Resonance: visualise your brain

The making of Resonance

When creative technologist Ali Ucer and designer Jess Adkins from M Moser’s global Brand Experience team started work on Resonance, the goal was to allow visitors to make something they could take away. A truly personalised experience.

The project was born out of a conversation on neuro-inclusive design, with the brand and strategy teams exploring “ways to acknowledge that each of our brains is beautiful, unique and different”, explains Adkins.

Asked about real-world applications, Ucer shares, “We crave deeper physical connections with the spaces around us. Technology and design can bridge this gap, enriching our experiences and bringing us closer to the world we inhabit”.

Harnessing data for art

The installation uses a wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) headset that measures electrical activity in the brain. These headsets are used in a medical setting to diagnose epilepsy, stroke and other brain conditions, but more recent consumer applications include meditation and focus training.

Realising it was possible to harness the headset’s data stream, the design team began exploring possibilities with creative code. During this process, Ucer commented “While testing Resonance on myself, I noticed something unexpected: by focusing on the real-time visualisation of my brainwaves, I gradually learned to control them”.

Going on to discuss potential roles for the technology in the built environment, Ucer says, “this made me realise that with effective biofeedback — perhaps integrated into experiential design — we might consciously use our space to alter our state of mind”.

How the experience works

The participant collaborates with the designer to create their Resonance. The artwork changes the environment and the person’s experience changes with it, creating a feedback loop that drives the experience.

Interpreting brainwaves through colour

The five frequencies are fed live into Touch Designer, generating a unique “thought signature”.

There’s no right or wrong. Rather than interpreting a person’s state of mind, Resonance simply celebrates the diversity of response. All frequencies are present at any given time, but their prominence changes based on your thoughts:

• Reds: Gamma waves are the fastest brainwaves, associated with processing complex information swiftly. They are active during high-level problem-solving or managing multiple tasks. Red symbolises this rapid, interconnected brain activity.
• Oranges: Beta waves represent an alert, engaged brain. Dominant during decision-making and active discussions, they reflect a state of focused mental activity. Orange captures this high-energy brain state.
• Greens: Alpha waves occur in a calm, relaxed yet alert state, often seen during work breaks such as lunch time or moments of reflection. Green represents this balanced, tranquil brain activity.
• Blues: Theta waves are linked to creativity and deep reflection, common in meditative or introspective states. Blue symbolises this calming, inward focus.
• Purples: Delta waves, the slowest brainwaves, dominate during deep sleep and rest, essential for recovery. Purple reflects the peace and renewal associated with Delta waves.

Exploring neuroinclusion

The installation utilises technology to highlight how differently individuals experience their environment.

Our research is leading us to explore cognitive diversity, recognising the need for environments that consider sensory stimulation and other unique factors.

What’s next for the Resonance team?

Having delivered over 600 experiences to an overwhelmingly positive reception, the team aims to expand the concept beyond audio-visual to explore other sensory experiences and environmental variables.

Sign up to discover where Resonance will be showcased next and learn more about how M Moser integrates neuro-inclusive design into its practice.

Contact us to explore a collaboration or bring Resonance to your next event.