Four implications for memories triggers are presented as follows.
6.2.1 Making souvenir a three-dimensional decoration against adaptation
Souvenirs displayed by people are mostly with no “second function” other than decoration.
A three-dimensional decoration is most likely to be displayed. However, the operation of people’s adaptation can disable a souvenir which people can always see from evoking memories. Therefore, the souvenir should be able to resist the adaptation. Two examples of achieving this goal are as follows: a souvenir with changeable appearance; a souvenir which can not be seen clearly at a glance. Besides, making the container of souvenirs a decoration like this will do as well.
6.2.2 Designing a setting for re-experiencing the journey by filing souvenirs
The process of sorting, editing and clustering souvenirs is a re-experience of the journey and so is browsing the finished piece. This kind of “filed souvenirs” can evoke integral memories of a journey and make people engaged in the reminiscing. There are two directions for bringing out ideas to encourage this. One is the design of components being filed and the other one is the design of container for components.
6.2.3 Making souvenir a practical object used once in a while
A souvenir in use in people’s daily life can extend the time of staying together with people, and therefore provides the opportunities of evoking memories. When people use it once for a while, it brings the memories evocation into full play. Memories are triggered indirectly when people find the souvenir out of other motivation. In summary, a souvenir serving a practical “second function” other than decoration and used once in a while can be a proper memories trigger.
6.2.4 Making souvenir a curiosity trigger showing up in social occasions
Introducing souvenirs to friends is a natural way for memories to be evoked. Souvenirs which can be showed in social occasions provide opportunities to arouse friends’ curiosity and interests. Concrete souvenirs are suitable assistants for telling stories about the journey.
Things carried by or worn on people with special or symbolic appearance are good examples of curiosity triggers showing up in social occasions.
6.3 Examples
Seven examples are proposed in this section. The origins of products or ideas are indicated.
However, some of the concepts of products are re-interpreted by the researcher. The main purpose for presenting those products is explaining the implications.
6.3.1 Wearing the useful tube map
Figure 23 Tube map t-shirt
(Origin of the idea: graduation project of Shu, Kang-ning, NCKU, 2002)
A leaflet of tube map is very useful for traveling London, which can be re-designed to be a
“tube map t-shirt”. Just bow the head and the tourists can get the information needed. The map is placed upside down to make it more convenient to read. After the journey, the t-shirt can be a curiosity trigger for sharing the travel memories with friends.
6.3.2 Carrying the travel partner on the back
Figure 24 Bags with an image of creature (Origin of the product: 9 brand company)
A bag with a lovely image of creature can be personified and regarded as a travel partner.
The journey experienced by people carrying the bag will be transferred into memories of traveling together and therefore can be evoked by the bag after the journey.
6.3.3 Taking away a part of the afternoon tea
Figure 25 Mini cups from the afternoon tea
(Origin of the product: cups from a café in Otaru, Japan; provided by informant A)
Cups used by tourists during the afternoon tea, keeping memories of the tea time, can be taken with people. After the journey, the cups turn to be memories triggers, arousing atmosphere of the outland café while people enjoy coffee in their home.
6.3.4 Collecting different versions
Figure 26 A postcard showing two versions
(Origin of the product: souvenir from British Museum, UK)
The postcard shows two versions of interior of British Museum. When tourists look at the postcard from different angles, they can get both sights of the museum: in daytime and at night.
6.3.5 Creating memories together
Figure 27 A doll needed to be completed
(Origin of the work: graduation project of Mathias Hahn, RCA, 2006)
The doll is a souvenir of War Museum. It is needed to be completed by people. Sewing the doll in the museum, people are experiencing an atmosphere of the tough time in the war.
In the meantime, the relationship between the doll and people are built and memories are created.
6.3.6 Re-experiencing the journey
Figure 28 Lighting made from “pieces of travel”
A basic frame structure is provided for people to make a lampshade with “pieces from travel”, e.g., tickets and leaflets, after the journey. The setting can not only provide a reminiscing session, namely the making process, but also create a decorative memories trigger. Although a “lampshade” seems to be more than a decorative thing, the idea shows one of the directions for resisting adaptation: can’t be seen clearly at a glance.
6.3.7 Collecting receipts of experiences
Figure 29 Handbags consisting of tickets form the journey (Origin of the product: Red Camper Company)
Tickets of travel spots in an area are slides which can be collected. When finishing the journey around the area, people can take the tickets to a shop to create a custom bag. Each slide on the bag records an event. After the journey, the bag is used once in a while and evokes memories. Besides, carrying the bag while going out creates subjects.
Table 4 Presenting which implication is shown by the example
Implications Examples
Keepers Triggers
6.3.1 Wearing the useful tube map 6.1.1 6.2.4 6.3.2 Carrying the travel partner on the back 6.1.2
6.3.3 Taking away a part of the afternoon tea 6.1.3 6.2.3 6.3.4 Collecting different versions 6.1.5
6.3.5 Creating memories together 6.1.6
6.3.6 Re-experiencing the journey 6.2.1, 6.2.2
6.3.7 Collecting receipts of experiences 6.1.3 6.2.3, 6.2.4
-Chapter 7-
Conclusions
In this research, through contextual inquiry and interview, information about people’s behavior of keeping memories, relationships between souvenirs and memories encoded and situations memories being evoked after the journey were gained.