ASMR (“Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response”) is a term that describes a physical sensation: euphoria or deep calm, sometimes a tingling in the body. In recent years, an online audience of millions has emerged, dedicated to watching the work of designers and content creators who aim to trigger this feeling in their viewers. They do so by whispering or eating, touching or tapping, and more besides. This exhibition, first presented in Stockholm, is the first to be dedicated to this feeling—and the field of creativity that is growing around it.
Fig 1. The Arena in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Ed Reeves, 2022)
WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRis the second incarnation of an exhibition that explores the design story of an evolving internet movement through a series of immersive audio, visual, and tactile works. Step into an acoustically tuned environment and understand how people around the world are using new and existing tools and materials to navigate our complex world. Opening to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week in the United Kingdom, the exhibition also includes an interactive studio space created by Julie Rose Bower.
Fig 2. The Arena in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Ed Reeves, 2022)
Fig 3. Binaural microphones in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Ed Reeves, 2022) Fig 4. The second incarnation of WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD opens on May 13, 2022 at the Design Museum in London. An exhibition trailer premiered on Nowness on International ASMR Day 2022.
Fig 5. Bob Ross in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 6.Binaural microphones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 7.Tobias Bradford’s immeasurable thirst/that feeling inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 8.Postures inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 9.Julie Rose Bower‘s Meridians Meet inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 10.View into the Arena inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 11.Exhibition booklet forWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Mette Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 12.Exhibition tombstones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Mette Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 13.Exhibition rhinestones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Mette Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 14.Spread from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Mette Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 15.Spread from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Mette Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 16.Reverse cover and Participant Guide from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Mette Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 17.Some of the team behindWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022)
Fig 18.The design movement of ASMR, a documentary film and interview by Dezeen
Assistant Curator Esme Hawes Project Managers Nicola Underwood, Justine Boussard Exhibitions Coordinator Giulia Cozzi 3D Design ĒTER (Dagnija Smilga, Kārlis Bērziņš, Niklāvs Paegle with Martins Stark 2D DesignAgga Mette Stage, Alexander Söderwith Emil Andersson
Meridians Meet is developed by Julie Rose Bower in collaboration with Tom Wilson, Anna Cocciadiferro, Nathan Taylor, Dani Mayes, and Yosuke Watanabe, with thanks to Shure, Stage Sound Services, Queen Mary University London, and Ultrafabrics. The ASMR triggers survey present in the exhibition is developed by Dr. Giulia Poerio, University of Essex and ASMRNet, with audio by Clau Nader, Tom Swart, Quaint ASMR, ASMRPlanet, Studio Goblin, Simon Willmoth, Sarah Steed, and Agnieszka Janik McErlean. This exhibition has been created and presented in collaboration with ArkDes, Sweden’s National Centre for Architecture and Design. It was first shown in Stockholm (April 08-November 01, 2020).
with ĒTER Architects, Agga Stage and Alexander Söder, and Julie Rose Bowerat The Design Museum, London, presented in collaboration with ArkDes, Stockholm
ASMR (“Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response”) is a term that describes a physical sensation: euphoria or deep calm, sometimes a tingling in the body. In recent years, an online audience of millions has emerged, dedicated to watching the work of designers and content creators who aim to trigger this feeling in their viewers. They do so by whispering or eating, touching or tapping, and more besides. This exhibition, first presented in Stockholm, is the first to be dedicated to this feeling—and the field of creativity that is growing around it.
Fig 1. The Arena in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Ed Reeves, 2022)
WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRis the second incarnation of an exhibition that explores the design story of an evolving internet movement through a series of immersive audio, visual, and tactile works. Step into an acoustically tuned environment and understand how people around the world are using new and existing tools and materials to navigate our complex world. Opening to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week in the United Kingdom, the exhibition also includes an interactive studio space created by Julie Rose Bower.
Fig 2. The Arena in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Ed Reeves, 2022)
Fig 3. Binaural microphones in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Ed Reeves, 2022) Fig 4. The second incarnation of WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD opens on May 13, 2022 at the Design Museum in London. An exhibition trailer premiered on Nowness on International ASMR Day 2022.
Fig 5. Bob Ross in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 6.Binaural microphones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 7.Tobias Bradford’s immeasurable thirst/that feeling inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 8.Postures inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 9.Julie Rose Bower‘s Meridians Meet inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 10.View into the Arena inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022) Fig 11.Exhibition booklet forWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Mette Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 12.Exhibition tombstones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Mette Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 13.Exhibition rhinestones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Mette Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 14.Spread from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Mette Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 15.Spread from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Mette Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 16.Reverse cover and Participant Guide from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Mette Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 17.Some of the team behindWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022)
Fig 18.The design movement of ASMR, a documentary film and interview by Dezeen
Assistant Curator Esme Hawes Project Managers Nicola Underwood, Justine Boussard Exhibitions Coordinator Giulia Cozzi 3D Design ĒTER (Dagnija Smilga, Kārlis Bērziņš, Niklāvs Paegle with Martins Stark 2D DesignAgga Mette Stage, Alexander Söderwith Emil Andersson
Meridians Meet is developed by Julie Rose Bower in collaboration with Tom Wilson, Anna Cocciadiferro, Nathan Taylor, Dani Mayes, and Yosuke Watanabe, with thanks to Shure, Stage Sound Services, Queen Mary University London, and Ultrafabrics. The ASMR triggers survey present in the exhibition is developed by Dr. Giulia Poerio, University of Essex and ASMRNet, with audio by Clau Nader, Tom Swart, Quaint ASMR, ASMRPlanet, Studio Goblin, Simon Willmoth, Sarah Steed, and Agnieszka Janik McErlean. This exhibition has been created and presented in collaboration with ArkDes, Sweden’s National Centre for Architecture and Design. It was first shown in Stockholm (April 08-November 01, 2020).
