ECHO
User-center design | Product design | Inclusive design
Individual Project (4 weeks project)
Products that connect pet owners with their beloved pets, providing comfort and alleviating loneliness and anxiety caused by separation. The design includes an interactive collar sensor , a night light and an phone application.
What’s the Problem?
Challenge:
People are experiencing longing and anxietye when they leave their pets , primarily due to concerns about their pet’s health and happiness. For example, will other people could take care of them well? Interviewees with more than one pet also worry about whether their pets are getting along harmoniously.Research:
Data from
Hal Herzog
Interviews:
Insights:
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.
Strategy:
To comfort my audience to ease the longing and anxiety beyond video calls.
Solutions:
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Pet collar sensor - detecting the heartrate and oxygen-blood level of the pet.
- Customised Night light - having pulse effect through change of light intensity and vibrational pattern, based on the data from the collar sensor.
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Phone application - managing all devices, setting pet profiles and providing community platform.
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Support instruction cards
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.
APP Interface:
Collar Heartrate Sensor and Night Light Design
Long distance and realtime transmission of pet’s health data to the night light, performing visual and tactile breathing pattern to accompany the users.
Fabrication
I worked with 3D printing and soft silicone to create a tactile experience that evokes a sense of comfort.