“DIN” is a motion visualization project that explores how standards and modern technology influence our daily movement.
Over 33,000 standards have been created by the German Institute for Standardization in the past century. They dictate how we move and physically interact with our environment daily. This leads to a standardization paradox: It makes our modern lives possible and limits us as physical beings.
The core concept juxtaposes free human movement (dance) with technical visualization. The process began with motion tracking (full-body and camera tracking) of a freely improvised dance performance by dancer Thomas Lempertz. Based on the recorded movement data, various abstract visualization principles were developed, such as visualizing the distance between two points or visualizing three perspectives simultaneously. These principles led to character designs inspired by design icons such as the “CN° II Chair” (1992) or the “Club Chair” (1927). They reflect the essence of technical standards through minimalist design language, the motif of repetition, and the use of high-tech metal and plastic textures. In two contrasting environments, a bright studio and an atmospheric ballet stage, the figures navigate the now-visible boundaries of standardization.
“DIN” offers us to question what it means to be a human that moves within modern standards and technology.
