Research

In the context of the future home with GE's Appliances products, the focus of this sponsored project requested us to analyze and study what health and wellbeing means for North American users and how to achieve a healthier lifestyle in their daily living. During our research, we combined secondary and primary research methods including a specific survey to have a deep understanding about health and wellbeing of Americans.

Only 13% of Health Care Professionals predict that US health would be very good or excellent in ten years, and half of HCPs said they have patients who think they know a lot about healthy living, but actually do not. Moreover, in the next decade three key forces will inform and influence people health care and wellbeing:

Access to healthcare will change from provider-centered to person-centered.
A better integrative system of health care will include the external factors that will be well beyond the walls of the clinic or hospital, such us housing, family support, food, wealth and education.
A shift in technology, from assistive to empowering devices, will rely heavily on the people/patient’s willingness to take a proactive role in managing their health (2016 First Future Health Index Research in US).

Research

In the context of the future home with GE's Appliances products, the focus of this sponsored project requested us to analyze and study what health and wellbeing means for North American users and how to achieve a healthier lifestyle in their daily living. During our research, we combined secondary and primary research methods including a specific survey to have a deep understanding about health and wellbeing of Americans.

Only 13% of Health Care Professionals predict that US health would be very good or excellent in ten years, and half of HCPs said they have patients who think they know a lot about healthy living, but actually do not. Moreover, in the next decade three key forces will inform and influence people health care and wellbeing:

Access to healthcare will change from provider-centered to person-centered.
A better integrative system of health care will include the external factors that will be well beyond the walls of the clinic or hospital, such us housing, family support, food, wealth and education.
A shift in technology, from assistive to empowering devices, will rely heavily on the people/patient’s willingness to take a proactive role in managing their health (2016 First Future Health Index Research in US).

Research

In the context of the future home with GE's Appliances products, the focus of this sponsored project requested us to analyze and study what health and wellbeing means for North American users and how to achieve a healthier lifestyle in their daily living. During our research, we combined secondary and primary research methods including a specific survey to have a deep understanding about health and wellbeing of Americans.

Only 13% of Health Care Professionals predict that US health would be very good or excellent in ten years, and half of HCPs said they have patients who think they know a lot about healthy living, but actually do not. Moreover, in the next decade three key forces will inform and influence people health care and wellbeing:

Access to healthcare will change from provider-centered to person-centered.
A better integrative system of health care will include the external factors that will be well beyond the walls of the clinic or hospital, such us housing, family support, food, wealth and education.
A shift in technology, from assistive to empowering devices, will rely heavily on the people/patient’s willingness to take a proactive role in managing their health (2016 First Future Health Index Research in US).

Key Values & Touch Points

To keep the balance in between needs and expectations, we designed a service solution that integrates digital detox, ambiance creation and mood expression for quality time & family interaction. Aim is to integrate sensors in the living environment for presence detection, smart surface to GE appliances for mood expression and connect app to the appliances to track the data.

Key Values & Touch Points

To keep the balance in between needs and expectations, we designed a service solution that integrates digital detox, ambiance creation and mood expression for quality time & family interaction. Aim is to integrate sensors in the living environment for presence detection, smart surface to GE appliances for mood expression and connect app to the appliances to track the data.

Key Values & Touch Points

To keep the balance in between needs and expectations, we designed a service solution that integrates digital detox, ambiance creation and mood expression for quality time & family interaction. Aim is to integrate sensors in the living environment for presence detection, smart surface to GE appliances for mood expression and connect app to the appliances to track the data.

A day in the Life

The Johnsons family has GE appliances in their kitchen. Motion sensors detect when each member of the family enters the kitchen area. When they are all around the kitchen, Aura is created with welcoming sounds and calm lighting to prompt the Johnsons to have quality time together. Ben grabs his mood kit and runs towards to GE surface on the dishwasher to create his mood of the day. Jack and Anne did not notice him while they were talking about their next week's plan.

A day in the Life

The Johnsons family has GE appliances in their kitchen. Motion sensors detect when each member of the family enters the kitchen area. When they are all around the kitchen, Aura is created with welcoming sounds and calm lighting to prompt the Johnsons to have quality time together. Ben grabs his mood kit and runs towards to GE surface on the dishwasher to create his mood of the day. Jack and Anne did not notice him while they were talking about their next week's plan.

A day in the Life

The Johnsons family has GE appliances in their kitchen. Motion sensors detect when each member of the family enters the kitchen area. When they are all around the kitchen, Aura is created with welcoming sounds and calm lighting to prompt the Johnsons to have quality time together. Ben grabs his mood kit and runs towards to GE surface on the dishwasher to create his mood of the day. Jack and Anne did not notice him while they were talking about their next week's plan.

User Journey

When Ben is done with his mood board Jack and Anne are notified by sound and they realized that Ben created something on the smart surface. Anne wants to ask why he put a sad emoji on his mood board. Ben told them about what happened today at kindergarten. Jack offers to play his favorite card game together. Ben feels relieved and happy when they spend time altogether. Jack and Anne track Ben's mood and compare with his previous charts. They also track their family's internet disconnection data & try to create more quality time together. The Johnsons family became the 'GE Family of the Year' according to the duration of their internet disconnection. They won a vacation where Ben desired most to see.

User Journey

When Ben is done with his mood board Jack and Anne are notified by sound and they realized that Ben created something on the smart surface. Anne wants to ask why he put a sad emoji on his mood board. Ben told them about what happened today at kindergarten. Jack offers to play his favorite card game together. Ben feels relieved and happy when they spend time altogether. Jack and Anne track Ben's mood and compare with his previous charts. They also track their family's internet disconnection data & try to create more quality time together. The Johnsons family became the 'GE Family of the Year' according to the duration of their internet disconnection. They won a vacation where Ben desired most to see.

Benefits

Serving the emotional needs of American families to set GE apart from its competitors.
Early detection of a child's emotional state to strengthen their wellbeing.

Takeaways

Balancing the needs of both GE and the end user was challenging.
Service solution included a variety of touch points for each user (child & parent).

Next Steps

We did not have a chance to directly communicate with the kids. The next step could be to 3D prototype the expression kit and demonstrate the sensorial experience in families real environment.

Benefits

Serving the emotional needs of American families to set GE apart from its competitors.
Early detection of a child's emotional state to strengthen their wellbeing.

Takeaways

Balancing the needs of both GE and the end user was challenging.
Service solution included a variety of touch points for each user (child & parent).

Next Steps

We did not have a chance to directly communicate with the kids. The next step could be to 3D prototype the expression kit and demonstrate the sensorial experience in families real environment.

Benefits

Serving the emotional needs of American families to set GE apart from its competitors.
Early detection of a child's emotional state to strengthen their wellbeing.

Takeaways

Balancing the needs of both GE and the end user was challenging.
Service solution included a variety of touch points for each user (child & parent).

Next Steps

We did not have a chance to directly communicate with the kids. The next step could be to 3D prototype the expression kit and demonstrate the sensorial experience in families real environment.

Survey & Interviews

During the primary research "health and wellbeing" survey is conducted to 104 people in America through Survey Monkey. The main purpose of this survey is to understand some of the demographics of the GE users as well as their perception and expectation about "health" and "wellbeing". In addition to that, 4 interviews were conducted with family members.

Survey & Interviews

During the primary research "health and wellbeing" survey is conducted to 104 people in America through Survey Monkey. The main purpose of this survey is to understand some of the demographics of the GE users as well as their perception and expectation about "health" and "wellbeing". In addition to that, 4 interviews were conducted with family members.

Survey & Interviews

During the primary research "health and wellbeing" survey is conducted to 104 people in America through Survey Monkey. The main purpose of this survey is to understand some of the demographics of the GE users as well as their perception and expectation about "health" and "wellbeing". In addition to that, 4 interviews were conducted with family members.

Target Group

Value Proposition of GE is described as "reliable partner that supports family life". GE has three segmented target group for this concept which includes organized, traditional and practical users. Based on GE's feedback, consumer insights and demographics from the research, we have specified our target group to "American young generation families with kids".

Target Group

Value Proposition of GE is described as "reliable partner that supports family life". GE has three segmented target group for this concept which includes organized, traditional and practical users. Based on GE's feedback, consumer insights and demographics from the research, we have specified our target group to "American young generation families with kids".

Target Group

Value Proposition of GE is described as "reliable partner that supports family life". GE has three segmented target group for this concept which includes organized, traditional and practical users. Based on GE's feedback, consumer insights and demographics from the research, we have specified our target group to "American young generation families with kids".

Mood Expression

When he gets closer to dish washer, the smart surface turns on and welcomes him. His smart magnets are designed to create a whole story with different emojis including emotions, personas, locations, and desires. Ben starts to create his mood board. He had fought with his friend in kindergarten and he had a bad mood all day. He needs a big hug from his parents but they have not even realized the situation yet.

Mood Expression

When he gets closer to dish washer, the smart surface turns on and welcomes him. His smart magnets are designed to create a whole story with different emojis including emotions, personas, locations, and desires. Ben starts to create his mood board. He had fought with his friend in kindergarten and he had a bad mood all day. He needs a big hug from his parents but they have not even realized the situation yet.

Mood Expression

When he gets closer to dish washer, the smart surface turns on and welcomes him. His smart magnets are designed to create a whole story with different emojis including emotions, personas, locations, and desires. Ben starts to create his mood board. He had fought with his friend in kindergarten and he had a bad mood all day. He needs a big hug from his parents but they have not even realized the situation yet.

System Artifacts

GE Aura combines digital and physical artifacts as part of the service solution. Sensors are used to detect the presence of the family numbers in the desired room. Smart surface is used on the variety of the GE appliances. Expression kit with smart magnets are provided to the family by GE. Smart appliances connect to the app and provides data of the mood board created by the child automatically. App is used to define the custom settings for family such as disconnection time, ambiance settings and goal creations.

Overview

GE Aura is a service design scenario that facilitates the expression of a child's implicit emotions to the parents including multichannel experiences for the future of healthy living within the context of the 2020 home with GE's Appliance products. GE Aura was awarded first prize scholarship after the evaluation of GE Appliances design team.

System Artifacts

GE Aura combines digital and physical artifacts as part of the service solution. Sensors are used to detect the presence of the family numbers in the desired room. Smart surface is used on the variety of the GE appliances. Expression kit with smart magnets are provided to the family by GE. Smart appliances connect to the app and provides data of the mood board created by the child automatically. App is used to define the custom settings for family such as disconnection time, ambiance settings and goal creations.

User Feedback

During the design process, we had feedback sessions with 4 interviewees and showed them user journey with storyboard.

Original design was to disconnect members from the internet when they entered the common room. They liked the idea of disconnection, but they preferred customized time for that instead of automatic disconnection.
Although parents liked the idea of mood expression, they were not sure how to keep the child motivated to use the smart surface. We decided to add award mechanism with goal settings after this feedback.

User Feedback

During the design process, we had feedback sessions with 4 interviewees and showed them user journey with storyboard.

Original design was to disconnect members from the internet when they entered the common room. They liked the idea of disconnection, but they preferred customized time for that instead of automatic disconnection.
Although parents liked the idea of mood expression, they were not sure how to keep the child motivated to use the smart surface. We decided to add award mechanism with goal settings after this feedback.