Co-Space


 User-center design | Product design | Research
Individual Project (Jul. 2025 - Oct. 2025)

A digital plugin and a physical product developed to support seamless collaboration across virtual and physical contexts.









If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together.
African Proverb


Background Research 




Based on the research, I find that spatial differences in collaboration modes have a significant influence on the collaborative process and outcome. Therefore, I want to explore:

Research Question
How do spatial configurations—such as interpersonal distances, as a result of changing between physical and digital environments —mediate non-verbal interaction dynamics and collaborative behaviours between users?


Project Aim


This project seeks to identify and analyse the proxemic factors that critically shape social interaction and collaboration. By examining how spatial variations influence gesture, posture, and embodied cues in co-located and mediated settings, the research aims to inform the design of physical, online, and hybrid collaboration platforms that better support intuitive and effective interaction.


Definition


Proxemics
The study of how distance, gesture, and orientation mediated cooperation, and I am wondering how these cues still matter in digital/virtual collaboration today?



Coined by Edward T. Hall in 1963
Kinesics
Kinesics is the interpretation of body communication, such as facial expressions and gestures. Essentially, proxemics examines the "how close" aspect of interaction, while kinesics analyzes the "how we move" aspect.

Coined by Ray Birdwhistell in 1952
 

Design References



Current studies have shown that the perception of space and body movement in both face-to-face and digital contexts significantly influences the effectiveness and experience of collaboration. Compared to physical settings, digital or virtual environments often lack spatial cues, which can disadvantage collaborative interactions. However, there is still limited research on whether introducing spatial qualities into virtual or digital platforms could enhance collaboration.

Experiment Ideas


I aim to conduct an experiment to prove the validity of the following ideas. 

Spatial Voice



Gesture Icon
Speaking Signal 


Experiment Plan


Aim
This experiment investigates how different spatial settings (face to face, digital, and hybrid) and spatial factors (such as recognition of in-between distance) influence collaboration. I designed 15 trials across these settings, with and without spatial augmentation, using face-to-face collaboration without augmentation as the baseline.

Task
3 strangers: A, B, C, of the same age and cultural background, were invited and paired up. 

Participants each have 20 pieces of puzzle, both physically and digitally, and work together to build a perfectly symmetrical pattern using all of the puzzles in 8 minutes. Variables: Spatial Setting


Variables: Spatial Augmentation on a coded website




Measuring Metrics

 Measuring Methods
Screenshot of the online platform:
(coded with HTML)



Experiment Process


Online:

Two participants are using the online platform in two separate rooms Face-to-face

Working with physical puzzles and a board Hybrid

Physical puzzle + Webcam + Digital Platform




Experiment Insights


The results indicate that spatial elements have a strong impact on collaboration. Without augmentation, face-to-face interaction remained the most efficient mode. While augmentations evidently enhanced efficiency, they occasionally diminished the sense of connection. This outcome made me realize the importance of designing to support communication rather than replace it in pursuit of efficiency.

New Opportunities


  • Voice distance can be used to guide user behavior (forced follow-up, forced focus...)
  • There are no current effective design solutions for a hybrid context.
  • Although there are VR meeting applications available, they are rather inaccessible and require expensive equipment and prior knowledge. 



Online: Workflow


Aim: Targeting users working online, the system will bring spatial functions to enhance the collaboration efficiency and accuracy.


Online

User Interface


Gesture Icon
Creation Mode

Presentation Mode
In this mode, each user is placed around a virtual table. A window shows who is speaking and who will speak next. When a user starts talking, the signal lights up, and after 0.5 seconds, the voice is transmitted as a subtle pre-hint. The volume changes according to each user’s seat position.



Hybrid

Workflow
Aim: Targeting users working with physical setup, the system will bridge the digital and physical spaces through spatial functions to enhance the collaboration efficiency and accuracy.



Hand Tracking


Hybrid: Product Design






Final Outcome







Demo






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