Jan 19 - Jan 30 · Week One · Collaborative Unit
The UX of Sonic Commons
Revati Banerji I MA UX Design I London College of Communication
Brief: Design and stage a sonic intervention that amplifies, distorts, or reclaims public space in Walworth
Team: Molly Wensley · Yihan Zhong · Xiyan Lou · Jaime Santos Guerrero
We began the Collaborative Unit with a listening exercise led by sound artist Ronnie Deelen. He took us to different locations around Elephant & Castle and asked us to draw the sounds we heard, shifting our focus from looking to listening.
I noticed how I visualised louder sounds, such as sirens or construction, as jagged lines, while softer sounds, like wind or distant whispering, became curved or swirling shapes. This reflects a form of cross-modal perception, similar to the Kiki and Bouba effect we explored in term one, where sounds are intuitively linked to visual forms.
Fig. 1. Listening exercise drawing at Walworth Library, translating sound into visual form.
We proceeded to interview traders and residents across Elephant & Castle. These conversations revealed varied perspectives on redevelopment. One trader in his nineties, who has worked at the same spot since 1971, described how the market has become quieter over time. This referred not only to sound, but also to reduced footfall and activity. It reminded me of Lakoff and Johnson’s idea, discussed in a later seminar, that we understand abstract conditions through sensory metaphors (Lakoff and Johnson, 1980), where the market becoming “quieter” signals a broader sense of decline.
Primary Research
Fig. 4. Mercato Metropolitano during partial demolition, photographed by author.
Fig. 2. Interviews with traders and residents across Elephant & Castle, photographed by author.
In contrast, a resident who grew up in the area described a more conflicted experience of redevelopment, echoing themes raised during Rosie Oliver’s walk through Walworth. While she acknowledged improvements such as cleaner spaces and new green areas, she also expressed concern about rising costs and the loss of third spaces within the community.
Fig. 3. Some of our field research locations across Elephant & Castle, photographed by author.
The impending closure of Mercato Metropolitano was another point that stood out to me personally. As a vibrant and happening part of the Elephant & Castle culture, its ongoing demolition to make space for new housing felt like a visible sign of change. Overall, responses were mixed, with some people welcoming development while others expressed concern, but the impact of regeneration was clearly felt across the area.
Towards the end of the week, we identified a potential collaborator: a local shop owner who had been relocated from the former shopping centre and now operates in a less visible part of Elephant Park. We explored a sonic intervention that would borrow the traditional street cries of Walworth Market and reintroduce them into the more curated environment of Elephant Park, using sound to draw attention to his shop. However, he was not interested in taking the idea forward.
Reflection
Fig. 5. A relocated local shop in a less visible part of Elephant Park, photographed by author.
Although the collaboration did not move forward, the process itself was valuable. This week became an exercise in approaching and interviewing strangers, and in adapting to different communication styles and levels of openness. I was grateful to be working in a team, as it made reaching out to people feel more approachable.
We were able to engage with a range of individuals across different demographics, each offering distinct and insightful perspectives. These interactions not only shaped our understanding of the area but also began to inform my research questions for the collaborative unit essay.
References:
Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. (1980) Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.