When I started this research, I wasn’t looking for a specific topic, I was chasing a feeling. Something felt missing in design, in media, in the way we experience the world. I was drawn to the in-between, the fleeting, unnoticed, overlooked moments that shape us without us even realizing.
I explored the simple concept of waiting, non-places, liminal spaces, randomness, imperfection trying to understand why certain moments feel soulless and disconnected while others feel deeply human. I found myself coming back to the same question:
“How can design capture these in-between moments and use them to create meaning?”
Designing for What We Don’t See
Most design focuses on what’s visible like logos, posters, polished branding. But what about what’s not seen? What about the things we pass by every day, the torn posters, the scribbled notes, the things left behind? What if design didn’t just fill space, but instead highlighted what was already there?
Some of the most powerful design projects aren’t the ones that impose meaning, but the ones that reveal it. Candy Chang’s “Before I Die” walls, where people publicly write their hopes and regrets, aren’t about permanence, they’re about capturing a fleeting moment of honesty. Krzysztof Wodiczko’s projections on public buildings, giving marginalized voices a platform, use impermanence as a tool to make people stop and pay attention.
Maybe good design isn’t about creating something new, but about amplifying what already exists.
The Imperfect, the Unfinished, the Fleeting
Throughout this research, I realized that the most human experiences are imperfect, unfinished, and fleeting. Whether it’s the randomness of a photo dump, the nostalgia for something we can’t quite place, or the quiet intimacy of a shared waiting space, these moments matter.
But we rarely design for them. We design for function, efficiency, longevity. Maybe it’s time to rethink that. What if design embraced imperfection, transience, and randomness? What if, instead of creating perfect spaces, we designed for serendipity, interaction, and human presence?
Designing for the In-Between
At its core, design is about shaping experiences, not just through what is seen, but also through what is felt, passed by, and sometimes even ignored. The challenge isn’t just to create something visually appealing, but to design in a way that acknowledges human presence, interaction, and imperfection. We see this in branding shifting toward raw, unpolished aesthetics, in urban spaces that encourage spontaneous participation, and in digital design that prioritizes authenticity over perfection. The in-between moments whether in public spaces, media, or digital interfaces are where connection happens. Instead of filling every gap with content, design has the power to highlight what already exists, giving meaning to what was once overlooked. The question is: how can we, as designers, create spaces, both physical and digital that make people pause, notice, and feel something real?
What Comes Next?
I don’t have all the answers yet, and that’s the point. This research wasn’t about finding a conclusion, it was about opening a conversation. Maybe the most meaningful design isn’t the loudest, the biggest, or the most perfectly curated. Maybe it’s the quietest the thing that makes you stop for a second, notice what’s been there all along, and feel connected, even if just for a moment. Because sometimes, meaning isn’t in the final design. It’s in the spaces in between.
Sources:
Augé, M. (1995). Non-Places: Introduction to an Anthropology of Supermodernity. Verso.
Chang, C. (2012). Before I Die. St. Martin’s Press.
Pallasmaa, J. (2012). The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. Wiley.
Wodiczko, K. (1999). Critical Vehicles: Writings, Projects, Interviews. MIT Press.
Flusser, V. (1999). The Shape of Things: A Philosophy of Design. Reaktion Books.
