TIMELINE:
26 JAN - 30 JAN 2026
RESEARCH METHODS:
RAPID PROTOTYPING
TEAM:
VIBHOOTI • AMEN • CLARA • VANASHREE • YIFEI
Sonic Commons
brief.
"Design and stage a sonic intervention that amplifies, distorts, or reclaims public space in Walworth."
week 2.
Feedback and Observations for Sample Tracks
We took feedback on our sample tracks (week 1) in two environments:
Walworth Garden: While volunteering, Vanashree showed it to the staff and volunteers. While they enjoyed listening to the samples, they didn't want to add to it.
LCC students: We prompted participants "Duet with the track in whatever way you feel like". Participants were unsure what to do, they liked the music but didn't jam naturally. Some comments were:
“I felt watched. Maybe you can do this in an empty room?”
“It was fun, I was trying to make sounds with my mouth”
“I was just vibing. moving”
These responses suggested that open-ended sonic participation can feel performative or uncomfortable, especially in shared or public environments.
Participants listening to the track and trying to add to it.
Ideation
As the sample tracks felt too directed and most people were unsure how to engage and interact, we came up with concepts to make the sounds experiential:
Soundchime: participants scan QRs of samples, sonically transforming the space into the Walworth Garden.
Soundsuit: a wearable suit that has natural elements that make the sounds of the garden.
From testing, we found that the Soundchime created a more static interaction as participants were left standing after scanning. The Soundsuit enabled a more embodied and performative experience which we developed further.
Soundchime: Has a structure similar to a windchime, sounds sampled from the garden are hung and can be scanned to play. (Credits: Vanashree)
Soundsuit: Using objects from the garden to make the sounds more noticeable or embodied.
Visualising the Suit
We looked up references by other artists, stayed mindful of appropriation of tribal outfits, and leaned towards a visual excess or overgrowth.
Collection of references from various artists such as Cave, N. (2019) et al.
Sketch of outfit elements based on things found in the garden.
Sketch by Vanashree, she helped immensely with her expertise in fashion.
Sketch done as a group to visualise materials and areas.
First suit draft
Based on our sketches, we draped and pinned fabric to visualise the form better (as shown below). This served as good way to have conversations about the elements and form.
We liked the looseness of the poncho top and the asymmetry of the shoulders. The attached leaves were a direction we wanted to continue with. We visualised the bottom as a skirt, but felt it wasn't quite right.
Various views of the initial draft.
Second suit draft
We decided to break the outfit with different fabrics and added gardening elements. As Vanashree had experience in fashion design, she created a small swatch for visualising the overall form and materials.
We preferred the colour and texture of jute for the bottoms. Similar to gardeners, we introduced gloves and a hat.
Swatch created by Vanashree. It incorporated various textures like wool, jute, sponge, moss, grass, leather, leaves, and stones.
High fidelity process
Based on the swatch, we developed the overall suit and accessories:
Blocking areas on the poncho with leather. This was a base for adding materials.
Detailing the leather pieces with moss and rocks to resemble the garden.
Sewing natural things like rocks, mushrooms, leaves, etc. foraged from the Walworth area.
Adding mushroom details to the sleeve to reduce white space and also tie it together with the live mushrooms.
Leaves added to hat, veiling the face kept the focus on the suit and reduced the human aspect.
Gloves with moss and dirt to make them seem in use, similar to the gloves used by volunteers at the garden.
Adding other fabrics, colours, and tassels created interest in the pants and tied together with the overall visual excess.
Abandoned idea of adding footstep sounds in rocks as it was difficult to walk and construct (unmute).
Rock shoe rattles (unmute) made to visually look like plants. The sounds mimic the rocks at the garden.
Work in progress sound suit, we noted gaps for refinement at this stage.
Finished sound suit modelled with a live plant indoors. The leaves, shoe rattles, tassels, and other parts can be heard (unmute).
Taking the suit outside
The people at Walworth Garden expressed delight and said it reflects the garden. The Soundsuit caught attention and people turned to look at it when they heard its sounds. We explored the juxtaposition of the garden in by documenting it in various settings.
The Soundsuit was placed within brutalist interiors to suggest the intrusion of nature into man-made environments.
Soundsuit at E&C park, a privately owned public space. The E&C park contrasts with the way Walworth Garden is governed.
Pedestrian noticing the soundsuit, taking a photo, and conversing with the wearer. We noticed a similar reaction from bikers and drivers as well.
Soundsuit blending in with surroundings at Walworth Garden.
Compiled video of the Soundsuit at various locations, layered with one of the sample tracks created last week (unmute). This displayed with the Soundsuit at the "Work in Progress" show at London College of Communication.
Reflection
People remarked that the Soundsuit embodied the spirit and visually draws from the garden well. We were told that the suit transformed the space around it, and it can be taken further through a flash mob experience.
While the project was demanding particularly during phases of making, it taught me to work collaboratively under pressure. We were able to develop a shared vision and execute it effectively with the challenges.
references.
Cave, N. (2019): Soundsuit
Available at: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/156386
Middleton, A. (2020): Dune
Available at: https://www.adamjmiddleton.com/dune
Thompson, L. (2017): Senseless
Available at: https://www.laura-thompson.net/
Other images referenced in the moodboard:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/34_Squadron_undertake_Live_Fire_Tactical_Training_at_Otterburn_Camp._MOD_45159226.jpg
https://i.etsystatic.com/49684273/r/il/4ad6fc/5739504845/il_1080xN.5739504845_tr9y.jpg
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/A1ZKHTcYGiL._AC_UY1000_.jpg
https://www.socomtactical.net/cdn/shop/files/kmcs-ghillie-suit-green-kicking-mustang-concealment-system-8.png?v=1757015980&width=1214
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/villains/images/b/be/Swamp_Monster_.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20230930160911
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/warriorsofmyth/images/9/94/Swampmonster_0-1-.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120812080854
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPVp3v0fNxkwt5Lg9Mtwwg5x53U4j__IZjBA&s
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/scoobydoo/images/e/ed/Swamp_monster_%28Monster_of_a_Time%29.png/revision/latest?cb=20170909113506
