Dear,
Far Apart, But Close at Heart
product design, user experience & user interface design
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Families come in many different sizes, shapes, and distances, whether chosen or biological one thing is for sure: family is important. However, lives are becoming busier and disntance is increasingly separating family members. Whether separated by oceans and continents or simply a few towns, we do not spend enough time with family.
Abstract
While at first glance it may seem mainstream popular social media would bring familiesmembers closer together, it can actually create more distance among them. Social media only gives small highly selective—sometimes even superficial—glimpses into one's life, never showing the whole picture. Families who only keep in contact via social media are only seeing what everyone else is seeing—this includes bosses, co-workers, casual friends, other random people on the internet—and are missing out on a lot of one another's very real and personal daily lives. Social media is depersonalized, losing that touch of personalization and love that families deserve and depens on one another for.
The elderly, many with very limited digital literacy, often struggle with social isolation and feel left behind by their family members leading to sadness and depression that can follow them to their grave.
As a designer and member of a long distance family, I am seeking to bring families back into our regilar lives, hearts, minds, and homes, sustaining an emotional connection with family members across time and space. In an effort to include family members into our regular lives, I will design a smart homeware device that will allow family members to share a virtual space where moments of one another's lives can be shared with family. The smallest touch of personalization brings a while new level of meaningfulness to our communication.
Even the smallest moments to remind our family members that we love them and are thinking about them can change one's outlook on their entire day.
Thesis Statement: With time and distance seperating many families around the world, close emotional connections are lacking. I want to explore different ways familial communication can be made more authentic and personalized in a way that is inclusive of everyone, no matter their experience level with technology.
Dear,
Dear, is a smart homeware device designed for family members, near and far and of any age or experience level with technology, with accessible user interface and experience. Primary research—in the form of interviews and visits to peoples' homes—and secondary research—in the form of literary research and expert advice—has lead me to design a device, user interface, and user experience that is accessible and enjoyable for family members of all ages and experience levels with technology, including the eldery and the youth, assisting in closing the emotional divide between the two age groups. User testing has helped guide me and confirm the success of this project.
Dear, brings our families back into our regular lives, hearts, minds, and homes, displaying Today's Notes at all times as a reminder of their familial love. Family members can create thoughtful notes for one another that will be displayed on the recipient's Dear, device. After 24 hours, notes are stored in History where they can be revisited later to put a smile on one's face. One's favorite notes are palced in Favorites, where one can quickly access the ntoes that warm their hearts. Both Settings and Help are designed simply to ensure easy usability.
Device 11'h × 15'w x 2.5'd
Fusion 360, Adobe Photoshop, Figma
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