Interaction design at EXPO 2005
Launching a message to the Nordic countries

An appealing interaction for all ages
Joint Nordic pavilion at EXPO 2005 in Nagoya offered the guests
an intriguing opportunity to send a symbolic greeting to the Nordic
countries.
In this popular event for both children and adults, visitors
were encouraged to make a personal message and launch it as a paper
ship onto a large shallow pond.
In Japan, the phrase "launch a boat" means "take a step forward"
- and the Nordic pavilion gave visitors a chance to do that. At a
computer kiosk, visitors could type in their name and e-mail
address and the machine would print the information onto a sheet of
paper, fold it into a boat, and finally visitors would then launch
their message.
The boat launching served a practical purpose as people's
contact details would be collected by the computer, creating an
e-mail list of visitors who could then be contacted after the EXPO
and continue the conversation.
By sending boats to Scandinavia, visitors took a step towards
understanding - and perhaps some day visiting - the Nordic
countries. And having given something, visitors also received a
keepsake: postcards of Scandinavian scenes that were provided in
special-design envelopes.
Design: Peter Bysted
Client: Nordic Council of Ministers
Date: 2005

Ships are launched into the shallow pond

Children, water and play in combination