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ABOUT THE PROJECT
Photo Secretary @ The Getty
Photo Secretary is a prototype I made for taking pictures at The Getty Center. As someone who travels alone a lot, I have to ask strangers to help taking a photo of me. Sometimes if lucky I'd get good ones, but sometimes not. How can we capture the best moments without connection? Photo Secretary will step in with fun and eliminate the awkwardness!
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CHALLENGES
From awkward strangers to a delightful third-party mediator
Early exploration revealed that unclear photo-taking moments led to weird poses and awkward exchanges with strangers, the core challenge became how to clearly define the "snap moment."
I sketched multiple intervention approaches, from crazy versions (production crew jump-scares, cheering paparazzi crowds) to a realistic countdown-timer instructor that gives both model and photographer clear cues. The final prototype uses two LCD screens, an HDMI transmitter/receiver, a Bluetooth printer, and a power bank to run a countdown, show random poses, offer compliments, and print an appreciation receipt, all housed in a toy-like, non-industrial casing (a repurposed cashier toy to pass Getty's security) so it stays approachable in a public space.
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INSIGHTS
Third-Party Intervention + Relevance to Participants + Location & Expectation + Meaningful Rewards
What did I learn from the deployment?
Third-Party Intervention: The prototype reduces awkwardness by acting as a third-party mediator. It shifts responsibility for giving instructions to photographers and suggesting poses to models, easing pressure on both sides. Models can perform quirky poses without feeling self-conscious since the prompts come from the device, not a person, creating a more relaxed experience.
Relevance to Participants: Participant 1 showed more curiosity and engagement, especially after learning the device was inspired by Getty's collections. This suggests that connecting the device to something participants could relate to (experience) can increase their willingness to interact.
Location & Expectation: Getty's setting, where many visitors are already taking photos, made people more willing to help with photo-taking. This suggests that the context and social expectations of a location can significantly influence people's willingness to engage.
More Meaningful Rewards: The "thank-you receipt" had limited appeal. Some people accepted it out of politeness or curiosity, but its practical or emotional value wasn't clear. This shows that feedback or rewards need to feel more meaningful or useful to participants.
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DISCOVER MORE
