09/06/22
Client name: Zisu (Allison)
Iterations of the Chosen Concept Prototype
Concept chosen: Attachable Noise-Cancelling Headboard
To iterate on my chosen concept prototype from the Develop Phase in order to present it to my client and our class, I decided on the form that the end product would take such that I could reasonably create it within the given two weeks. My chosen form was a scale model in Rhino 3D showing the geometry, material choices and features of the design, as well as an image depicting how the headboard would fit in its user environment (my client's bedroom). Additionally, I decided to create a small sample acoustic panel to demonstrate the material choices and functionality of the headboard's walls/frame. Thus, I aimed to present the design using a combination of digital and physical aspects since I would not have the time nor materials to create a full-scale model/prototype of the design.
Whilst developing these final forms for presenting, I conducted additional research into acoustics and noise cancellation and also asked for user/client feedback throughout the process. I then integrated these findings into my design by iterating upon both the digital model and acoustic panel. These iterations can be grouped into three categories:
Research and Iteration on Noise Cancellation Aspects
User Testing and Feedback on Height Aspect
Additional Features Based on Client Feedback
RESEARCH & ITERATION ON NOISE CANCELLATION ASPECTS:
My initial strategy for reducing the sound of the system involved using acoustic panels on the inner walls of the design. Through conducting research, I added to this initial idea by developing three main strategies to minimise the sound transmitted through the walls of the design and iterated upon my initial prototype and sketches accordingly:
1. Insulating Materials for Optimal Sound Absorption Through my research on the kinds of materials that would cancel out sound the best for the acoustic panelling, I learned that sound-absorbent materials reduce sound by causing energy to be lost from the sound waves. My research led me to a YouTube video that compared different materials used to make acoustic panelling, such as foam and towels, and found that the latter proved to block out sound the best. Since this material was readily available to me, I created a sample acoustic panel out of a painting canvas and cut-up towel squares. My process for creating this panel is shown below:
Additionally, I used an acoustically transparent black fabric material to cover the outer surface of the panel. This feature will help create a darker environment underneath the headboard and ultimately aid in the user's transition from wake to sleep without sacrificing the noise-cancelling capabilities of the panels.
2. Convex Wall Shape to Prevent Sound Concentration My initial chosen geometry for the headboard was a curved, dome-like shape with concave inner walls to maximise the space and minimise the claustrophobia a user might feel. However, after conducting research into how room geometry affects sound waves, I realised this shape would cause sound concentration at the center of the headboard (where the user's head would lie) by directing all the sound waves towards the middle:
Thus, I iterated upon my initial geometry and changed the walls to that of a convex shape. This shape would help scatter the sound waves in different directions and thus ensure they don't concentrate at a point and amplify the noise level. I kept the roof of the design flat rather than making it convex since the latter shape would likely increase the claustrophobia a user feels. I also made the roof tilt upwards at an angle to help increase the spaciousness under the headboard:
3. Decoupling Through the Use of Spacers Originally, I had planned to place the acoustic panelling directly on the walls of the design, or even make the walls out of acoustic panelling itself. However, upon further research, I learned that adding spacers between the wall/frame of the headboard and the acoustic panels would help reduce the sound transmitted through the walls. This strategy, known as decoupling, creates a gap between the two layers that allows the sound to reflect back and forth and lose energy, thus reducing its intensity. Hence, I added spacers between the frame of the headboard and the panels as follows:
USER TESTING, FEEDBACK & ITERATION ON HEIGHT ASPECT:
Based on the previous prototype I created and tested in the Develop Phase (involving a duvet cover placed over a drying rack), I determined a height of at least 60 cm would be comfortable for a user who doesn't experience severe claustrophobia. I asked for Allison's feedback on this height and she agreed that it would be comfortable for her too. Additionally, Allison gave me the dimensions of her headboard which were 200 by 70 cm, resulting in me setting the baseline height of the headboard at 70 cm. The roof of the design would also be able to raise autonomously through the use of a mechanical system as described in the Develop Phase. I set the width of the model to 200 cm to match Allison's bed width as well, but in production the width of the headboard could be varied to match different bed sizes (king, queen, double, single, etc.).
ADDITIONAL FEATURES BASED ON CLIENT FEEDBACK:
Based on feedback from Allison, I also decided to add various features to the design to help facilitate the process of getting to sleep. One such notable feature is the addition of a speaker that could play white noise or relaxing music/sounds, something that my client enjoys listening to before bed. I chose to place these speakers near the edge of the roof where it meets the side walls since this edge would be the least soundproof and would thus let in the most sound from outside. The speakers would therefore address this "noise-leaking" issue if put in use.
I also added a book pocket on the side walls to encourage non-screen-related activities, thereby addressing an additional concern I noted in the discover phase about Allison's screen use before bed.
Finally, the addition of a reading light in the roof of the design should help create a more relaxing environment by allowing the brightness and colour of the environment to be adjusted to the user's preference. A timer feature could also be added to turn off the light after a set time, thus encouraging the user to get to sleep once in bed.
Final Model and Client Feedback
The final model of the noise-cancelling headboard, created in Rhino 3D, is shown below:
To demonstrate how the model would function in its environment, I placed a render of it on a photo of Allison's bed:
After finalising the model, I shared my work with Allison and asked for her feedback on the overall design, including how well she felt it would address her sleep issues. Allison stated that she felt the light- and noise-cancelling features would help create an environment more conducive to sleep and the addition of the speakers to play white noise or music also contribute towards forming a relaxing environment for the user. Overall, her feedback was quite positive about how the design would ultimately help her fall asleep faster.
However, one notable concern Allison raised was the problem of changing her sheets and maintaining cleanliness with the headboard in place. If I were to continue developing this design, I would address this concern by making the design foldable and/or collapsible so that it could be easily put away while Allison cleans or changes the sheets. I would also look at using lighter materials to make this process easier, as well as materials that can be easily cleaned in case of dust collecting. For example, the fabric placed over the acoustic panels could be removable and washable to help maintain their overall cleanliness, and the frame could be made of laminate that can be easily wiped down.
Solution Rationale
In order to analyse the successes and shortcomings of my final design in addressing Allison's sleep problems, I reflected upon the How Might We statement I created in the Define Phase:
How might we design an environment that can help anxious overseas students feel more relaxed before bed so they can consistently get to sleep within 20 minutes?
I analysed my design in the context of each bolded phrase to evaluate how well my design addresses these key areas:
Environment:
My design addresses environmental factors associated with falling asleep, most notably the factors of light and sound. By utilising three key strategies for optimal noise cancellation and by using black fabric on the inside of the walls, the design effectively blocks out light and sound and thus helps create an environment more conducive to sleep. However, the design might not be effective at completely eliminating light and sound due to its open-ended shape. This shape was chosen to minimise the claustrophobia felt by the user and also increase accessibility since a more enclosed design would be difficult to navigate while getting in and out of bed. I learned the importance of compromise in design through trying to maximise spaciousness while minimising light/sound, with this open-ended shape being a prime example of such compromise. If I were to develop this project further, I would utilise full-scale prototyping and extensive user testing to achieve the geometry required for the most ideal balance between spaciousness and light/noise cancellation.
Anxious overseas students:
The target audience that I identified in my HMW statement is anxious overseas students. The design I created somewhat caters to this group by creating a more relaxing environment meant to ease students' anxieties (see below for rationale on this), but the design could also be used by other demographics such as domestic students or even non-student kids and adults. However, the design addresses loud noise levels which is a problem unique to my client's situation as an overseas student: the noise created by her family still being awake and her baby sister crying are a direct result of their differing sleep schedules due to Allison's classes being in a different time zone, thus requiring her to get to sleep earlier. Thus, the design helps cater to overseas students by reducing noise that they might experience if their sleep schedules differ from the rest of their household.
More relaxed:
The positive impact of the design is that users should feel more relaxed before bed through using the noise-cancelling headboard. For the majority of users, the design will help them relax by eliminating outside noise and light while also allowing users to adjust the lighting and noise/music to their preference using the reading light and speaker features. Additionally, the headboard encourages non-screen relaxing activities such as reading through the aforementioned reading light and book pocket features. However, the design may not be relaxing for users who experience claustrophobia as the design relies on having a "roof" over the user's head. To remedy this, the roof can be adjusted for height according to the user's preference and can autonomously raise overnight, but these aspects may still fail to comfort this specific demographic of user. Nonetheless, since my client and the people I interviewed are not claustrophobic, the design should still provide a relaxing experience for them and can thus be used by people who are comfortable with tighter spaces.
Consistently get to sleep within 20 minutes:
The quantitative metric for success, as defined in my HMW statement, is getting to sleep consistently within 20 minutes. Since the final design requires further development into a full-scale model/prototype before being used in proper user-testing, I can't yet quantify the success of my design by comparing it to this metric. If I were to continue developing this project, I would create a full-scale prototype for users to try in their own bedrooms and record how long it takes for them to fall asleep. I would continue this testing for around a week, thus allowing their bodies to adjust to the changed environment, and compare the results to how long it takes them to sleep without the design. If the users can, on average, fall asleep within 20 minutes while using the design, the design would thus fulfil this quantitative metric for success. I would also pair these numerical results with more qualitative data based on user feedback and interviews to ensure the design has the desired positive impact of helping them relax (as explained above).
Overall Reflection
Throughout the four phases of this project, from Discover and Define to Develop and Deliver, I learned valuable lessons about how the design process is applied in the context of working with a client to solve a problem. One major lesson I learned, especially during the Define phase, was the importance of addressing a specific aspect of a problem space rather than trying to address everything at once. Through the Discover phase, I found many different factors affecting Allison's ability to sleep that I wanted to design for, but often these factors did not relate to each other and would be difficult to try and address all at once. By choosing a How Might We statement that was focused on a few specific aspects of her problem space, I was able to take a focused approach in the Develop and Deliver phases and thus create a more effective design capable of fully addressing the chosen aspects.
I also learned the importance of communicating with your client at all stages of the design process, from gathering information through interviews in the Discover phase all the way to ensuring the chosen final concept met their needs in the Develop and Deliver phases. By asking for client feedback at each stage of the process, I was able to keep the HMW statement and brainstormed ideas relevant to Allison's problem space and address key aspects causing her sleep issues with the final design. At times, I feel I could have communicated more effectively by conducting more organised interviews throughout and by putting together surveys for her to fill out at each stage. For future projects, I'll be sure to incorporate these forms of communication at each stage of the design process to elicit even more effective feedback from my client(s).
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