Individual (Graduation Project)

Research Planning, In-Depth Interview​, Literature review, Research Analysis, Ideation, Prototype, 3D Object Building

Literature review, In-depth interview, User evaluation, Ideation, Sketch, Prototyping

May 22 - July 20, 2017

- Research - 1.5 months

- Physical implementation - 2 weeks

The project started with a very open design vision—I want to make a contribution to a public awareness of issues surrounding depression; and to empower user to ask for help.

Preliminary research uncovered insight that existing solutions for mental health help (personal websites, catalog websites, word of mouth, health insurance plans, mental health apps) provide needed information, but require the first step to be taken by the depression sufferer. While further research showed that depression sufferers often lack clear understanding what is happening to them, and therefore don’t know in which direction to look for help. The solution to this dilemma is interactive public exhibit that allows a possibility of incidental discovery.

Extensive research covered 2 key areas:

- The experience of depression; and

- Problems depressed people face in interpersonal relationship.

The latter was chosen in order to tackle and understand stigma surrounding depression, since stigma lives in the context of people’s relationships.

Apart from desktop research, which was focused on understanding depression from a medical, academic and economic points of view, a series (14 in total) of semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted for the project. Interviewees represented 3 groups of people:

- Depression sufferers—past or present, professionally and self-diagnosed;

- Relatives of [past or present] depressives;

- Depression “non-believers”—people who consider depression a lack of willpower, not a mental disorder.

The primary goal of interviews was to deeply understand position of interviewee towards depression—general understanding of what clinical depression is, major problems encountered during experienced or observed depression, position towards “lack of willpower” vs “mental disorder” and so on. Interviews lasted between 30 mins to 1h 48 mins long. Each interview has been conducted in full privacy in person or via Skype.

In-depth interviews were a critical part of the research for this project. They helped to develop a better understanding of depression through a personal experience, rather than factual information, and arouse a much greater empathy within researcher.

A vast number of findings and patterns was discovered during the interview process. They were narrowed down to three key insights:

Because of the lack of available information and gradual nature of depression, it is extremely difficult to categorize changes that are happening within oneself as a depression.

While depressed person is in the search for answers her/himself, they have to somehow communicate what is going on to them to at least a close social circle.

Naturally a close social circle is willing to help depressed person, when they notice negative changes in the behavior—by giving advice, offering different perspective or just cheering up. The complexity of depression is usually extremely high, so almost no advice is relevant and often even worsen a situation.

Lakoff and Johnson in their famous Metaphors We Live By book note that we perceive abstract world through metaphors. Based on research currently there is no one widely available and accepted metaphor for depression. In order to move project forward, it needed to be confirmed with users if so far accumulated information and insights make sense.

Through low fidelity prototyping a test version of “journey” metaphor was created—life is compared to a car journey, while depression is the ride on one of the scariest roads on Earth.

Anonymous testing through Google Forms showed that even if only 43% (n=14) of respondents agree that this metaphor describes the experience of depression sufficiently, both depression sufferers (71%, n=14) and relatives of depressed people (90%, n=10) agree that this metaphor can help them better communicate about depression.

Brainstorming and ideation helped to narrow down to a much clearer design criteria:

- Something that conveys idea of life—moving, breathing, living;

- The thing itself looks “stuck” or not working as expected;

- The thing “tries” to get unstuck by doing some actions;

- The most obvious action to take should not result in expected outcome—challenge assumptions;

- More subtle ways of interaction (non-invasive help) should result in a desired outcome.

To convey idea of life 2 bobbins with a belt were chosen - when we see such mix of items, we unconsciously know how they should work—bobbins are rotating and moving the belt. Therefore is they don’t act as expected—we know something is wrong.

A digital screen with constantly running codes is representing idea of a sufferer working internally on their problem. It’s almost like in order to get out of depression a sufferer needs to find 8 unique numbers that would make up their own unique code.

Each sequence of code is connected to bobbins trying to move, but not being able to do so. They are stuck.

In order to provoke a user for an action, there is a keypad right next to a screen. User can try to type in any code she/he wants in order to unlock machine. For “the most obvious action” keypad + digital screen were chosen, based on assumption that when we see a mix of these 2 items we unconsciously know that they are connected.

The concept of non-invasive help narrowed down to 3 actions—touch, listen and stay. Touch as physical or metaphorical touch - a hug can be more meaningful than a hundred words. Listen as in listening non-judgmentally. Stay as in being present, staying in no matter what.

There are 3 sensors hidden within the object. A metal plate connected to a touch sensor. 2 other sensors are distance sensors, and are located at different areas of the machine. One is behind the machine, so if user is standing behind the machine—it activates the sensor. The other one is hidden within the speaker that narrates pieces of real interviews re-recorded by voice actors. Leaning down and listening for the speaker for few seconds would trigger the sensor.

Activation of each sensor triggers motor movement (in bobbins) for ⅓ of the full speed. The action is cumulative, so if all 3 sensors are active, bobbins run full speed.