Playful Engagement for Public Spaces: A Case Study on a Mall Escalator

Designing embodied playfulness has been explored as a method for problem-solving. However, when thinking about deploying such an approach in public space activities, we often face many limitations regarding safety and ambiance, especially for bodily movements and behavior. To explore and address the challenges of deploying playfulness with restrained bodily movements in public spaces, we present a case study of an escalator augmented with auditory and visual feedback. An escalator in a public shopping mall has many limitations that require careful consideration in the design to maintain safety and avoid mistakes. We describe the challenges of our design strategy in order to complete the installation of a public escalator over five days. The results show that our approach significantly encouraged people to use the escalator, and also improved their manner of using it. Our work presents a successful method of treating the balance of social limitations and enjoyment that can affect human behavior in positive ways. © 2021 ACM.