Miles Watch
Designing an intuitive interface for Samsung Galaxy Watch5 to help individuals with special needs manage stress and promote mental well-being.
Overview & Goal
The project centers on a user who faces a rare condition that causes her to "zoom out" and become paralyzed when her stress levels spike. The goal was to create a tool that empowers her to recognize these moments more easily and manage stress before it escalates, fostering a better sense of independence.
Methodology
Conducted ethnographic interviews with the primary user and semi-structured interviews with a psychology student to deepen research into stress triggers.
Analysed scientific articles focusing on psychological/physical impacts and effective management techniques.
Created data cards from research to cluster information and identify common relations between symptoms and triggers.
Ideation & HMW
To move from research to design, I framed the challenges using "How Might We" (HMW) questions, focusing on neutralizing triggers and giving the user a sense of agency.
- HMW neutralize short-term stress triggers?
- HMW distract users from long-term stressors?
- HMW help users feel in control of stress?
- HMW reduce procrastination?
Short-term Neutralization
Stress sensors for real-time monitoring and behavioral tools like breathing exercises or "psychological sighs."
Long-term Distraction
Sleep tracking, exercise reminders with motivational triggers, and social calendars to promote engagement.
Sense of Control
Symptom awareness via stress-tracking questions (e.g., "Is your posture straight?") and educational modules.
Productivity
Integrated task scheduling and to-do lists to reduce the stress caused by disorganization.
The Final Interface
Features a "Show my stress level" swipe option. This helps the user recognize rising stress levels—something she previously struggled to identify—giving her immediate control.
A prominent red button for moments of overwhelm. It allows her to quickly call or text a family member or therapist, supporting her journey toward independent living.
Built-in to-do lists and monthly stress pattern overviews help her stay organized and reflect on her mental health journey.
Testing & Iteration
I conducted two rounds of testing with five participants each. The feedback was positive regarding the calming green color scheme and the artistic line art, which users felt added a personal, non-clinical touch.
Future Work:
Future research should focus on developing a mobile application capable of tracking monthly progress, providing comprehensive data overviews for both patients and their medical providers.