Techniques from Magic Applied to Design (TMAD)

Abstract

Understanding human perception empirically ‒ to the point of being able to manipulate it ‒ allows magicians to perform illusions that appear to be supernatural. This knowledge about perception is useful for our discipline, as shown by the findings of the project Techniques from Magic Applied to Design (TMAD). By studying different techniques used by magicians, this article proposes a new approach to unveil the cognitive processes of people, enriching project methodology in areas such as interaction design, service design and information design. Informing the action, one of the techniques developed, is discussed in depth. By analyzing one type of magical illusion, this technique allows for the natural incorporation of elements into the flow of people’s experience without drawing attention to them.