Reading Tom Igoe’s “Making Interactive Art: Set the Stage, Then Shut Up and Listen” made me rethink the way I think about creative work. What stood out to me most was his idea that artists shouldn’t script how people experience their work. I found it interesting when he said that by explaining too much, artists end up telling the audience what to think and how to act. That made a lot of sense: if the whole point of interactive art is to create a conversation, then the artist needs to give space for the audience to respond. I liked how he compared it to being a director: you can guide your actors, but you can’t tell them exactly how to feel. The same goes for an audience—you set the stage, then step back.
I also appreciated how he described interactive art as something that lives through the audience’s actions. The idea that people complete the artwork through their participation feels powerful. It reminds me that design isn’t just about control; it’s about trust—trusting that others will find meaning on their own. This reading encouraged me to think less about explaining and more about creating experiences that speak for themselves.