This participation interests me because it allows us to work on several moments within the same gathering. Arriving guests will be welcomed by a scent dedicated to the event. During the games, participants will engage directly with olfactory stimuli and their own perceptions.
In my Scent Identity Design work, context is an essential part of the project. Choosing a scent goes hand in hand with considering where it will meet people, at what moment and with what intention. A welcome and a shared activity call for different kinds of attention, even when they are part of the same event.
On arrival, the presence of scent will become part of the experience of the space. In the two gaming sessions, smell will become the starting point for an activity in which people can take part.
I find this transition interesting. When we smell something, we may recognise it, look for an association or struggle to find the words to describe it. Listening to other people’s responses gives us a chance to notice how different they can be from our own.
For me, bringing this experience to a forum dedicated to wellbeing and happiness means making room to pay attention to people’s individual sensibilities. I am interested in observing what emerges when we give ourselves time to perceive and share, including through play.
My contribution as a speaker will be another opportunity to connect the design work with participants’ actual experience. This exchange matters to me: explaining an approach and, in the same setting, being able to listen to the people who encounter it.
For now, we are preparing. After the Forum, I will return to these pages with photographs and reflections on what the experience has left us with.