and materials testing, to ensure the structure is firmly anchored to the ground. If the right opportunity arose, the team would love to see throo come to life in a park or other public space!
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On Next Up: Switchboard:
Juried exhibitions have been crucial to the fabric of SVA for more than 30 years as a way for SVA students to recognize the achievements of their most distinguished classmates. Artists are selected from a large pool of applicants to the annual SVA Galleries call for entries, whose submissions undergo a rigorous examination of presented materials, including documentation of work and artist statements. The 19 artists and designers of “Next Up: Switchboard” seek to resolve severed or forgotten connections and establish new connections through their work via active observation and interaction.
