_edited.png)
CHIARA BORTOLI
A Reflection of You
Individual Project - 2020 - 2 months
​
Autodesk Fusion - Maya - Arduino
Overview
A Reflection of You was designed to tackle the anxiety felt by students studying at home due to Covid-19. The mirror helps user understand and control their stress by notifying them when their stress reaches critical levels through colours. The user can use the mirror to see their stress through colour and sound, using this as a platform for meditation and returning to study once their stress is under control. It also introduces meditation in a digestible, visually engaging and multi-sensory format.
Design Process
// Research
The first portion of this project was developed as a collaboration, identifying and researching specific areas within the context of COVID19. From this research four primary design opportunities to assist people at home due to COVID were identified:
- Safe social interaction
- Motivation and engagement
- Healthy habits and routines
- Activities to de-stress and leisure time
​
For this project the primary design directive was to design for activities to de-stress and leisure time. Research was conducted to determine how studying from home effects the mental health of students and it was discovered that there has been a sharp increase in anxiety felt by students studying from home due to COVID19. Ways to monitor and physically display stress were explored leading to the discovery of Heart Rate Variability (HRV). HRV is the measure of time between each heart beat and has recently been identified as a way to track stress without the influence of external factors.
// Product Development
After completing my research it was determined that meditation is an activity which is widely misunderstood but incredibly beneficial for anxiety. Iteration began to develop concepts that could provide a medium for users to understand, learn and build upon their meditation skills. Thus, A Reflection of you emerged to introduce meditation into students daily routines. The mirror displays the users stress based of their changing HRV through lights and sounds in three levels:
​
Pink Light - Thunderstorm Sounds: Very Stressed
​
Blue Light - Ocean Sounds: Resting
​
Green Light - Bird Song Sounds: Relaxed
​
// User and Context
The unique combinations of lights and sounds works as a vessel for Focused Attention Meditation (FAM) which is a form of meditation shown to work best for stress-relief. By focusing your attention on an object you can more easily achieve a clear mind than without a specific focal point. Through design iteration A Reflection of You was developed to function as object which is easily integrated on a students desk, visually engaging to look at and minimalistic to keep attention drawn to a singular focal point. Additionally, ergonomics were considered deeply throughout this project which lead to the concept of the mirror being hinged on a 360 degree axis accounting for varying user heights and preferences.
// Prototyping
A functioning prototype was coded and produced. The model was created through a variety of different prototyping methods including 3D printing, laser cutting and woodworking. Code was integrated into the prototype using a variety of Arduino components. Additionally, a HRV tracking wristband was produced, designed to fit the average man and woman.
// Manufacturing
A Reflection of You was designed for manufacture, with an injection moulded HDPE base and heart rate monitor casing. The wooden frame was designed to be machine cut and glued.
Sustainability
A Reflection of You is designed to be fully disassembled at the products end of life to be correctly recycled or refurbished. The wood used is sustainably sourced and approved by FSC Australia.
Learning Outcomes
Complex physical prototyping and coding
Designing for COVID19 and mental health
Design for cost-effective manufacture
Design for disassembly and end of product life sustainability
Use of design narratives for design development