The brief involved an empty room and we had the chance to do anything inside it and to then create a single Instagram post to tease what it was we would be doing inside the room.
My idea to fill the large empty room was to create an experience for those with sensory issues like autism who don’t feel comfortable attending a live football match but have a love for the game. This wuld involve a screen to watch the match as well as equipment both related to a matchday eperience as well as equipment that can be seen in sensory rooms if the user was to feel uncomfortabe or wanted time away from the game.
The sensory stadium exists for those with sensory issues like autism, of which there are over 700,000 people in the UK diagnosed with the condition. Autism affects people through having difficulty processing everyday sensory information and can often be over or under-sensitive to sounds, sights and smells In terms of the sport aspect, according to a 2014 National Autistic Society survey of individuals, families and carers affected by autism, 43% of those who don't engage in sport cited their sensory difficulties as reasons for their non-participation. This is why the sensory stadium would be in place - act as a stepping stone so that one day they can feel comfortable attending a live match.
The solution was to create an environment in which anyone can feel like they are attending a match in a safe environment that they feel comfortable. The room itself allows them to alter the sound, smells and colours to suit them and also allows them to play around with sensory equipment if the match does get too much for them.
This idea allows the user to feel the same enjoyment as a live match but at their level, in sense it creates their own experience. It also helps them feel like they actually get to attend something rather than feeling forced into watching the game at home in the living room.
The outcome for this project was to produce an initial instagram marketing post to promote the idea and start to inform the public of what the room would involve if not fictional. For this, I created patterns based on the three senses that would be involved within the room. This adds a visual look to the information which makes it clear what will be involved, but also makes use of a pattern that from my research I discovered is an engaging visual for this with sensory conditions like autism.
Caption for Instagram: The Sensory Stadium makes the beautiful game a possibility for everyone, whatever sensory needs you may have.
Our dedicated team will assist anyone that attends a game in our sensory room and make sure you can create your perfect matchday experience by changing the sounds, smells and colours.
Can you spot the trophy in the three posts? #sensorystadium #yourexperience #footballforall
After submitting this entry I received news that I had been shortlisted as a final group of six in which we were all asked to attend an interview to give further information regarding our ideas, before attending the dinner to find out the winner along with the rest of the awards in other classes.