Overview
While technology has made communication effortless, it might also diminish meaningful interactions, particularly in long-distance relationships.
Our goal is to create a product that fosters deeper involvement between partners by integrating technology with a physical medium.
This product will visualize the connection and emotions in a tangible form, going beyond mere text communication.
Timeline
Mar 2023- May 2023
My Role
Product Designer ā User Research, Interaction Design, Visual Design, 3D modeling, UI Design, 3D Rendering
Product Focus
Industrial Design, Physical Product Design
Team
2 UX Designers, 2 UX Researchers
Problem Space
Distance creates challenges for communication and intimacy
Long-distance relationships (LDRs) pose challenges such as time differences, a lack of physical intimacy, and varying communication expectations. Despite these hurdles, phone calls and text messages often become the primary means of connection. However, there's a greater need for more meaningful ways to express oneself and maintain the bond.
User Research
What are the pain points for long-distance relationships (LDRs) couples?
We conducted 8 interviews with people in long-distance relationships (LDRs) for varying durations to understand the challenges they face and what helps them maintain the relationship.
Pain Points & Needs
Managing emotion, communication, and time difference is challenging
Ideation
Forging Deeper Connections through Innovating Emotional Bonds
Through different ideas, we've integrated various senses and mediums to express emotions, such as sharing songs with customizable lights, using a mini printer for weekly highlights synced to your partner's time zone, and an interactive key holder that lights up when your partner arrives.
Users Feedback
How users think about the ideas?
Users favored the keyholder idea, especially the small character representing their partner. They liked the warm notification light upon their partner's return home, signaling availability for communication. They also suggested adding digital features like an app or web platform for notifications even when one person is away.
Final Design
Memento - A wireless accessory holder designed for long-distance relationships
When one person is home and places a key or item on it, the other person's device lights up. It also displays the partner's location weather and time, providing insights into their daily life. Users can customize a small character representing their partner, and touching its head makes the partner's character blushāan expressive way to convey feelings of missing each other.
Retrospective
Takeaway
As the project's lead designer, I've learned that assigning the right tasks to the right team members is crucial for project success, especially in a hybrid projectācombining both physical and digital elements. like ours. Providing support and sharing knowledge with teammates who are new to this type of project has been essential in ensuring everyone can contribute effectively.
Next Steps
