The
Taxonomy of Thrill + Thrilling Designs |
ISBN ISBN 0-9549280-2-4 |
Available from [amazon.co.uk]
priced £15.99 for the twin volume
set. |
See sample pages from the book's designers,
[Hyperkit] |
|
The
Taxonomy of Thrill - chromo11 volume one |
|
what's it about? |
The Taxonomy of Thrill investigates
the experience of thrill – how it works, why it works, and
what such insights might mean for designers. This research represents
the first stage of a project called chromo11: engineering the
thrill, which aims to design new types of thrilling experiences.
If designers understood more about the
dynamics of euphoric experiences could they become directors of
this emotional action? This question underpins chromo11 and influenced
the writing of The Taxonomy of Thrill, which offers a design
tool for directing the role of one powerful, yet volatile, emotion
– thrill.
Contains a detailed description of The
Walker Thrill Factor - for measuring and rating any thrilling
experience. |
|
what are they saying about it? |
“What thrills us depends on our
personal hopes, fears, loves and desires. But now a British designer
can measure the experience of thrill. The hope is to create an industry-standard
measure that can be used to gauge thrilling experiences, and, ultimately,
dynamically modify such experiences in real time. The prospect is
tantalizing.”
Dr Rowan
Hooper, Wired |
|
“Walker has managed to articulate
the dimensions of the thrill experience through his taxonomy and this
is a valuable first step. Whether he will be able to translate these
insights into an industry-standard engine for thrill remains an open
question. His is an ambitious project; each individual’s thrilling
experience is necessarily unique. But suppose he succeeds? Imagine
it, a thrill machine in every home; it would change our world.”
Charlie
Errington, Artist and writer |
|
Thrilling
Designs - chromo11 volume two |
|
what's it about? |
Thrilling Designs showcases
design work from the research project chromo11: engineering the
thrill. Thrilling Designs draws inspiration from the traditions
of the fairground, methods of the French Situationists, and research
findings presented in The Taxonomy of Thrill.
Thrilling Designs presents two
design explorations, Airlife and Neophile. Airlife is a collection
of thrill rides based on the fusion of the European Airbus A340
and the English home. Neophile is a dining menu of thrilling gourmet
experiences based on industrial conveyance systems, fine cuisine
and theatre |
|
what are they saying about it? |
“If you’re a designer in
the theme park business, Thrilling Designs could serve as a touchstone
of zany ideas to fuel your creativity, and hopefully, your sense of
competition. (Go ahead, design something wilder than this! I DARE
YOU!) If, on the other hand, you own a theme park, I suggest you bone-up
on your Queuing Theory, because when these rides are built, the lines
will be miles long.”
Dan
Howland, Editor of Journal
of Ride Theory |
|
“The ensuing pages take the reader
on a whirlwind tour of Walker’s [dark] imagination, fusing semi-erotic
culinary experiences with the almost-taboo subject of airplane disasters
– using the idea of crashing as a thrill trigger. Twisted? Maybe,
but offering a tantalising preview of experiences so thrilling they
verge on the horrifying. After all, what has the fairground been historically,
if not a place for the controlled coming together of the forbidden
and the horrific. Brendan Walker is taking over your emotions; hold
on to your seats Ladies and Gentlemen – get ready for the ride
of your lives…” Aine
Duffy, Routledge |
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