This week’s readings made me think about how important it is to be okay with things not always working out. In Physical Computing’s Greatest Hits and Misses, I liked how it showed both the successful projects and the ones that didn’t go as planned. That felt real. I often feel like everything I make has to be perfect, but this reminded me that trying new things and failing is part of the process. It also made me wonder—what really makes something a “failure”? If people still interact with it or feel something from it, maybe it still has value. I want to be more open to things going wrong, because those moments can lead to better ideas.
The second reading, Making Interactive Art: Set the Stage, Then Shut Up and Listen, really stayed with me. I’m used to explaining my work a lot or trying to get people to understand exactly what I meant. But this reading made me realize that sometimes the best thing I can do is let go and let the audience explore for themselves. I don’t fully agree with the idea that artists should just “shut up,” because I think some guidance can help people connect. Still, I like the idea of trusting people more. It made me think about how I can make work that gives people space to feel, move, and react in their own way, without me controlling every part of the experience.