A counter is an opening in a wall between two spaces, through which, for example, tickets are sold or information is provided. But that same counter can also lead to absurd situations in how people interact with each other. During my observation of a specific counter at the Tikkiebad (swimming pool), I noticed that the functional elements, such as the safety screen, the microphone, and the pass-through slot, actually create an unintentionally impersonal and uncomfortable experience.
John M. Culkin once said, “We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us.” This truly applies here. The design of the counter directly influences how people communicate with each other. I noticed this during a conversation with the counter attendant. Due to the poor sound quality of the microphone, misunderstandings and awkward moments arose. This made me think: do all these practical additions, such as the screen and the microphone, really make sense in a swimming pool counter? Perhaps a less rigid, more human approach would be better suited.
To better understand the shape and function of the counter, I began enlarging or reducing parts of it. This led, for example, to a counter slot only 4 cm wide so that you can see only the attendant’s mouth or one eye, an exaggeratedly large, screaming red horn for communication, and an extremely long pass-through slot. By stretching or limiting the design in this way, the absurdity became visible. It shows how such functional objects not only manage practical matters but also influence how people interact with each other and feel in such a situation.
Het loket 1
Het loket 2
