Abstract
This master thesis presents an exploratory approach that investigates embodied, musical interaction through a concept-driven interaction design research project. The project aims to promote exploratory sound design in music studios at home. The idea, formulated as the grid-based system, describes a system that is desired to facilitate for embodied nuances. The system manifests in an artifact which aims at being a carrier of knowledge to examine human relations to musical tools in realistic settings.
The GridStick, a functioning, interactive research prototype, aims at embodying an evolving concept to facilitate for enhanced expressiveness and creative flow in sound design, and has been used as an analytic tool for enabling reflection on theory and methodology. Phenomenology has been used to assemble a design framework with design concepts from own experience and previous studies. The iterative design process with sketching and extensive technical prototyping has informed the framework.
The thesis answers the research question by making four contributions; the grid-based system model; a theoretical framework for investigating experience; a flexible methodological framework for exploratory design; and presentation of a design artifact and the knowledge generated.