This page presents a number of different theorizations of the field of sensory design and a range of methodologies for probing atmospheres and gauging the sensory qualities of objects. All of these contributions are written by ESD team members (faculty and graduate students alike) and/or collaborators.

Theory

Toward a Sensorial Urbanism by Mirko Zardini
From Sense of the City: An Alternate Approach to Urbanism edited by Mirko Zardini
(2005, Canadian Centre for Architecture/Lars Müller Publishers).

Disciplining the Senses in the History of Art and Design by David Howes
From “‘A New Age of Aesthetics’: Sensory Art and Design” – The Sensory Studies Manifesto, chapter 6
(2022, University of Toronto Press).

Design Beyond Vision by David Howes
From “Sensory Museology” – The Sensory Studies Manifesto, chapter 7
(2022, University of Toronto Press)

Senses of place: architectural design for the multisensory mind by Charles Spence
From Cognitive Research Volume 5, 46 (2020).

Green Pleasures — Sustainable Cities and the Senses by Constance Classen
From Harvard Design Magazine Volume 31, 2: (Sustainability) + Pleasure, Vol. II: Landscapes, Urbanism, and Products (2009).

Analysing eco-art installations for their value in affecting change by Carmela Cucuzzella
From International Journal of Education Through Art Volume 19 (2023)

Somaesthetics and Design Culture by Richard Shusterman and Bálint Veres

Aesthetic Expertise for Sustainable Development: Envisioning Artful Scientific Policy Advice by Harald Heinrichs
From World Volume 2, 1 (2021).

Merging Practices of Sensory Design and Access in the Museum Space by Jesse Stainton (2022)

“Cripping” the Commons: Tracing the Developments and Contours of the Disability Rights Movement by Elise Mallette

Dhaka Traffic — Disabled by Design - An Allegory by David Garneau
From Rungh Magazine (2022)

Blind Field Shuttle by David Garneau
From Creative Conciliations Collective (2016)

Marginalized by Design by David Garneau
From Bordercrossings Magazine (2016)

Laws of perpetual motion: the sensory regulation of mobility in public space by Erin Lynch
From The Senses and Society (2021)

In Defense of Materiality: Attending to the Sensori-Social Life of Things by David Howes,
From Journal of Material Culture Volume 27, 3 (2022)

Smelling Between Commerce – Atmosphere, Ambroxan, Agency by Jayanthan Sriram

Reflections: Rethinking Glass Architecture Framing an Alternative Project to the Architecture of Transparency by Gabriel Pena (2022)

Methods

Mobile Sensory Photography & Collective Online Sensory Mapping by Ehsan Akbari (2022)

A sensory exploration of Montreal’s urban parks: notes in words, sketches, and film animation — Aristofanis Soulikias

Developing Sensory Awareness: An exploration of connection to the modern landscape — Karen Messer