Din-Pan
A handhold product for Highly Sensitive People (HSP) to release and express their overwhelmed experience.
The product has two parts; a clay embedded with a microphone and a 3D-model as a representation of the overwhelming experience after process.
The clay was used as a tool to release tension and stress on spot, while the microphone captures kneading movements. Then the signal is translated into spikes and smooth bumps as an abstract representation of their perceptions.
CHALLENGE
Everyone perceieved the world differently. Some people are more sensitive than others. Certain senses, such as light, noise, and movements, would be exponentiated.
When stimuli is becoming too heavy for procressing, some experience "melt-down".
These group of people are among us and they look like us on most of the good days.
But they find it hard to express what they feel on bad days. As it is quite exhausting to perceive everything in the more extreme versions and uncapable to explain on the spot because of physical limitations.
PROCESS
This was an individual design research project. Against conventional academic research, I took the "Research Through Design" which encourages the non-linear approach for design.
#distant-empathy
#codesign
Distant empathy
This project was hapenning in corona quarantine period in 2020, so all interviews and co-design sessions were conducted online.
From interviewing 3 participants (two highly sensitive people and one panic-attacked person). The textboxs were actual replies during the interviews.
Co-design
Co-design means the collaboration between designers and stakeholders to yield the most user-centered design. This is important especially for assistive product design.
Kicking off the project with an assumption of using clay as a tool for intuitive expression. (I delivered the clay for prototyping by bikes!)
Their clays
clays from the participants
INSIGHTS
1 Focus
Under the overloading circumstance, more stimuli would worsen the situation. The clay acts an a tool that brings their focus together in a intuitive and simple way.
2 Express
They find it hard to elaborate their embodied experience that seems to be abstract and not commonly perceived by everyone.
3 Tension release
Knowing their stress doesn't mean they can control their physical conditions. Under the fight and flight mode, it is very hard to cope with bodily impulses.
ITERATIONS
Sketches exploring products for presenting their expression through clay shapes
This ranges from the problem exploration, interviews, prototypes, and feedbacks.
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The sketch on the right proposes the ideas of keeping tracks of 3D shape. Yet, it is not yet plausible technology by 2020, so I reduced the technological possibilities to current available devices.
PROTOTYPE
With an actual clay and audio recorder - then through aucity to visualize the signal - then to Fusion 360 to create 3D models.
Spikes by volume
Smooth curves when calm
SOLUTION
The final design of Din-Pan (sculpted clay in Thai), is shown here as a user story. Imagine Lila, a highly sensitive person. She doesn’t know when and where she will encounter an overwhelming situation. Consequently, she always carries Din-Pan, a small package of interactive clay.
One evening, she was forced to by in a noisy, crowded area after practise dancing. She feels tension swelling inside and suddenly needs to release it out. She takes out the clay to knead which slowly calms her down. As others could notice that she is stressed, they give her some quiet space which allows Lila to calm down. On the next day when she feels calmer and ready to reflect back, Lila looks at her emotional sculpture on her phone and reflects back on what made tension build up, what would be good moments to ‘step out’ and find a quiet space, and in doing so she will be better prepared for the next overwhelming moments.
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01/
FOCUS TO RELEASE STRESS
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02/
SIMPLE INTERACTION
03/
IMMEDIATE SIGNALING
04/
SPIKES AND CURVES
05/
ENCOURAGE REFLECTION
Using your hands improves user's focus and coordination between body and brain. This was proven by several academic papers and the concept is implemented as fidget toys. And the clay is a plain material that encourages intuitive hand movements by impulses.
Especially at such sensitive moments, extra stimuli would only worsen the situation. Passive clay doesn't call for anything from the users. A clay acts as a silent companion absorbing the tensions with kind comprehension
Simplication the abstract feelings with 3D models. As "spiky" is a reoccuring vocabulary from the interviewees, it was chosen to be the basis for the representation as an option or inspiration for other users to elaborate how they feel.
A digitised modelshows the whole emotional process at the meltdown sitations. It would be shown hours after the moment itself, as a metaphor to how human brains need to take a break to process overloading stimuli.
This functionally gives them the medium to reflect back how they feel to develop their own emotional awareness when they are calmer later.
Simplication the abstract feelings with 3D models. As "spiky" is a reoccuring vocabulary from the interviewees, it was chosen to be the basis for the representation as an option or inspiration for other users to elaborate how they feel.
CONTEXT
Type: Design Research at University of Twente
Time: April-July 2020
My role:
User research
Academic review
Technology research
Product design
Prototype
Video editting