Using an Emotion as Currency: A First Ever

Role: Executive Creative Director, SapientNitro
Scope: Emerging technology, UX, experiential

This was one of the earliest applications of facial recognition technology in a consumer brand context. For Unilever, we developed a platform that used biometric detection to turn a genuine smile into payment — replacing the traditional transaction entirely with a moment of authentic human expression.

The installation required solving genuinely novel UX problems: how do you design for an interaction that has never existed before, in a physical space, at the speed of a retail moment? The result was an experience that generated both commercial results and significant industry recognition.

• 2011 SXSW Award for best kiosk/installation award. Was one of 17 winners of 1,500 award entries, SapientNitro work was selected as best ‘beyond the browser' experience