Prototyping 2 On Lambton Quay

We made these t-shirts (using shirts from Save Mart and vivids to write the text) to prototype whether or not our target audience responded differently to us if we were branded.

• The t-shirt helped people knew that they could approach us for a high-five. It also made us more comfortable and we felt more confident approaching people as we were embodying the brand rather than embodying ourselves.
• We overheard someone say, "I don't want to be part of a children's programme" - so we have to make sure our branding is very different from the children's TV show 'Hi5' so that people don't get confused.
• Some of the rejections we got may have been because of the camera, but in the real scenario there wouldn't be a camera, so then maybe they would actually participate?
• Because of our branded t-shirts, we became recognisable and people started to recognise us and talk about us. "Oh look it's the hi-fivers" etc - we created conversation.
• We were standing in one place talking to each other and people came up to us out of their own volition and asked for a hi-five. We then decided to try standing in one place and offering for hi-fives, even though we had previously decided against this as we didn't want to look like people who were asking for money or wanting people to stop and talk to us. Surprisingly when we stood in one place, with one of us on either side of the sidewalk, we received the most engagement. We wonder if this is because people could see us, read our t-shirts, see others participating, process the idea and then prepare for a hi-five before the reached us.
• Because we were branded, a few people came up to us and asked why we were doing this. When we explained that we were Massey Design students testing our hypothesis that simple hi-fives could improve peoples wellbeing, combating workplace stress on city streets, they seemed to think that was a satisfactory reason and also really supported the idea.
• School holidays meant that lots of youths and small children were around, which changed the general vibe of the street away from our target audience a bit.
• People went to a lot of effort to get a high five if they wanted one. They shuffled their bags into their other hands, made eye contact and got their hands out and ready.
• People that walked past and smiled, even if they didn't high-five, engaged with us and had their moods lifted through watching. Some people stayed for a few minutes just to observe others being high-fived.