علي ناجي

In an era where digital mediation increasingly isolates individuals even during shared experiences, this thesis explores how environmental design can transform tourism into a platform for meaningful social interaction. Addressing the decline of face-to-face engagement among travelers, this research presents a design-oriented approach to transition tourism from passive consumption toward active co-creation. Utilizing the Double Diamond design thinking model, the study employs field observations, user-centered design (UCD), an‎d iterative prototyping to develop a tangible, modular product: the "Social Backpack." Designed specifically for group tourism, this backpack functions as a dynamic interactive platform that facilitates task division, collective problem-solving, an‎d the pursuit of shared goals through a system of physical modules an‎d visual cues. The research identifies three core design principles to foster social interaction: interdependence, tangible feedback, an‎d role legibility. These principles were validated through experimental scenarios in authentic tourism environments an‎d subsequently translated into technical design requirements an‎d ethical constraints. The final solution does not merely limit the dominance of digital screens; it replaces specific digital functions with physical affordances that encourage collaboration, storytelling, an‎d environmental awareness. Drawing upon the latent potential of Iran’s tourism sector an‎d the country’s rich heritage of hospitality, this project proposes a scalable an‎d adaptable framework for participatory tourism. The findings demonstrate that through intentional design, physical products can serve as powerful "social technologies," reconnecting individuals to one another an‎d the lan‎dscapes they explore.

گردشگري , تعامل , طراحي محيطي , اجتماعي , فعاليت

tourism , Interaction , Environmental Design , social , Activities

Ali Naji

Dr. Naser Koleini_ Dr. Mohsen Safar