ECHO
User-centred design | Product design | UI design
Individual Project (4-week course project)
In 2015, the American Psychiatric Association officially recognised separation anxiety disorder as a diagnostic category of mental illness. According to 2022 YouGov survey, 40% of a representative sample of American pet owners answered yes to the question, “Do you feel anxious leaving your pets at home alone all day?”
My design aims to connect pet owners with their beloved pets, providing comfort and alleviating loneliness and anxiety caused by separation due to work or study abroad. The design includes an interactive collar sensor, a night light and a phone application to manage the products.
What’s the Problem?
Challenge:
People are experiencing longing and anxiety when they leave their pets, primarily due to concerns about their pet’s health and happiness. For example, can other people take care of them well? Interviewees with more than one pet also worry about whether their pets are getting along harmoniously.Desktop Research:
Data from
Hal Herzog
Process:
I conducted 11 interviews and 45 surveys with university students and young professionals. Interviewees mentioned that their pets help ease their stress, and they expressed a desire for more than just visual images; they want interactions or responses from their pets, which cannot be achieved through video calls alone. In addition, having an online community of people to share similar situations would also help them navigate the concerns. Later, I developed and iterated prototypes by testing with the 11 interviewees.
Strategy:
To comfort my audience and ease the longing and anxiety beyond video calls.
Solutions:
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Pet collar sensor - detecting the heart rate and oxygen-blood level of the pet.
- Customised night light - having a pulsing effect through change of light intensity and vibrational pattern, based on the data from the collar sensor.
- Phone application - managing all devices, setting pet profiles and providing a community platform.
Application Design
Information Architecture
User Testing
- Added a customisation process for new users, allowing them to select the types and frequency of notifications.
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Included tutorial pages explaining basic functions for new users during registration.
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Adjusted the hierarchy by using bolder, larger titles for the pet profile function, rearranging function panels based on their importance, and unifying interactive gestures (vertical sliding)
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Ensured adequate reading time during the tutorial stage.
- Revised the information architecture by removing the chat function and placing the device management function at the same level as the pet profile.
Final APP Interface Design:
Collar Heart Rate Sensor and Night Light Design
Long-distance and real-time transmission of the pet’s health data to the night light, performing visual and tactile breathing patterns to accompany the users.
Fabrication
I worked with 3D printing and soft silicone to create a tactile experience that evokes a sense of comfort.