MEDIATOR
The Mediator is a multifunctional bench that helps facilitate human interaction during both pandemic and non-pandemic periods. This design tackled the contradicting conflict of maintaining social interaction under social restriction rules and the waste of spaces during the pandemic. This is an open call competition project done in collaboration with Jacqueline Chou from Pratt Institute
Ideation / Exploration
Sliding Desk Concept
The original idea is a long bench with sliding tables. Users can slide the table over if they wish to use it. This concept requires a lot of mechanical parts to allow the table to slide from one place to another.
Modular Concept
This idea eventually became the final design direction. It utilizes the modular idea that allows the benches to be arranged in different layouts.
Arrangements & Layouts
The benches can be arranged in rows, or they can be arranged in the circular format, which allows for maximum versatility.
The table is designed so that people will be in the 6 feet of social distance when they are using it; in the circular format the radius is also within the social distancing limit of 6 feet.
