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11 | Implications and applications

IT’S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

It was time to start thinking about the final project. I was “afraid”, it hadn't even been 3 months and I was already facing another big project. I know myself and I knew that it would demand a lot from me to achieve a "perfect" project, but I didn’t know what.

I like my projects to have significance, I mean, that they can help to resolve/improve some situations. I love designing any type of products, however, designing with a challenge, it motivates me even more.

I was very lost to be honest. I didn’t even know where to start, hopefully, we had a mentorship with Adele and Betiana. They gave me feedback on which assignments they saw me best at and which I could base the project on, moreover, they helped me a lot to focus on the idea.

I decided that I will continue with the same theme as the wearables week: people suffering from anxiety.

I know, I know, it may seem that I'm a bit obsessed with it, but I think the idea of developing a product focused on mental health (specially on anxiety disorders) is much needed. It is an issue of vital importance and it has been taboo for many years. The situation of the pandemic “has forced” to bring this problem to light.

Preview research

In 2019, a study determined there were 3.83% people that had anxiety disorder, 275 million, all over the world. There are different types of disorder, however, the common denominator is panic attack.

A panic attack is the sudden onset of intense fear of a situation that does not require danger. This malaise lasts between 5 and 20 minutes, although in a worst-case scenario, it can trigger a series of panic attacks lasting for hours. The pain that is felt can be confused with a heart attack.

The therapies currently available are classified into 3 groups: natural treatments, psychotherapy and psychopharmaceuticals. However, they may not be enough to treat them (in case of natural treatments), be expensive (psychotherapy) or have side effects (psychopharmaceuticals). Moreover, you can’t use them at the time of the attack.

What

It will be a product/gadget focused on creating a calm and peaceful environment capable of reducing high levels of stress and anxiety.

A discreet product that can fit in with any room style, as a decoration. Also, it should also have multiple functions, being its wireless charger or for other gadgets (mobile phones, wireless headphones, smartwatches…), use it as a lamp and more.

To sum up, it can be an ambient lamp. The ideal is that people disconnect from everything that stresses them, usually the mobile phone, so the mobile phone would be left on the charging base while it is illuminated creating an environment of tranquility.

Where

Indoors there are moments of high levels of stress, emotional charge, anxiety... When it should be the opposite, your room: your space of comfort and peace. It happens the same at work, there should be a space where allows you to disconnect and to reduce high levels of anxiety.

Why

Unfortunately, as a consequence of Covid, the number of cases has increased in all types of anxiety disorders. Only in Spain, the number of cases has increased by 16%.

Moreover, according to World Health Organization, there is one mental health specialist for every 100,000 people in the world.

The quality of life is worsening, with direct and indirect consequences: personal, family, work performance, economic, sustainable development… It is therefore vital to design a product that focuses on improving mental health, or at least wellbeing.

Who

This product is aimed at all those who suffer from panic attacks and/or who have high levels of anxiety, for this reason it is difficult to determine an age range.

However, as it is a sophisticated gadget, it is recommended that it is used from the age of 12, or under adult supervision.

This is an archetype of a person, one of the thousands who could use this product:

HoW

I still don't know which shape or type of final product it will be, but I propose to use the knowledge acquired in these assignments:

  • E-textile: Focus on the electronic.
  • Computational Couture: The parametric design will be necessary to create patterns and textures which are very useful to relax.
  • Textile as scaffold
    • Crystallization: In my investigation I read that Himalayan Salt lamps have health benefits, so I want to include my handmade salt lamp.
    • Molds: Maybe I need to use them to build the structure.
  • Biochromes: Colours are the base of this project, so it would be interesting to apply it.
  • Biofabricating material: Depending on which material I will use I can make my own one.
  • Soft robotics: I'm looking forward to seeing what I can come up with in this assignment because I can think of some ideas.

In this way I will organise my time so that I can do all my goals:

I will start with a process of creation: brainstorming, search for inspiration.... At the same time, I will do different experiments, both electronics and biofabrication. Finally, when I get results, I will start the refinement phase and start manufacturing the final product.

References

Inspiration

I love the part when I look for inspiration, I can spend hours! I have some websites where I always find interesting projects, details, shapes, concepts… Every designer should visit them from time to time. These website are:

Moodboard

Other projects

These projects are very inspirational and also incredible, take a look at them.

Last update: 2022-05-02