Aromaware
Design a Smart Home product for ThumbsUp UK to solve a problem in the home, styled in line with their current homeware offerings, retailling between £30-99.99.
Many users in the target 18-50 range found productivity when working at home was damaged by time management and task switching. User research showed that many struggle to follow schedules, even when alarmed, as they could not simply step away from an unfinished task.
task switching
The low fidelity ideation sketches show exploration of a smart product that uses light, sound, smell, and vibration as sensory input to gradually raise awareness of a person’s surrounding environment and the approaching time limit, giving the user time to wind-down their task before time is up. Smell was selected as it is proven to be an effective environmental grounding tool and for the focus and executive function enhancing properties of aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy for focus
Dual aromatherapy from twin ceramic piezoelectric atomisers was introduced to the product for mental and associative differentiation between focus and task switching. This additional product function allows the user to benefit from the concentration effects of aromatherapy while making the key alert function more effective. The body shell was designed to accomodate press forming.
Outcome
Building aroma gradually increases awareness of environment to give the user time complete their immediate task before switching. Smell affects mood and behaviour, enhancing memory recall and capacity, and boosting executive function, making olfactory input perfect for focusing on tasks at home.
Aromaware synchronises with a calendar and alarm application on user’s phone or other Smart device to properly enforce effective schedules
