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As a lead designer, I navigated designing 'HEAR ME OUT' which is a service designed to revolutionize the way we engage and connect in the digital era. This project was achieved by using tools like Figma, photoshop, Canva, Miro, Capcut. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, the need for meaningful social interactions is more crucial than ever.

Introduction:
A survey by Cigna shows nearly 1 in 6 Americans reported feeling lonely or isolated. That means these conditions likely affect either you or someone you know. Social connectedness is on a decline since the past 20 years.
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SOURCE: Solving the country’s loneliness crisis would make Americans healthier, fitter and less likely to abuse drugs
BYCLAY MARSH AND THE CONVERSATION, July 15, 2023
The Brief:
Social interaction is a basic human need, just like food and water and so, how might we foster Social Interaction amongst individuals.
Solution
We are solving for Social Connectedness by developing effective and accessible means of communication that allow individuals to maintain social connection, access necessary support, and combat the negative effects of isolation.
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Understanding the Problem
01
We are Solving for Social Isolation
02
How we are solving for it.
A survey by Cigna shows nearly 1 in 6 Americans reported feeling lonely or isolated. That means these conditions likely affect either you or someone you know.
SOURCE: Solving the country’s loneliness crisis would make Americans healthier, fitter and less likely to abuse drugs
BYCLAY MARSH AND THE CONVERSATION, July 15, 2023
By developing effective and accessible means of communication that allow individuals to maintain social connection, access necessary support, and combat the negative effects of isolation.
03
What is Social Interaction
“Social interaction is a basic human need, just like food and water”
SOURCE: Rebecca Saxe, Neuroscientist, MIT
04
Why are we solving this
50% U.S. adults report experiencing loneliness.
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Lacking social connection can increase the risk for premature death as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day
Initial Research
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Read approx 420 articles
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4 weeks, 36 hours of Desk Research
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40+ Research papers
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5+ hours of videos
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Attended 2 seminars
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Factors that led us to solving for social isolation
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Numbers that support our objective
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Factors that shape Social Connection in Individuals and Community
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Shifts in Social Connection: Pre-pandemic, Pandemic and Post-pandemic
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Insights from Literature Review
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We identified six factors that affect a social setting of an Individual
01
Loneliness
Loneliness is highest among young adults & lower-income households. Being married or having a domestic partner, lower the chances of experiencing loneliness.
03
Stigmatization
Stigmatization can have a devastating impact on individuals, leading to social isolation and exclusion. This can contribute to the development of depression.
05
Depression
Percentage of adults in the US who stated they always or often felt anxious, depressed, or lonely in the past 12 mongths as of 2022, by age
02
Health
Social Isolation raises Cardiovascular Risks & Hypertension accelerating dementia & cognitive decline. Social support lowers the risk of health problems.
04
Body Image & Type
Social isolation in youth impacts academic and cognitive development. Teen body Image: social media and peer pressure fuels anxiety.
06
Economic & Social Status
Individual and Community Factors Shape Social Connections. Young city dwellers are at higher risk of loneliness
SOURCE: 2020 Consensus Study Report, National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine

Source: Kaiser Family Foundation; CNN
Observational Videos
The utilization of observational videos provided us with a comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand. Through this approach, we were able to engage with individuals from diverse age groups and gain insight into their behavior when experiencing loneliness from three distinct perspectives.
Video 01
Understanding if people are okay having open discussions about loneliness in public
Location: Maryland, Baltimore
Date: 14th September, 2023
Duration: 3 hours

Takeaways:
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The presence of a simple sign inviting conversation prompted engagement
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There is a growing acceptance of discussing personal emotions in public spaces, yet there is stigma around it too, ‘trust’ being the main barrier in open discussion
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There is a potential for fostering a sense of community within the campuses
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Simple, public initiatives like these work to increase engagement in such spaces.
Video 02
The open area of a music show where people were socializing
Type of the Event: Music Show
Location: Brooklyn
Date: September 15th, 2023
Duration: 4 hours

Takeaways:
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Gathering at a popular point hoping to strike a conversation.
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It is difficult to talk to strangers
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Having a drink on you makes it comfortable to just hang around.
Video 03
Attended a musical event that promotes mental well being
Event: Sitar for Mental Health
Artist: Rishab Rikhiram Sharma
Date: September 17th, 2023
Duration: 2 hours

Takeaways:
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Music plays a significant role in fostering interaction amongst strangers.
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Elderly people who are living alone find solace in events like these.
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Music connects you with your inner self and promotes mental well-being.
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During the break, we were asked to interact with the person sitting next to us which fostered interaction.
User Research
Surveys: Demographics

People who are in touch with their close ones are also willing to talk to strangers. Can such people be used to initiate social interactions ?

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Diary Study
Day 01
Introduction
To understand the user and their motivations & to get an idea of their current routine and habits
Day 02
Task
To understand how the user feels about carrying out tasks that require efforts to socialize
Day 03
Reflection
To get an understanding of their idea of social isolation and how they tackle it
Errand Hang: It breaks the monotonous cycle, and makes my work a little interesting
Interactions with alumni and peers gives a sense of belonging, connection, knowledge and most importantly hope

self-expression ... helps me live in the moment and be fully present.
it was nice to have people come over because in the middle of conflicting thoughts i do sometimes have a tendency to spiral and overthink.
Hanim came over .... lovely spontaneous evening. He is a new friend who was introduced to me by someone else,
Social isolation is an epidemic that is invisibly encouraged by society as we cosy up indoors, everything at the touch of a button, not knowing our neighbours or meeting our friends,
enjoying the true fruits of conversation, mirth and sharing insights with friendships





Take away from
User Interviews

Developing Archetypes
x-axis: Social Behaviour
Apathetic
Enthusiastic
This group is indifferent towards meeting people. They either have no time to engage or love their own company. They are also separated by distance.
This group is eager and passionate to meet and interact with new people and their groups. They always want to be seen in social settings and get comfort from being around people. They are the initiators of the group.
Personality
y-axis: Personality
Introvert
People who are apprehensive about engaging with their physical environment and usually do not take initiatives to go out and meet other people.
People love to interact with other people and going out. They usually are the risk-takers and initiate plans.
Extrovert
Social Behav
Plotting the users


Categorization

Final Archetypes






5 E Framework

Pain Points
Enter
Entice
Experience
Exit
Extend

Opportunity Area
Final Insights





Area Exploration
Exploring How Might We's
How might we develop social skills?
How might we create a sense of community?
How might we connect people who are distant?

ITERATION 1
Concept Testing A Music Box
The objective is to create a memorable and shared experience that leverages physical interaction, music, and the natural environment to foster connections between people in an engaging and innovative way.
How might we create a sense of community through physical interaction and synchronized music experience that fosters social connection in a natural environment?
Tool: Low Fidelity Images of the concept generated through AI
Solution: Introducing an interactive and music-infused experience through motion-enabled boxes. When individuals, especially strangers, sit on these boxes, they come to life with personalized music, creating an engaging platform for spontaneous connections.The solution is a fusion of physical interaction, music, and the environment, transforming these boxes into shared spaces that facilitate communication and the formation of meaningful connections between people.

ITERATION 2
Peer-to-peer Community Platform
The objective is to establish and optimize a peer-to-peer community platform, the Social Connect, dedicated to leveraging digital space for heightened social connectivity, support, and well-being.
How might we discreetly amplify user connections, foster support, and improve well-being within our peer-to-peer community through the seamless integration of breakout rooms, content sharing, and personal journals, ensuring a confidential and enriching experience for every user.
Tool: 2D sketches, low-fidelity wireframes
Solution: A peer-to-peer community is the main hub of support where individuals share their stories and experiences, engaging in conversations with other members of the community.
ITERATION 3
Resonance: The Museum of Sound
The objective is to create an immersive Museum of Sound that invites visitors to explore and experience the richness of sound in an engaging and interactive way. The goal is to enhance understanding and appreciation for the diverse aspects of sound, including its artistic, scientific, and emotional dimensions.
How might we harness the emotive power of music to curate experiences that entertain, heal, educate, and inspire, seamlessly integrating this musical journey into a transformative and immersive setting.
Tool: 2D sketches, AI Generated Images
Solution: Designing an immersive sound-based environment that not only evokes emotions and memories but also encourages visitors to connect with one another through shared experiences.

Echoes of Nature: An immersive room filled with sounds from various natural environments, designed with lush greenery, water features, and interactive lounges for discussions.
Whispers of the World: An enhanced exhibit celebrating the diversity of languages and voices, adorned with vivid cultural motifs and featuring storytelling booths to foster understanding and connection among cultures.


This innovative exhibit combines interactive sound installations with dynamic visual projections that change in response to sounds explored by visitors. It's designed to create a tangible representation of how sound affects our cognitive functions, emotions, and memories, with areas where sound directly influences visual patterns, colors, and movements on the walls and floors.
Landscape Analysis
Use this space to tell users more about yourself or to describe what your business does. Click to edit the text.
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