Science & Tech
First off, what is aromatherapy? Lately, essential oil diffusers seem to be popular in the wellness world, especially the ones with Himalayan salt bases. According to Johns Hopkins, aromatherapy is a practice of using essential oils for therapeutic benefit. " Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils for therapeutic
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Haptics have become a feature of many phones in recent years as a form of accessibility and engagement. How could haptics continue to spread into more spaces of the market like wellness? In an article from Dijka et. al, the subject of how combined audio-tactile stimulation could be studied,
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What is Bilateral Stimulation? In short, it is the term for a type of stimulation that engages both hemispheres of the brain. Commonly used in EMDR therapy, how might bilateral stimulation be a helpful tool for grounding and relaxation in times of discomfort? " Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
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Could prolonged commutes be tied to declining academic thriving? An article from Ding and Feng (2022) seems to show a potential relationship between commuting for approximately 20 minutes and declining academic test scores. How might we design a backseat environment that could potentially mitigate these impacts? "Besides commuting time,
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This conjecture consists of different signs that could be placed at state parks to discourage littering and encourage visitors to stay on official trails. While creating the signs, I tried to employ the techniques discussed in the paper by Rice et al. on graphic design in park signs (2023), including:
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One issue that cropped up when researching children in cars was the framing of time. As explained by Ruth Ogden, "a five-hour car journey may feel longer to a five-year-old than to a 50-year-old, simply because it is a greater proportion of the five-
Science & Tech
When designing for children, designers may convince themselves that they must give the entire solution. However, education on how to handle the problem could be just as effective in the long term as a pre-packaged solution as explained by Lovino, Koslouski, and Chafouleas: The acquisition of self-soothing skills
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If you've every driven with a kid in the backseat you know all too well the infamous phrase "are we there yet?". The car is a microcosm for many issues that children face as seen in the article "Are we nearly there yet?" from
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Nowadays, child protection features are a main selling point for many vehicles such as family SUVs. However, this wasn't always the case. Critiquing these early attempts to protect and entertain children in the backseat of cars could give insight to design pitfalls only visible in the back mirror
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With the advancement of entertainment technology, the incorporation of screens into car entertainment was inevitable. However, the implementation of said screens has been anything but graceful for a multitude of reasons. Analyzing these reasons could give insight to needed improvements as more advanced entertainment technology is implemented in vehicles. This
Science & Tech
When visiting metro parks, I encountered several interactive educational stations. In my experience at science museums, as well, interactive exhibits have always been popular. They're engaging, and turn concepts tangible. Considering an interactive component to help educate state park visitors on low-impact practices, I looked for writing
Science & Tech
As designers, one of the most common traps while creating solutions for a client is assuming that you operate on the same wavelength as them. While designing for children, one must consider the difference in psychology, motor skills, and logic development as shown by UX designer Andrew Smyk: I have