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 Reeve, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum.
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 design movement of ASMR, a documentary film and interview by Dezeen
Fig 3. Binaural microphones in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Ed Reeve, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 4. Drawing of the Arena in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (ĒTER, 2022). Courtesy of ĒTER.
Fig 5. Exhibition trailer, presented on Nowness (2022). Courtesy of ArkDes / the Design Museum. Fig 6. Bob Ross in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 7.Binaural microphones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 8.Tobias Bradford’s immeasurable thirst/that feeling inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 9.Postures inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 10.Julie Rose Bower’sMeridians Meet inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 11.The Arena, WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 12. An episode of The Joy of Painting by Bob Ross in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Miguel Santa Clara, 2022) Fig 13.Companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 14.Tombstones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 15.Introductory rune-stones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 16.Spread from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 17.Spread from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 18.Reverse cover and Participant Guide from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022)
Giulia Poerio Truth Behind the Tingles New Scientist
Fig 19.Giulia Poerio: The truth being the tingles of ASMR, New Scientist
Life of the ASMRtists Ruby Netherwood, Caring Whispers, Atlas NOWNESS
Fig 20.Life of the ASMRtists, a film by Jamie Jones for NOWNESSFig 21. ASMRtist Ruby Netherwood in Life of the ASMRtists, a film by Jamie Jones. Courtesy of the Design Museum/NOWNESS. Fig 22. ASMRtist Caring Whispers in Life of the ASMRtists, a film by Jamie Jones. Courtesy of the Design Museum/NOWNESS. Fig 23. ASMRtist Atlas in Life of the ASMRtists, a film by Jamie Jones. Courtesy of the Design Museum/NOWNESS.
Assistant Curator Esme Hawes Project Managers Nicola Underwood, Justine Boussard Exhibitions Coordinator Giulia Cozzi 3D Design ĒTER (Dagnija Smilga, Kārlis Bērziņš, Niklāvs Paegle with Mārtiņš Stark 2D DesignAgga 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).
May 13 — October 16, 2022 extended until April 10, 2023 The Design Museum
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 Reeve, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum.
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 design movement of ASMR, a documentary film and interview by Dezeen
Fig 3. Binaural microphones in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Ed Reeve, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 4. Drawing of the Arena in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (ĒTER, 2022). Courtesy of ĒTER.
Fig 5. Exhibition trailer, presented on Nowness (2022). Courtesy of ArkDes / the Design Museum. Fig 6. Bob Ross in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 7.Binaural microphones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 8.Tobias Bradford’s immeasurable thirst/that feeling inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 9.Postures inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 10.Julie Rose Bower’sMeridians Meet inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 11.The Arena, WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Nelta Kasparian, 2022). Courtesy of the Design Museum. Fig 12. An episode of The Joy of Painting by Bob Ross in WEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMR at the Design Museum (Miguel Santa Clara, 2022) Fig 13.Companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 14.Tombstones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 15.Introductory rune-stones inWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum (Agga Stage/Alexander Söder, 2022) Fig 16.Spread from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 17.Spread from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022) Fig 18.Reverse cover and Participant Guide from the companion booklet toWEIRD SENSATION FEELS GOOD: The World of ASMRat the Design Museum by Agga Stage and Alexander Söder with Emil Engel (2022)
Giulia Poerio Truth Behind the Tingles New Scientist
Fig 19.Giulia Poerio: The truth being the tingles of ASMR, New Scientist
Life of the ASMRtists Ruby Netherwood, Caring Whispers, Atlas NOWNESS
Fig 20.Life of the ASMRtists, a film by Jamie Jones for NOWNESSFig 21. ASMRtist Ruby Netherwood in Life of the ASMRtists, a film by Jamie Jones. Courtesy of the Design Museum/NOWNESS. Fig 22. ASMRtist Caring Whispers in Life of the ASMRtists, a film by Jamie Jones. Courtesy of the Design Museum/NOWNESS. Fig 23. ASMRtist Atlas in Life of the ASMRtists, a film by Jamie Jones. Courtesy of the Design Museum/NOWNESS.
Assistant Curator Esme Hawes Project Managers Nicola Underwood, Justine Boussard Exhibitions Coordinator Giulia Cozzi 3D Design ĒTER (Dagnija Smilga, Kārlis Bērziņš, Niklāvs Paegle with Mārtiņš Stark 2D DesignAgga 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).
May 13 — October 16, 2022 extended until April 10, 2023 The Design Museum
