Award winning design solution for the Winter 2023 Alpha Theta Delta Hackathon.
collaborators - faith ong ian wang yotam govrin
Context —
During the past 3 years, the coronavirus pandemic ushered in a new era of remote work for millions of employed Americans. The development of new online tools that enable structure, communication, and efficiency, for teleworkers has paved the way for the future of working from home.
However, this emphasis on productivity and constant online access has resulted in new challenges regarding separation of work and life. Without clear space distinctions, workers are now feeling new levels of pressure to work around the clock, making it more challenging to create boundaries that emphasize healthy living.
More specifically, workers experience high levels of burn out, limited personal lives, and general unhappiness. As our generation emerges into the work force, never having worked in the workplace, it is important to explore and understand the purpose of a distinct working environment to help mitigate work life balance.
How Might We —
Help young working professionals create distinctions between work and rest spaces in order to maintain a healthy separation between work and life in at home working environments when that physical space is the same?
Research —
The importance of a distinct work climate
“Unless you are careful to maintain boundaries, you may start to feel like you’re always at work and losing a place to come home to” — Harvard Business Review
Using the senses to connect to the work environment
“embodied cognition” - our bodily sensations help determine the decisions we make without conscious awareness — Harvard Business Review
Ideation —
Wanted to create a product with the feel of clocking into work, but with a more streamlined feel. Our team drew inspiration from smart home products like Google Nest.
Final Solution —
A control hub designed to customize your work environment through lighting, music, and scents to better improve productivity, and improve mental state associated with working from home.
Setup and customize your work environment
Use the app to customize your environment through sound, scents, lighting, and temperature.
“Clock Out” to end your work session, de-activating your customized work climate and transitioning out of work mode.
“Clock In” to indicate the beginning of a work session, activating your customized work climate created through Liminality.
Liminality in-home setup.
Storyboard illustrating user flow
Reflection —
As one of my first few design sprints, i learned how to both work well with my team as well as gain confidence in my own design skills. I was able to use that to bring something to the design, and make something I was proud of. I also learned through this project how to have fun and put less pressure on my designs.
For future iterations of this solution, I would like to incorporate additional features such as color variations, additional environment changes, power improvements, lightning, and card designs.