Minne: Memory Projector
1-in-3 of us keep 'meaningful possessions' in our homes to trigger memories, foster belonging and embody our identities, which are lost on parting with them. In 2030 climate migrants will move long distances to create new homes. Minne is an immersive 3D volumetric displayer that projects, sends and receives 'Digital Twins' of lost meaningful possessions.
Experience/Skills Highlighted
Speculative Design & Future Casting
Ideation
Prototyping and Model making (traditional and 3D printing
Project Overview
Industrial Design BA Final Year Advanced Design Innovation
Team/role: Group Project with Individual Products
Project length: September 2023 - May 2023
FULL CASE STUDY
Group Design Challenge/Problem Statement
As climate mass migration occurs displaces people, how might corporate stakeholders meet the hierarchy of needs of the evolving community
Individual Design Challenge/Problem Statement
1 in 3 keep ’meaningful possessions’ in our home to recall memory and embody identity (IKEA, no date). We lose ‘self’ on parting with them but are 15% more able to if we retain the memory (Reczek, 2017).
In 2030 climate migrants (‘New Citizens’) will move long distances to create new homes in new communities and most cannot transport the meaningful possessions their memories, identity and belonging rely on. They and ‘Existing Citizens’ already in the community will live in spaces too small to store and display many meaningful possessions. All must re-find a sense of belonging and connection.
Brand Repositioning: IKEA
IKEA empower all to create new/renewed homes with their products, especially for low budgets and small spaces, so is the go-to for both New and Existing Citizens.
IKEA’s small storage ranges like SAMMANHANG (shown below) help proudly display meaningful possessions.
‘Digital Twins’ will expand into consumer products and 3D volumetric display will advance and become mainstream. In 2030, IKEA is projected to stretch into community-building sustainable tech products to meet the Design Challenge but must convince customers their one-stop shop products have specialist quality.
Research
How and why we place value on objects and 'meaningful possessions' was explored in depth through several academic papers and grey literature. I particularly explored how and why we place different value on digital objects/possessions which target users are asked to do with this product.
Initial Ideation and Prototyping
Examples of working ideation sketching from project:
Validation and Prototyping
User testing was carried out to explore ease of interaction including affordance options to remove the product from the hub.
PROJECT PIVOTED
Further Ideation and Prototyping
Following user testing and expert input, it was necessary to pivot the project direction to progress an alternative lead concept. Further ideation was undertaken to explore the concept. Working and (informal) presentation sketch examples shown below.
Final Design
1 in 3 of us keep ’meaningful possessions’ in our homes to trigger memories, foster belonging and embody our identities, which are lost on parting with them. In 2030 climate migrants are predicted to move long distances to create new homes in new dense communities without their meaningful possessions.
Studies show we are 15% more able to part with meaningful possessions if we retain the memory. Minne is an immersive 3D volumetric displayer that projects ‘Digital Twins’ of lost meaningful possessions to retain identity, belonging and memory, strengthened by appropriate or captured scent and sound.
Digital ‘fingerprints’ and possessions ageing via AI ensures Digital Twins are just as valued as their physical counterparts. Segments can project individually, paired in modular configurations to balance a larger projection, or paired with other user's segments to project a composite of a shared possession. Instead of sending a message, the Base can send and receive a meaningful possession to build community and belonging, and strengthen distant bonds.
As the go-to for new and renewed homes with strong community and climate goals dipping its toe in smart products, IKEA is the natural partner brand for this challenge.
Below shows Minne product, followed by the team's product family.
Challenges and Learnings
1. Designing a product for a brand with a subtle visual/design language, which requires drawing on the brand essence.
