explore the humanity of strangers

SONDER

Sonder

Sonder is an interactive art installation that examines human connection through storytelling. The word Sonder means, "the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.” Our installation creates Sonder by diving into stories that inspire nostalgia, empathy, and relatability.

The Stories

Each interview centered around a personal object that develops nostalgia for the interviewee. From this, the stories came to life. It is clear that the world is not as lonely as we thought. Listen below.

Features

Podiums

Sonder features five motion-activated podiums that illuminate an object and play a corresponding story. These podiums are spaced just right so that they can be in the same space, but each user can experience the individual story.

Polaroids

Sonder features twenty polaroid photos of additional objects and stories. Each story is found by scanning a QR code attached to the polaroid.

Objects

There are five physical personal objects to deeper the feeling of Sonder. These objects are borrowed with the permission of their owners to be showcased in the exhibit.