Wyth
The nature of our devices is conditioning us to flee from the discomfort of vulnerability, solitude, and conversation for merely the “feeling” of connection. This flight is diminishing our social-emotional development, capacity for empathy, and our ability to have conversation. Conversation is key to forming healthy relationships with ourselves and others, but good conversation is hard, and seems to come by chance. Can we foster better conversations through design?
Wyth is a smart “question jar” and dining table that catalyzes conversation through carefully designed printed prompts and questions to get a group of people into exceptionally entertaining and meaningful conversations. Created for parties, restaurants, & homes.
Client
Personal
Date
June - Aug 2018
Scope
12 weeks (Focus: Story, ID, UX/UI)
Brief
Develop a visionary product that embodies you as a designer.
Breaks the Ice
If you have someone new to the table - To whatever game you choose. Hey adds a series of silly or provoking ice breaker questions into the questions cue to warm up conversation. Questions to welcome and warm up conversation.
Deepen the Conversation
Designed for Reflection
Hey creates a series of provoking questions or prompts through script and art. Ranging from categories such as: Relationships, family, career, identity, etc. past experiences.
The prompts are designed to allow the reader to naturally reflect or relate the image or script to their personal experiences. - gently inviting everyone to share important bits of themselves in an intimate and playful atmosphere, that might otherwise go neglected.
Connect to the App
Sync
The host can connect to the Hey printer via app at the beginning of a meal or gathering.
Browse Content
They can browse through a number of designed conversational content that the group could collaboratively choose from.
Edit Questions
You and your friends could also collaboratively add their own questions into question cues, or edit existing one. Giving you the opportunity to add questions you love, or to just simply want to add - to prank your friends, or family.
Sponsored Game
Hosts can subscribe to have access to unlimited content that’s constantly updated with new games or prompts such as sponsored content from “The School of Life” or “Cards Against Humanity” to keep the fun and conversation going.
Internal Printer
A thermal printer rids the need of ink refills, and provides the “physicality” for each prompt. The Cover has a spring loaded button to allow an easy opening experience.
Charge & Go
For Parties, Restaurants, & Homes.
Easily Assembled & Disassembled
Accessories
Process
Why a table?
I wanted to create a "physical space" for people to gather around the natural social ritual of eating "together".
The table itself becomes a statement piece that could naturally become a way to share the brand to continue the conversation of "Conversation".
Exploration
Exploring shapes and forms to capture trend and visual brand language. Also exploring ways the central thermal printer would manifest itself while thinking through ways to protect it from spills.
Inspiration
The image that came to mind that I thought would effectively tell the story of the brand was a mouth, which became the perfect image when associating it with the idea of “conversation”. It also evoked a humorous yet innocent character that was reminiscent of lips talking.
Table
Printer Refinement
Component Package Overlay & Form Development
Printer Interior Components | W.I.P
Making Process
I explored a few mockups honing the size and ergonomics of grabbing the paper from the central printer. Testing different percentiles of people, and ease of use from each side. For the final model I had the table top done by a CNC machine, and found precision dowels for the legs. I chose Ash wood for both the legs and the top, sanded and then sealed with a wipe on Water-based Polyurethane.
