The Online Reflector

Students in the experience design program hosted a 1920s themed event on April 17 in Schwitzer Student Center. Experience Design is a fairly new area of study recently introduced at the University of Indianapolis.

“XD [Experience Design] incorporates methods and interpretations drawn from various academic disciplines to create a broad-gauge design perspective emphasizing interactive and multisensory experiences,” said freshman experience design major Kristen Williams, the program’s co-director and manager. “It’s not just designing or building sets for our programs, but it’s discovering ways of cutting edge and innovative marketing techniques and delving into extensive research.”

The entire Intro to Experience Design class collaborated over the planning process for the event, which spanned the entire semester.

“The theme of this event is to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of the 1920s,” Williams said. “And [the] purpose of this event is to take visitors behind the usual stereotype of the roaring 1920s.”

Prior to the actual event, extensive planning was required. To promote it, the group held a photo booth on the Wednesday before the program.

“What I love most about putting the experience design program together is the involvement of everyone as a team,” said freshman experience design major Elizabeth Ailes. “It’s so much fun to work with people you wouldn’t normally work with and get to know others and their points of view.”

They also organized a flash mob, in which participants were dressed in traditional attire from the 20s. Students wore costumes from the time period at the event, and they decorated the basement of Schwitzer to create an atmosphere that resembled that of the 20s.

To increase the authenticity of the event, students incorporated unique hair and makeup styles into their costumes. So, in addition to developing strategies to promote the event among other UIndy students and faculty, the group was also tasked with providing attendees with a real insight into the 1920s.

“We prepared for the event by setting up our extensive set, finding new and creative ways of marketing, putting finishing touches on set pieces, designing hair and makeup, researching different facts and discussion topics, creating a silent film and organizing orientation methods to be used in the program,” Williams said.

After the group developed a theme that they thought a large audience would find appealing, the implementation process began.

While Williams played a significant role in the planning and execution of the event, she also credited the success of the event to the support she received from fellow students.

“This program would not have happened if we didn’t have the excellent help and direction of other students,” she said.

The group distinguished this event from other events by making it interactive. Attendees were immersed in a midwestern town set in 1928.

“I’m hoping that visitors come away with more knowledge about the 1920s than just the typical stereotype of drinking, gangsters and flappers,” she said.

Senior experiential studies major Kate Dolan also was pleased with the  event.

“Everyone has a great time at the program,” Dolan said, “And it is a relief when it is done because you have created something awesome.”