Umi 감성 연결 제품 by Sizhe Huang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2024 A' Design Award 철상 in 인터페이스, 인터랙션 및 사용자 경험 디자인 Competition Category.

철인터페이스· 2024

Umi 감성 연결 제품

by Sizhe Huang

Client: Sizhe Huang

A' Design Award 철상 Winner in 인터페이스 Category

20,225

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #154077

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Umi 감성 연결 제품

우미(Umi)는 추상적인 감정을 실재적 경험으로 전환하여 디지털 상호작용과 인간적 접촉 사이의 간극을 연결함으로써 디지털 커뮤니케이션을 재정의합니다. 연결성이 오히려 고립을 낳는다는 역설에서 영감을 받아, 감정을 구현하는 물리적 오브제와 촉각을 시뮬레이션하는 인터랙티브 기술을 통해 혁신을 이룹니다. 이 디자인은 햅틱 피드백과 감각적 소재를 통합하여 기존의 틀을 깨고 더욱 깊이 있는 인간적 연결을 촉진합니다. 우미는 보다 진정성 있고 공감적인 디지털 대화를 향한 전환을 구현합니다.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 철상

Umi 감성 연결 제품, 이 작품은 A' Design Award 철상 수상작으로, 잘 디자인된 창작물에 기대되는 전문적·산업적 요건을 충족하는 좋은 디자인에 수여되는 권위 있는 인정입니다. 철상 수상작은 창작자의 뛰어난 기술, 높은 전문성, 전문가다운 이해, 창의적 역량을 보여 줍니다. Umi 감성 연결 제품, 이 작품은 높이 평가받고 감탄과 사랑을 받는 창작물로서 실용적이고 혁신적일 것으로 기대됩니다. 이 철상 수상 디자인은 업계 모범 사례를 통합하며 노하우와 재능으로 연결된 유능한 기술적 특성을 갖추고 있습니다. Umi 감성 연결 제품, 이 작품은 철저함으로 존중받으며 삶의 질을 개선하여 세상을 더 나은 곳으로 만들도록 디자인되었습니다.

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