Scentwalk: A Pioneering Concept in Olfactory Memory

Chao Yang, Yiyang Li and Yilin Wang's Innovative Approach to Memory Extraction

Based on extensive research, the team discovered that olfactory memory is more profound and firm than other sensory memories, capable of evoking rich emotional experiences. Some scientific institutions are even attempting to use extracted odors to treat patients with amnesia. Inspired by these findings, the team envisioned Scentwalk as a future technology company, offering odor extraction services to help people tap into their olfactory memories.

The uniqueness of Scentwalk lies in its focus on olfactory memory as a means of emotional sustenance. The brand's logo, derived from keywords like odor molecules, data, extraction, collection, and walking, reflects this unique approach. The logo's color, silver but reflective when exposed to light, symbolizes the concept that gas, though colorless, can trigger emotional experiences.

The team faced the challenge of expressing the abstract concepts of smell and collection through geometric design. However, they successfully created an experimental logo image system that captures the essence of Scentwalk. The design extends to related products, instruments, and holographic projection posters, which are designed from the perspective of self, lover, family, and friends, reflecting people's longing for each other and the past.

The poster, a key element of the brand, measures 10000mm x 7000mm and features a holographic silver foil texture. The design is dynamic, with a specific sound to express the extraction and collection of odor. The poster's shape, like scent, is not fixed, further emphasizing the brand's focus on olfactory memory.

The project, which started in November 2020 and concluded in April 2021 in Hangzhou, is based on the scientific principle that olfactory memory can directly trigger emotional responses. The team's research highlighted the often-ignored strength of olfactory memory, inspiring them to create a brand that leverages this powerful sensory memory to provide odor therapy in the future.

Scentwalk's innovative approach to memory extraction has already been recognized with a Silver A' Design Award in Graphics, Illustration and Visual Communication Design in 2022. This prestigious award is given to designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise, innovation, and artistic skill, further validating the team's groundbreaking work in the field of olfactory memory.