Looking:• What does it mean to communicate?• Igniting a connection with another person through

verbal and physical forms

• Why we do it: different factors- out of necessity/forced, voluntary (mutual interests), physical (attraction) and/or emotional interests

• How we do it: oral (speech/laughing), physical (proximity between people, interaction based on body language) mirroring the other person’s perceived traits and mannerisms

The situation• Structure of the colleges in NYC- no spacious campus

with specific areas of student hubs; there are separate buildings for classes and no common space designated for social activities

• The structure of The New School also allows a division and disconnect between the dorms, as they are separated by new york city streets-if a student decides to only go to classes and then back to their room there is still very little opportunity for making social connections

The untapped community within NYC’s college scene

Physical barriers + structure of college ‘campuses’ in NYC

Ethnographic study

Key issue identified:Making lasting connections in New York City for college students

“Interactive rooms”

Observations• Body language:• Body language of people in this space are generally very closed and

contain an aura of judgment and distance as a private barrier towards other people’s judgment

• Two distinct types of communication:• Superficial communication• small talk between people who have unintentionally run into each other• less physical proximity and intimacy

• Personal/more profound: Exchange between friends• body language is more relaxed/ more intimate• sense of trust amongst them• communicating about topics with more personal and emotional depth• Indicated by tone of voice and level of engagement with one another

Day in the life of study

•••

•

•

•••

•••

•

•