Explore
Eirik Alfstad Johansen
Playmaker.
I build visual surfaces where people can play, discover, and explore ideas — together with others.
Thoughts
Insights
Ambitions
Actions
Why I do what I do
People need structure. But structure can also be very difficult to receive. It can feel limiting, confining and like it deprives us of autonomy.
I strive to make structure feel enveloping, nurturing and enabling of flow. It should feel less like a scattered set of boxes you have to fit into — and more like a cockpit for movement.
How I go about it
Pieces are the building blocks of the games I make.
Pieces can be placed, ordered, stacked and shifted around.
They are a great tool for bringing awareness of what you want to bring into your world, while still feeling like you remain in control of movement.
What I build
I build visual surfaces. Surfaces are dynamic structures which allow you to move things around.
They function as a playpen for play. Different surfaces are intended for different things, and give you a different perspective on the pieces of your life.
Here are some examples of different types of surfaces:
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Placement surface
A placement surface lets you set things down so you can get a little distance from them and think about how you want to relate to them.
Lay out the pieces
Pour out what you see and understand about the universes you move in and the pieces that belong there.
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Gravitational surface
A gravitational surface lets you move around and feel what pulls on you, what you are drawn toward, and where you need more distance.
Look at the pull
Get some distance on things and see the forces that pull toward what you have to offer.
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Attraction surface
An attraction surface lets you name what draws you, and attach traits to pieces so you can see and play with the attraction.
Name the attraction
Place pieces on the field and drop traits onto them — so what draws you becomes something you can see and play with.
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Connection surface
A connection surface lets you shift where you look from, so the same pieces show different relationships.
Connect things
See how the pieces connect, and link them to each other.
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Organizational surface
An organizational surface lets you give things a place in a larger terrain, so you can get belonging and overview without flattening everything into one pile.
Unfold the landscape
See the landscape as a whole and where the various pieces belong.
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Strategic surface
A strategic surface lets you make the next move visible, so understanding becomes steps you can take toward someone or something.
Choose who to approach
See the steps you can take to position yourself and get one step closer.
What I'm looking to achieve
When I do my job right, structure feels chosen and supportive.
It feels like it allows the placement of complicated and unstructured things outside of oneself, in order to manage movement in a more sustainable way.
Want to play with me?
Get in touch!