CoGrow
CoGrow provides a sense of normality in extreme expedition environments.
A study project by Joline Krones and Noah Probst
3rd semester, 2025/2026
Supervisors: Martin Haas, Tanja Hakl, Romina Marsico, Prof. Tsunemitsu Tanaka and Tomas Zebis
Introduction to the topic
The overarching theme of this third semester was ‘Interaction on the Move’.
We (Joline and Noah) found interaction on the move in extreme environments particularly interesting.
By this we mean situations in which factors such as confined spaces, isolation and limited social contacts influence everyday life. These occur, for example, during research expeditions.
We therefore investigated how interaction can help create a sense of normality in these extreme environments. The focus of our work was on research expeditions in polar regions.
Problem
On isolated research missions, there is a lack of a sense of home.
Where the context does not offer a sense of normality, this is recreated through rituals, repetition and collective creation.
Idea
CoGrow makes progress tangible, provides direction and strengthens the community through collective planning, anticipation and celebration.
This is intended to motivate researchers on long-term missions and create a sense of normality.
Solution in detail
The timeline of an expedition is divided into quarters. CoGrow is a service that supports the joint planning of events (among other things) at the end of each quarter – which serve as recurring opportunities for collaborative activities – during long-term missions. There is a particular focus on the third quarter of the mission, as our research indicates that this phase is often associated with an emotional low point and declining motivation. This period is given a positive boost through deliberately scheduled events and faster progress on the progress bar.
The service enables the crew to plan and organise celebrations together without imposing any fixed guidelines. CoGrow simply provides supporting tools.
The service consists of…
… the projection of a plant that grows continuously throughout the mission, visualising the passage of time. This helps the crew to make time tangible and establish a shared sense of orientation. It brings the mission’s progress to life.
… planning tools that can be used to plan the end of each quarter and any other events. Buds (which are initially closed) sprout when the end of the quarter or event in question is approaching. By using the planning tools, the buds on the plant blossom. This makes planned milestones visible and meaningful. Dates are not merely managed, but are brought to life as shared occasions.
