This programme ran from 2008-2010 at the Pervasive Media Studio. For more projects like these please visit the Studio website.

Projects 2008

Company Profile

BDH / Burrell Durrant Hifle is a multi-disciplinary media agency who direct and design commercials, trailers, brand films, short format films, single docs and series and interactive content. Clients include: EMI Music, BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel US, Sony, Sainsburys.

Plot is an innovation agency working with a diverse range of new media, NGO’s and traditional mobile businesses looking to develop new ways of creative strategy.

Journal Authors

Gill Wildman

Happytowns

by BDH and Plot

Happytowns became a number of prototype wearable accessories that recognised and reacted to the presence and proximity of others. It celebrated the relationships between people by reminding them of the things they do together that make them happy.

BDH and Plot London were interested in the way new technologies contribute to our fast paced life. Labour saving devices speed up workflows and save time, but do they actually make us busier, over-stressed, over-scheduled, rushing work, food, even recreation? Do they give us less time to spend with each other? Through a set of simple responsive wearable accessories, Happytowns reconnected people by encouraging them to slow down and enjoy time together.

Journal Entries

Journal Entries

Prototyping as fast as we can

Wed 30 Apr, 2008

…tap, tap, tap….whirrrrr…clunk, fizzzz….bugger! Tap, tap….whirrr…clunk…ding! Woohoo! Feeling some pressure to do get it all done, but enjoying the chance to do this. Honest! Kit ordered, now arrived..sketching daily…it's still a case of making it something compelling…nearly I think…er..John..where's the …er…thingy. …blink…blink…blink…….blink….

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Happy towns everyware?

Wed 2 Apr, 2008

So what do we actually make or do then? We've been gathering all of the information we can find, on happiness, on people in Bristol, on possible useful technologies, and we've even made some little demos along the way…like this twittering, fidgeting bird

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The view from the user side

Tue 11 Mar, 2008

Using stories to inspire imagination, and visual clues and probes to get people talking, we've finished the user studies. A range of deep interviews with hedonists and responsibles; young and older; cynnicals and new agers. Now we're pulling out some of the insights they reveal and getting on with designing and building.

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Getting the happy knowledge, firsthand...

Wed 20 Feb, 2008

We've been collecting stories about the things that people do to make their lives happier, and it's absolutely fascinating. Each answer is a story in itself about the person, and the more specific you are, the richer and more personal the solution is. They're like little descriptions or recipies of how to do happy.

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And they’re off! BDH/Plot get their happy skates on

Wed 6 Feb, 2008

"… a virtuous activity of the Soul" — Aristotle (one of the many, many quotes on the subject, and one we like) So what is going on in this project? Well we don't know yet where we will end up, but we have a rough plan of action, and we know that we are on our way. So far it's been a heads-down in a bunch of research materials and a heads-up in the air engaging a whole load of imagination and storytelling.

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