‘REFRACTED FUTURES/FLUX’, collaboration with global strategic design agency, Designit.
‘Flux (Refracted Futures)’ is my final MA thesis project, done in collaboration with global strategic design agency, Designit. It is an expoloration of possible future transitional objects that might help us reach a “smokeless” global society, through the application of play-based methods. It is an attempt to dream of a reality where there is no longer a social gap between smokers and non-smokers.
FLUX
‘Flux’ is a device that uses light to guide our breathing, mainly aimed at non-smokers to have their own way to join smokers, but through a mindful & healthy habit, that might influence smokers to shift towards it as well.
Through a digital app, users have access to more functions, beyond Standard Mode, such as the ‘FLUX creator’, that allows to create breathing/meditation programs that work inversely to Standard Mode. Instead of having the light react to one’s breathing flow, the user will have to follow specific breathing exercises by using the light as a guide. People can use this programs to try to achieve a specific mood or state of mind, which can also be stored and accessed at any time through the ‘FLUX grid’ . There’s also the option to share and explore other people’s FLUX creations through the ‘SUPER-FLUX’ tab, that grants access to a public grid. The device also has Bluetooth capabilities, that give the user the option to share their location and find other people in real-time, through the ‘FLUX finder’ tab on the secondary pop-up menu. This last function helps enhance the product’s social utility, kind of mirroring traditional smoking, used as a social facilitator.
(Standard Mode)
‘FLUX’ can be used in different types of situations and contexts, and also be used in different ways shaped by people’s unique needs. It can facilitate social interaction, provide with mindfulness, but most importantly, bring playfulness to the table :)
Co-designed.
A future envisioned through collaboration. Specific workshops were conducted in order to gather significant and sensible data. FLUX is the end result of a collective effort, driven by curiousity and multi-disciplinar approaches, focusing on using ‘play’ as an explorative tool that can produce meaningful results.
A thorough process.
Although somewhat affected by a threatening pandemic, a consistent, adaptative and iterative system allowed this collaboration to end up as a success story with partners from Designit.
Sketching.
Prototyping.
Iterations.
