Give & Get

experience design

The "Give & Get" machine is a nostalgia-inspired physical bartering system designed to foster real-world connections and fuel local community engagement. Its core innovation is an indirect exchange model: users contribute a personalized skill or service (from abstract creative tasks to physical labor) to a community pool, and then have the option to select a different offering from someone else. This pay-it-forward structure encourages contribution without immediate expectation.

The design leverages a retro arcade aesthetic to create a simple, fun, and tactile experience in public spaces (like cafes or diners), directly contrasting the digital saturation of modern life. This physical, surprising interaction, culminating in a collectible "Deed Ticket," is intentionally designed for social media buzz, turning every exchange into shareable content. Ultimately, the machine is a creative platform that encourages people to recognize and utilize their unique skills to build their local "village."