Unlike sight or sound, smell has a direct pathway to the amygdala and hippocampus-the regions involved in emotion and autobiographical memory. Because of this connection, memories triggered by scent are often more vivid and emotionally intense than those triggered by sight.
I remember the first time I remembered a smell. This was remembering to the extent that it stopped me in my tracks, taking me back to a specific moment, a specific place and a specific feeling. The smell was that of a bike shop. Mainly rubber, with notes of oil and plastic and a strong hint of sheer excitement. In that instant I was about 10 years old, in Bache Brothers Cycles at Lye Cross, near Stourbridge, in the West Midlands.
Ross partnered with architect and designer Suchi Reddy to reimagine the interiors, continuing a creative dialogue that has unfolded over more than a decade. Their shared interest lies in neuroaesthetics - the study of how environments affect emotional and physical well-being - and Standing Wave becomes a built expression of that. Rather than adding architectural flourish, the transformation focused inward: the existing floors and ceilings were preserved while walls were repositioned, rooms resized, and sightlines recalibrated to boost views of the ocean, rocks, and sky.
The installation draws reference from both lived and imagined meals, translating familiar rituals into a spatial and mechanical composition. Rather than focusing solely on , the table incorporates the broader environment of a festive dinner, including decoration, movement, sound, and atmosphere. A series of mechanical systems animates glass objects, triggers light sequences, and releases scents, creating a layered sensory experience distributed along the length of the table.
A group of researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark offered "...an outlook on potential ways in which what we eat, where we eat, and how we eat might positively support creative thinking, with applications in the workplace and home. [They presented] the view that, by offering a rich multisensory experience, eating nourishes not only our bodies but our mental well-being." They went on to state that, "If creativity is based on the process of discovering heretofore unknown links between different areas/sensory attributes, then consuming food that offers more sensorial experiences should give more opportunities for inspiration."
The sensory experience starts with a bouquet of cinnamon and allspice in the aroma, and at first those are the dominant flavors on the palate, too. But soon, spicy notes give way to tingling sensations that build and build until the whole tongue feels numb, almost like it's vibrating. Stick with it for just a couple of brave moments and the experience will peak before mellowing out and returning your mouth back to normalcy.
Rocco's Cherry Tomato Red Super Smart Fridge combines functionality and aesthetic appeal, presenting a vibrant refrigerator that captures the essence of summer's tomatoes while enhancing home ambiance.
The Petites Inventions du Paysage project consists of three devices and a micro-architecture, inviting walkers to engage with nature's micro phenomena in a rural environment.
The Dancing Bench installation by Soft Baroque redefines public seating by encouraging physical interaction, transforming utilitarian objects into engaging sensory experiences.
A large language model can't smell a rose, touch the petals of a daisy or walk through a field of wildflowers. Without those sensory and motor experiences, it can't truly represent what a flower is in all its richness.
Tools have long been evaluated solely on their utilitarian merits, but the Fusion Driver elevates the screwdriver into a sensory experience that inspires creativity.
