Art Direction for ‘Emergence’, a new immersive experience designed by Kinda Studios from neuroaesthetics research to drop you into altered states of consciousness, commissioned by 113 Spring, Soho - New York’s new destination for living well.
Using Kinda's Studios's custom Science-Informed Design approach, the experience is developed to shift the mind beyond habitual patterns into a liminal state for expanded awareness and creative insight. Through immersive visual entrainment, EEG biofeedback, a functional spatial soundscape, and a bespoke ShapedSound vibroacoustic chair, the multisensory journey drops the mind and body into a receptive state, expanding consciousness beyond the waking mind.
An EEG headset tracks brainwaves in real time, detecting shifts in states of consciousness in response to the sensory experience. Using biofeedback, it adapts the journey to support each individual’s aesthetic responses to help them drop in.
Emergence creates a personalised neurosensory journey for creative expansion that adapts in real time to each guest’s unique needs. Developed through extensive research, R&D, and pilot testing, the experience is built with @kinda.studios Science-Informed Design process. It fuses neuroscientific research, neuroaesthetic design, and real-time neurotechnology to guide participants into altered states defined by alpha/theta brainwave dominance.
Guests are invited to set an intention for the journey by selecting a Seed of Intention - a practice shown to prime the brain, guiding imagination, memory, creativity, and emotional wellbeing throughout the liminal journey. As guests transition back to wakefulness, they are invited to capture insights before they fade. This practice reconnects them with their seed intention and bridges subconscious with conscious awareness, helping to preserve imagery, ideas and understandings
Emergence fuses science, aesthetics, and technology to expand awareness, regulate emotions, and restore balance, advancing the future of how experiences and spaces support wellbeing.
Credits
Emergence was commissioned by and created in collaboration with 113 Spring
Created By: Kinda Studios
Creative Director: Robyn Landau
Research Director: Leah Kurta
Creative Scientists: Kate Dalby, Alyce Burton
Neurotechnologist: Shani Tal
Composition: Robert Thomas
Visual Design: Dada Projects
Art Direction: Jemma Foster, Wild Alchemy Lab
Vibroacoustic Sculpture: Julie Freeman, ShapedSound
Technical Directors: Artists & Engineers
Production: DOTDOT
Technical Producer: Kate Stevenson
Development Producer: Oriana Neidecker
Creative Technologists: Jacques Foottit, Matteo Zamagni
Visual Effects: Chris Vincze
Post Production: Chris White
UI Design: Francis Redman
VO: Silvia Presente
Image credits: Kunning Huang / CKA