Things. Elisa Werbler
Chapter 4
Research Exploring Things
followed by uncovering the psychological means through which we create attachment to things. This
This thesis did not begin in the sum-
deep-dive led me to narrow my focus
mer of 2014. It began much earlier
to understanding the social and
and was explored unconsciously
cultural ramifications of peoples’ at-
through my observations and experi-
tachment to things.
ences. I’ve always had an affinity for things. I was raised to believe that
My research started with narrative
objects do in fact hold significance
accounts of peoples’ relationships to
and meaning.
things. It also included ethnographic research into how culture and society
Things have the ability to connect us
relate to personal objects. Addition-
to one another in ways that perhaps
ally, I conducted many interviews
cannot be communicated other-
with industry experts. This chapter
wise. The research you are about
illustrates the broad range of topics I
to encounter is an evolution of my
explored during the course of
thoughts on the topic. It started by
my work.
pinpointing an interest in this vast and completely subjective topic,
Things
Stories About Things
value of items was determined and how that was manipulated through various channels.
One of the major inspirations for this thesis came from Rob Walker
I spoke with Rob Walker6 about his
and Joshua Glenn’s book Significant
book and his take on our emotional
Objects. Through an expertly crafted
attachment to things. “I’m surround-
social experiment, the authors were
ed by a roomful of ‘gift albatrosses’,
able to prove the power of storytell-
things that I have no use for and ac-
ing as an indicator of value.
tually don’t like, but I can’t get rid of
5
because of who gave them to me,” he The experiment started with a series
said. “That’s an interesting thought,
of cheap thrift store items that were
gift as guilt.”
each given to a different author enlisted by Walker and Glenn. Each
I found this to be a valuable insight
author crafted a fictional narra-
and a distinct turning point in my
tive around their given object. The
thesis. My thoughts up until this
objects were then placed on eBay
point were that objects have the abil-
accompanied by their stories, which
ity to connect people to each other.
were fully disclosed as fiction. The
They can convey emotion and provide
total value of all the items purchased
us with a level of fulfillment that
amounted to almost 30 times their
perhaps nothing else can.
original purchase price at the end of the experiment.
What I hadn’t been able to put my finger on was that the things around
The book illustrates that we often
us could actually plague us, because
find the meaning of an object to be
we cannot bear to part with them.
as valuable, if not more so, than its
The emotional weight of these things
market value. This was evident in
is matched by their physical pres-
the difference between each ob-
ence. Clutter that accumulates over
ject’s initial purchase price and the
time because of our inability to let go
amount it sold for in the end, once
is a significant cause of anxiety and
the fictional story had been attribut-
mental burden.
ed to it. I was fascinated by how the
Research
“It’s about how firmly Americans are attached to their belongings. We do not know if people store their lava lamps because parting with them is such sweet sorrow. But we do know that they store them because they like them and that they like them because they’re theirs.” Journal of Experimental Psychology
Things
Developed Things
Chain-Of-Custody Chain-Of-Custody is a way to
once they’re gone.
preserve your most valuable objects and communicate to your loved ones
It’s also an indication of what is
which things are most important to
worth passing on. It might be the ob-
you, and what you would like to be
vious set of china, or expensive jew-
passed on. Think of it as a living will
elry, but it could be something much
for your things. The form is bor-
more humble, much more mundane
rowed from evidence bags used in
that has particular significance. This
a police investigation and its name
physical intervention affords the
references the process an item goes
user the opportunity to create narra-
through during a criminal investiga-
tives within each individual bag.
tion. It consists of a series of bags running from the very small (some-
The purpose of this strange inter-
thing you might put jewelry in) to
vention is to put a physical layer
the quite large (large enough for fur-
between you and your things. How
niture to fit in). Each bag has a label
does it feel to have your most valu-
on it to indicate when and where it
able stuff locked away, unable to
should go. There is a valve at the
be used while you still live with it?
bottom that removes any remaining
Does it make you feel more or less
air once the bag has been sealed.
attached to it? Do the objects inside become that much more precious, or
In an investigation the Chain-
does it make them feel sterile and
Of-Custody refers to the order in
unimportant? Regardless of what the
which a piece of evidence moves; for
outcome may be, it’s an opportunity
example: from the scene of the crime
to question the value of your things
to the police bureau and so on. So,
while you’re still here, so that the
without being too morbid, I adopted
burden of doing so is not left to the
this as a way for someone to indicate
ones you love when you’re not.
to whom their belonging might go to
Things
10
Developed Things
Lossless Based on psychological research
the couch only cost a fraction of what
conducted throughout this thesis,
they’re paying for storage. They don’t
as well as extensive system map-
calculate how much money
ping through cybernetic modeling,
they’re losing.”
I created a service called Lossless. Cybernetics38 is a method through
Lossless is a speculative service that
which goals can be identified and
I explored through the lens of busi-
achieved. Creating systems maps us-
ness modeling, which allowed me to
ing cybernetics illuminates feedback
answer some of the questions about
loops that exist in each system. Once
what it might take to actually get it
the problem has been identified, the
off the ground. The following pitch
maps create pathways and opportu-
was presented to potential inves-
nities to solve that problem.
tors.39
The term “lossless” refers to the ability to compress documents to a smaller size without losing quality. The service Lossless that I created aims to help people get rid of the things that are weighing them down, so that they can enjoy the things that aren’t. This service was inspired my conversation with professional organizer Amelia Meena of Appleshine. She said, “People pay hundreds of dollars a year in fees for a storage unit to hold a couch that they don’t need, but feel they haven’t gotten the full value of yet. Even if
11
Things
Developed Things
Trappings What I learned from my experience
that they are having a hard time
in prototyping Lossless led me to
making a decision about, and the
create Trappings. What I realized
application helps them get to a re-
from Liz was that the order in which
sponse. For example, you would start
possessions are processed has a huge
by clicking on the question “Should
impact on the outcome of each deci-
I Buy This?” when confronted with a
sion. Trappings focuses on the pivot-
new purchase. You can also create a
al moment when a decision is being
wish list in the app. It keeps track of
made. I also wanted to address the
how long each item has been on your
insight I discovered while talking to
wish list and periodically asks you
Amelia Meena,she said, “Sometimes
if you still want it there. Trappings
people just need permission, or a
tracks your responses and gives you
good push .”
40
I thought this was a
feedback on your answers. By visual-
good opportunity to provide the emo-
izing your journey through each set
tional support necessary, as well as
of questions, the user can begin to
give someone a push. Trappings has
gain insights into their behaviors
a personality that is very supportive,
and shift them accordingly. Much
but equally sassy.
like Lossless, you can digitize those items you are ready to part with.
Trappings is a mobile application that acts like an interactive flow
This is designed to battle the inter-
chart. It starts by asking you target-
nal dialogue that goes on inside our
ed questions about your things, such
minds as we contemplate the status
as “What is your favorite article of
of our things. It is there for you in
clothing?” or “What is your most
times of need, like whenever you are
prized possession?” These answers
considering a new purchase. The goal
are then used as a way to elicit an
is to create positive behaviors around
emotional response. The user goes
your things by being more contem-
through an additional series of tar-
plative rather than making
geted questions for each unique item
mindless decisions.