Seated Catalog of Feelings

Creating multisensory delight through an accessible exhibit that plays with the sense of touch.

The Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum commissioned Sosolimited to create an expanded edition of A Seated Catalog of Feelings for its new exhibition, The Senses: Design Beyond Vision.

Our multi-sensory installation uses tactile vibrations and snippets of text to conjure over 100 sensations, ranging from the familiar to the fantastic: a bag of microwave popcorn, falling backward into a tub of jello, riding a seesaw alone, making love to a snail on a bicycle seat, a bouncy ball on pavement.

Unassuming objects—two black chairs and a pillow—are imbued with the invisible power of touch, creating an intimate experience that no one else can feel. Sensations are spoken into headphones and projected onto the floor, followed by sequences of vibrations that rise up from the seat of the chair and into the body. Projected motion graphics respond to the vibrations, inviting people nearby to try for themselves.

The hardest part about the experience is getting up. Visitors close their eyes and lose themselves in sensation for long stretches of time. You can’t know exactly what they’re feeling, but you can tell that something special is happening by the look on their faces.