RUSHENKA'S PORTFOLIOCURRENTLY BASED IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
PLAYGROUNDABOUTRESUME
August- October 2023 | Advanced Design Studio Project

Through Art, Voices Speak:
Reflecting on Normal  in a Single Space

An immersive experience that confronts visitors with diverse notions of 'normal', sparking reflection on individuality and society.
Concept Design
Installation Art
Role
Sole Designer
The prototype in action

I heard someone say "I just want to feel normal".

Why do we chase a standard of normal that feels so subjective—shifting drastically from one person to another? Who gets to decide what’s normal, and why do we feel the need to conform to it? What even is normal?
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So, I took a moment to reflect on what we’re actually seeking when we invoke the idea of normal.

Opportunity

Initial Direction

I began with the idea of designing everyday objects that look normal but are built using unexpected materials, introducing a sense of reconstructed familiarity within a personal space.
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I knew who my participants were going to be so I decided to find out what they thought was normal so I could figure out what these objects should be.

User Research

I surveyed 30 peers and instructors from my advanced design studio cohort, asking what felt normal to them—and what didn’t. Their candid, thoughtful responses shaped the project’s direction and became the lens through which I developed the rest of the work.
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Here’s what their responses looked like with contradicting quotes placed next to each other.

Constraints

My Approach

Space

Although I loved the idea of placing this experience in a makeshift restroom, there were logistical roadblocks so I focussed on the bedroom.
I was inspired by the “Black Power Naps/Siestas Negras” project and wanted this experience to feel as personal as this installation. I just had one problem- getting a bed into this space came with its own logistical issues.
So, I looked at ways to make a bed using materials that would be easy to source and install.
Project- Black Power Naps

This cardboard bed caught my attention and while I was trying to sketch what the space would look like with a makeshift bed.

I quickly realized that-
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  • Sitting on a sheet of cardboard placed on the floor would  be uncomfortable.
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    What if they didn’t have to sit?
  • Does this make the space feel personal?

    No, it does not.
  • What would they look at while they’re sitting here?

    ‍What if this was a bedroom without a bed?
A cardboard bed
I went back to my participants to understand what they would describe as the most ideal bedroom wall and what the walls of a room they would never want to be in would look like and here's what their responses looked like:

Audio

To anchor the experience, I recorded different people reading quotes submitted through the survey. I intentionally layered contradicting perspectives and edited the clips into a single audio piece under 60 seconds, which matched the duration of the experience for each participant.

The recording begins with one voice stating, “I just want to feel normal,” followed by another asking, “What does that even mean?” This exchange sets the tone and distills the experience down to its core question: what is normal?
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This was the primary element of the experience.

Lighting

I wanted the focus to remain on the participant, so I initially tried using spotlights. However, given the small size of the prototype, the lighting felt harsh and uncomfortable.

I later switched to dark blue fairy lights, which made the space feel more personal while still creating a sense of seriousness. This was especially important for my participants, who were mostly college students.

Feedback

Revised Proposal

  • Toilet it is. Although people understood that the previous prototype was a room, I didn’t think it did what what I wanted it to do.
  • The audio plays on a loop and there doesn’t have to be a time limit.
  • The distorted mirror would be placed on the surface that the participant would face while they’re sitting here.
AI-generated image of a toilet reimagined as an installation piece

Credits

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