KMD | About
Kinesthetic Motion Database


About



An introductory video for the workshop participants after nine kinesthetic elements were identified.



Kinesthetic Motion Database?

'Kinesthetic empathy' is a perceptual phenomenon to experience the kinetic sensation of the observed movements such as human behaviours and motions of objects. Kinesthetic Motion Database (KMD) is the first tool created for design education, reaving how kinesthetic empathy can help designers explore movement qualities. It is designed to directly support the design methodology called Kinesthetic Design developed by Kensho Miyoshi for his doctoral research at the Royal College of Art between 2015 and 2018. The video clips are by Kensho unless stated otherwise.



Kinesthetic Elements

While the perceived kinesthetic empathy is variable depending on each of the observed movements, there are multiple underlying fragments. Kinesthetic elements refer to such fragments of kinesthetic sensations that we can project onto the observed motions of non-anthropomorphic objects. They represent experiential qualities that are intertwined with each other, not intended as discrete as mathematical dimensions. They function as a lens for analysing the kinesthetic potential of movements and a tool to create new kinds of kinesthetic movements.



Qualitative Spectrum

In addition to the kinesthetic potential, object movements take on diverse qualities as such as intensity, emotion and intention. Qualitative spectrum is comprised of multiple continuums with opposite adjectives at both ends (e.g. heavy/light) and support further articulation of motion qualities.



Acknowledgement
Thanks to those contributed to this research, especially related to the content of KMD: Albert Barbu, Yaprak Göker, Anne Zhou, Ruijing (Yan) Hazel, Viraj Joshi, Kumi Oda, Rachel Warr, Tom Crame, Mark Esaias, Kevin Rouff, Iulia Ionesque & Andor Ivan, Minami Kawasaki, Mio Adachi, Dr. Claire Pajaczkowska, Prof. Miles Pennington, Prof. Michael Hohl, RCA colleagues and staffs.