Hanami concept brings interaction between animals and humans to another level

I may not be an animal person, but I still sometimes wonder what they’re actually feeling or thinking. There’s something oddly captivating about the way animals, especially dogs and cats, look at you—almost as if they’re trying to say something with their eyes alone. When a dog tilts its head or a cat locks eyes with me from across the room, I can’t help but imagine a whole inner world I’ll never fully understand. Sometimes I wish I had the ability to read their minds or speak their language, to bridge that silent gap between us. Of course, that level of communication is likely out of reach, unless we stumble upon some kind of magic or telepathic breakthrough, that doesn’t mean the idea is entirely off the table.

What we can do, here and now, is explore creative ways to interact with animals using the tools we already have: technology, design, and imagination. These tools may not decode every thought or emotion, but they can help us listen more closely and connect more deeply with the creatures that share our world. Hanami is a groundbreaking concept that seeks to translate the voices of animals into human-understandable audio-visual representations. It is described as an “interpreter object” designed to collect, translate, and present animal communications in a form comprehensible to humans. By leveraging advanced design and technology, Hanami aims to foster a deeper understanding and connection between humans and the animal kingdom, specifically of the animals that populate the Barca area in Bologna, Italy.

Designer: FORMD

The shape of the device is that of a flower, hence the name since it’s the Japanese word for viewing of the flowers. How it works is that the device collects the sounds made by animals in its natural environment. A.I then processes the collected data and creates an audio-visual representation of the sounds and then the humans can interact with it through the dials. It then creates a new audio-video representation that fuses together the natural animal sounds and the human input. The device can be adjusted up to nine levels of inclination which lets people of various heights and ages enjoy the device.

This creative fusion of nature, technology, and design not only provides an artistic glimpse into the lives of animals but also invites us to reimagine our role in the natural world, not just as observers, but as participants in a dialogue that has long felt one-sided. Hanami may not grant us the magical ability to talk to animals, but it offers something just as meaningful: a space for empathy, curiosity, and connection. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the first step toward truly understanding the world beyond our own species.

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