Umi エモーショナルコネクション製品 by Sizhe Huang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award 鉄賞 in インターフェース・インタラクション・UXデザイン Competition Category.

鉄インターフェース· 2024

Umi エモーショナルコネクション製品

by Sizhe Huang

Client: Sizhe Huang

A' Design Award 鉄賞 Winner in インターフェース Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #154077

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The Design

About Umi エモーショナルコネクション製品

ウミは、抽象的な感情を具体的な体験へと変換することでデジタルコミュニケーションを再定義し、デジタルインタラクションと人間的な触れ合いとの間のギャップを埋めます。接続性が孤立を生み出すというパラドックスからインスピレーションを得て、感情を具現化する物理的オブジェクトと触覚をシミュレートするインタラクティブテクノロジーを通じて革新を実現しています。このデザインは、ハプティックフィードバックと感覚素材を統合することで従来の常識に挑戦し、より深い人間的なつながりを育みます。ウミは、より本物で共感的なデジタル対話への転換を体現しています。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鉄賞

Umi エモーショナルコネクション製品は、よく設計された創造物に期待される専門的・産業的要件を満たす優れたデザインに授与される、権威ある評価である A' Design Award 鉄賞の受賞作品です。鉄賞の受賞作品は、制作者の高い技量、高度な専門性、専門家としての理解、創造的な能力を示しています。Umi エモーショナルコネクション製品は、高く評価され、称賛され、愛される、実用的で革新的な創造物であることが期待されます。この A' Design Award 鉄賞を受賞したデザインは、業界のベストプラクティスを統合し、ノウハウと才能に結びついた有能な技術的特性を備えています。Umi エモーショナルコネクション製品は、その徹底ぶりで尊敬され、世界をより良い場所にするための生活の質の向上をもたらすよう設計されています。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Umi introduces a novel approach to digital communication by blending physical objects, the Pebble and Nest, with an intuitive app. It allows digital expressions to be felt physically, a feature absent in current communication tools. It makes distant conversations feel close and personal by turning virtual messages into real-world interactions through touch and presence. Umi's strength lies in its simplicity and making technology feel more human, offering a unique blend of emotional engagement.
Dimensions & Packaging: Product Dimensions:
Umi Pebble: Width 46mm x Depth 46mm x Height 16mm
Umi Nest: Width 40mm x Depth 40mm x Height 60mm
Umi App: Platforms Supported: iOS (iPhone) watchOS (Apple Watch)
Tags: Tangible Connectivity, Emotional Resonance, Digital-Tactile Fusion, Human-Centric Design, Sensory Experience, Virtual Intimacy, Innovative Communication, Personal Tokens, User Experience Design, Interaction Design
Production Technology: The Pebble uses haptic tech for a realistic touch feel, made from a tactile material boosting sensory interactions. The Nest has NFC and Bluetooth, linking easily to phones and playing voice messages instantly. The Umi and Apple Watch apps provide a cohesive digital journey, utilizing modern API and machine learning for live, tailored touch and voice exchanges.
Design Challenge: The challenge in creating Umi was twofold: ensuring it adapts to varied user environments while maintaining emotional authenticity. I strived to capture genuine feelings in a digital format, a task requiring a delicate balance between technology and human emotion. Additionally, harmonizing tactile feedback with visual elements was essential, aiming for a design that felt natural and intuitive across different scenarios, enriching the user's emotional experience without compromise.
Research: Through expert interviews and user surveys, I explored the role of tactile feedback in enhancing digital communication’s emotional depth. The objective was to blend physical sensations with digital interactions, addressing the lack of warmth in current technologies. The research identified a demand for features like haptic feedback and personalized avatars, leading to Umi’s development. User testing of prototypes refined the design, emphasizing simplicity and emotional connection.
Inspiration: Umi is born from a digital paradox: in our hyper-connected world, we find ourselves ensnared in a web of loneliness. This revelation emerged from a deep dive into the digital age's impact on human connection, uncovering a stark absence of tactile interaction. Inspired by the enduring power of simple human gestures, from the warmth of a handwritten note to the comfort of a gentle touch, Umi aims to reintegrate these sensory experiences into digital communication.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2022 and finished in June 2022 in Los Angeles.
Operation Flow: Start with the Umi app to personalize your Pebble and Nest, and invite friends to participate. After exchanging Umi sets, users link their devices with the app. Interactions through Umi are intuitive: a touch on the Pebble sends a signal, creating a physical sensation of touch for the recipient through their device. Voice messages are similarly easy to exchange, with the Nest playing the message upon placement of the phone. This setup enables straightforward, tactile, and auditory communication, enhancing the way users connect from afar.
Team Members: Sizhe Huang
Image Credits: Sizhe Huang