To challenge the current design of smart doorbells, alternative smart doorbells were designed, taking a starting point in three different definitions of privacy. Each doorbell opens up for a new form of negotiation of the terms of the interaction between owner and visitor. The end result was an exhibition held in Amsterdam, where three new privacy-centric designs were displayed.
At the exhibition, data was gathered about visitors’ opinions and views on the doorbells and analysed to better understand people’s values and preferences in regards to privacy in the context of smart doorbells. The result showed that speculative design exhibitions could be a valuable tool for better understanding citizens’ values and preferences. The physical manifestations of alternative futures allowed a nuanced and concrete discussion about possible interventions. This shows how speculative design can help institutions such as Amsterdam municipality deal with emerging technologies such as the smart doorbell.