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BRIEF & CONTEXT
This project came about to address the significant mental stress experienced by design students due to a demanding workload and a culture that normalizes unhealthy habits like all-nighters.
The core objective was to explore and use interaction design to bridge the gap between student well-being and the academic environment. Following research into student stress factors (such as lack of nature and work-life imbalance), the solution was conceived as a research-driven, three-zone experiential design project utilizing a multi-sensory approach to create a therapeutic haven for relaxation and recharge.
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DESIGN METHODOLOGY
UNDERSTAND
Brief Ideation.
5 Ws.
Gaps.
Stakeholders.
Assumptions.
Hypothesis.
RESEARCH
Primary Research.
Scope out college.
User Interviews.
Surveys.
Secondary Research.
ANALYSIS
Affinity Mapping.
Empathy Mapping.
User Personas.
User Scenarios.
BRAINSTORMING
Defining the Problem.
Brainstorming.
Post-it Sessions.
Illustrations.
PROTOTYPE
Visual Design.
Projection Mapping.
Space Design.
Sound Design.
USER-TESTING
User Testing Session.
User Surveys.
Analysis.
2. IMMERSIVE SANCTUARY:
This tranquil space is designed to offer passive relaxation and sensory immersion.
A serene indoor space with customizable nature projections, comfortable seating, and calming soundscapes for relaxation and stress reduction.
1. SOCIAL SANCTUARY:
This space is designed to foster social interaction and connection.
A serene outdoor space near the canteen, with comfortable seating, colorful reflections, and calming visuals. Upbeat music and board games foster social interaction and intellectual stimulation
3. INTERACTIVE SANCTUARY:
This space offers a unique blend of relaxation and active exploration.
A dark, immersive space with interactive projections of nature and calming sounds. This space encourages visitors to move freely and interact with the projections, fostering a balance between relaxation and playful exploration
This project proposes a three-zone approach designed to address student well-being and create a multi-sensory haven for relaxation. While each zone caters to different relaxation preferences, educational institutions and workspaces can have any permutation and combination of the spaces depending on the user group, budget, and resources available. Due to limited time and resources, we focused on building prototypes for 'The Immersive Sanctuary' and 'The Interactive Sanctuary'.
THE 3-ZONE APPROACH
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0407
PROJECT EXECUTION
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USER-TESTING & VALIDATION
The user study validated the project's hypothesis and confirmed a real need for a permanent multi-sensory space on campus to improve student well-being.
The data showed a clear reduction in stress levels, with scores shifting from the higher range (5-10) before entering the prototype, to the lower range (1-4) upon leaving. Users provided strong positive feedback, overwhelmingly finding the space calming, relaxing, and soothing, and highly praising the visuals, calming audio, and cosy ambience.
90.5%
users who wanted a similar space permanently implemented in the college for relaxation
100%
users who rated their stress level at 4 or below after leaving the space, demonstrating stress reduction
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REFLECTION
Despite having to make changes due to limitations, The Pause Project was still a success.
We successfully built a basic prototype of the multi-sensory 'Immersive Sanctuary' that helped students relax, which proved our initial hypothesis. This project let us explore multi-sensory and multi-media design, showing us the process of interaction design, and highlighted the importance of helping students deal with stress, confirming that multi-sensory immersive spaces can be a great solution.
Our flexibility and research-based approach allowed us to learn valuable lessons in finding alternative yet effective solutions, particularly through the use of 'jugaad' (creative improvisation) to overcome technical constraints.
Future steps would involve making the space better by adding more projectors, finalizing the 'Interactive Sanctuary,' and creating the 'Social Sanctuary' as originally planned.
The Pause Project:
Multi-Sensory Design for Mental Health
INTERACTION DESIGN
EXPERIENCE DESIGN
SPACE DESIGN
RESEARCH
PROJECTION & SOUND DESIGN
A research-driven, three-zone experiential design project utilizing a multi-sensory approach to address high mental stress. The successful prototype created a therapeutic haven for student well-being.
Team
Duration
Links
Abhishek.M, Garv, Nandini Seshan, Radhika Verma, Sharayu Badhe
3 weeks
