Podwaves Concept
Design Principles II
From planning process to finished graphics of Podwaves. Used softer tones of colors to emphasize friendliness of the product. Graphic icons created are in geometric shapes to accentuate modern feel and clean look.
Objective: To increase interaction of children in the age group of 6 - 12 and nature.
Help them become more aware about importance of nature by emphasizing plants are live organisms.
Step I: Mindmap and Persona
Problem Set: Our cultural disconnection from the natural world (facing down apathy growing awareness)
User Group: Children between ages 6 - 12 in a developed market scenarios (US or South Korea)
Frame: How might children of 6 - 12 acknowledge the importance of nature?
What system or products could we provide age group of 6 -12 to raise interaction with nature?
In what ways might a product raise awareness for role of nature in our planet?
How might 6 - 12 year olds gain daily access to internet with nature?
Made 3 sets of mindmaps using keywords: Daily Lives, Ourdoor Activities, and Indoor Activities, and tried to find appropriate activities that could be developed into product that could be naturally fitting within user group's lives. Created user example to create better understanding of users.
Step II: Ideation Mandala and Product Development
Created ideation mandala to specify key issues. Ideation mandala defines both key issues as well as emotional/physical pain points.
Once it was set, I immedeately moved to stage of product development. Ideas of products developed during this stage vary from concept of nature playground to plant kit.
Final two products narrowed down were Tree Heros Kit and Green Radio.
Tree Heros: A fun system that will reconnect children with nature. Users receive kits to grow their own trees and connection to an app which will monitor the tree and present it in tamagochi style.
Green Radio: A multi-functional product which brings nature indoors. Users grow edible plants indoors in a case where it is able to provide classical music and informative games.
Step III: Survey Questions and User Group Feedback
Modified Green Radio concept poster to create survey sheet with four crucial questions. The survey sheet contains its three crucial functions and sets of product contained in the kit such as green radio, seed, soil, nutrients, and plant pot. It was sent out via email to parents with children in age of 6 - 12.
In user group feedback, read the feedback from survey and drew insights from responses.
Step IV: Interface Icons and Catalog
Created mockup interface icon of three crucial fuctions: Plant mode, Game mode, and Music mode. Used pastel tones and clean geometric characters to accentuate modern look and friendliness of the product.
Plant mode: Tamagochi style of taking care of user's given plant. Plant pot has bluetooth technology which monitors plant's wellbeing to display in its plant mode. Children can react according to status of plants in this mode.
Game mode: As users gather points by taking care of the plant in the plant mode, users are given options to unlock new stages of games. The icons in the poster shows level one example game to be included in product.
Music mode: Product comes with classical music to help users focus while studying or relaxing.
Catalog shows different material options for Podwaves. Shows possibility of personal customization.
