Future casting

LIFESTYLES & FUTURES

I DREAM OF THE FUTURE

Faina Iasen, 2019

contact info:

FUTURE CASTING labbook

by Faina Iasen, 2019.

THE BRIEF Currently we live in revolutionising times, despite most of it passes silently in front of our eyes, everyday we assist to gigantic companies being by passed by small startups with disruptive ideas that are completely shifting the scenarios of what we knew till yesterday. It is increasingly becoming a job of product designers to forecast such changes and react to them or even bend them to their will.

The disciplines that these skills are most closely connected are strategic and conceptual design. This is what this project is going to be about. You have to learn see patterns in what’s happening around you, to identify trends. Trend come in many forms. They can be economic, social, stylistic, technological, behavioural, environmental, or any combination thereof. Whatever one you’ll choose to focus on, make sure you explore all of its neighbouring fields to see how far reaching the pattern really is. As already mentioned, in this context you are working as conceptual designers and it would really be good if you can orient your design to inspire people to think differently, so, work hard! Think wild, go beyond any mental barrier and define new hypothesis that are logically and rationally sustained by your research work

PROJECT TIMELINE

history research trend surfing trend sorting trend of choice research problem analysis problem ideation problem statement

TREND /trɛnd/

a general direction in which something is developing or changing.

A trend simply reflects what seems to be going around at any given time.

A trend can be in any area and doesn't only reflect fashion, pop culture and entertainment. There can also be a trend in the stock market to be bullish or bearish, depending on economic indicators, or a political trend reflecting a nation’s current mood. Some trends are fun, some fabulous, some appalling, but however long they last, you can be sure there will always be a new trend coming along to replace the old.

I'm going to surf the web for interesting articles predicting and highlighting trends to see what's out there. Areas I'm interested in will be highlighted with colour while the rest will stay in greyscale:

interesting area

neutral area

TECH TRENDS THAT WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE!

by Edoardo Zorzoli

80% of people on earth will have a digital 1 trillion sensors will be connected to presence online by 2023. the internet by 2022.

90% of the global population will have a Driverless cars will account for 10% of supercomputer in their pocket by 2023 all cars in the US by 2026.

The first implantable mobile phone will become commercially available in 2025.

More and more people will gain a digital identity as internet connectivity becomes more prevalent. Respondents estimate that by 2023, more than 80% of the global population will have a digital presence. To give a comparable figure, at December 2015 the Global Digital Presence was just over 40%! Digital life is becoming inextricably linked with a person’s physical life, and will only continue to grow in importance.

Around the world people are increasingly using their smartphones more than PCs, and in developing nations people are becoming connected to the internet for the first time via their mobile phone. As smartphones gain computing power and the price continues to fall, the speed of adoption will only accelerate.

Do you feel attached to your smartphone?

The device will potentially be able to track a person’s health more accurately, while also allowing them to communicate thoughts via brainwaves or signal instead of verbally. Implantable health devices, like pacemakers and cochlear implants, have already become more mainstream. And it’s likely we’ll see more widespread adoption of implantable technologies emerge before 2025!

And we’re not only speaking about mobile devices, personal computers or Big Data storage systems: we’re talking about clothes, watches, glasses and in general many wearable technology tools! As the cost of sensors continues to decline and computing power increases, all kinds of devices will increasingly become connected to the internet. Everything will come online.

Autonomous cars bring numerous advantages to the drivers: they’ve an increased level of safety, a lower level of emissions and are changing models of transportation. Tech companies like Google and Uber are currently working on self-driving cars. But respondents predict that it will be 2026 before the 10% of all cars are driverless in the US.

THE FIVE TRENDS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF WORK

by Jacob Morgan

NEW BEHAVIOURS

TECHNOLOGIES

THE MILLENNIAL WORKFORCE

MOBILITY

GLOBALISATION

Ten years ago, if someone had told you that you would have all this information about yourself public for the world to read, see and hear, you would have said they were crazy. Now look at where we are: we are so much more comfortable living more public lives, we build communities, share, communicate, collaborate, access information, and shape our personal experiences.All these new behaviours are cascading over organisations, which is forcing them to make changes.

Big data, the cloud, the internet of things, robots, automation, video, collaboration platforms, and other technologies are changing the way we work and live.The cloud puts the power of technology into the hands of employees; robots and software are forcing us to rethink the jobs that humans can and should do; big data gives us insight into how we work and how customers transact with us; and collaboration platforms give us the ability to connect our people and information together anywhere, anytime, and on any device.

By 2020, millennials are expected to make up about 50% of the workforce, and by 2025 this number is projected to be 75%.

The important thing is not the fact that they might bring new approaches, ideas, values or styles of working, it’s that there are going to be so many of them.They are going to be the largest generation ever to enter the workforce. This is a generation of employees with technological fluency who are willing to live at home longer until they find a company they truly want to work for.In other words, organisations must shift from creating an environment where they assume that people need to work there to one where people want to work there.

Today, where you are located is starting to matter much less when it comes to being able to do your job.

As long as you can connect to the internet, the chances are that you can access the same people and information as if you were working in an office building. We are connected anywhere and everywhere we go, whether it be 35,000 feet in the air or in a coffee shop.

his is essentially the ability for organisations to work in a world where boundaries do not exist. The world is becoming just like one big city. The language you speak, the currency you transact in, and your physical location are starting to matter less and less.

You can work in San Francisco, yet have clients in Beijing or Melbourne; and the same goes for employees. Boundaries to working with anyone, anywhere are disappearing and this trend can only continue.

FIVE MAJOR TRENDS SHAPING PRODUCT DESIGN

by Neha Mistry

Pursuit of Exclusivity Sustained economic growth means more consumers with the financial means to seek out premium offerings.

At the same time, traditional displays of ostentatious wealth are becoming less socially acceptable.

More product offerings in every price range means that finding something “exclusive” is no longer just an option for the very rich.

Social media provides more windows into the range of what’s available, making connoisseurs of us all.

Experience More The constant connectivity afforded by mobile devices, social media, and ubiquitous wireless often makes services more accessible and convenient than goods.

The Access (or Sharing) Economy has introduced innumerable services that replace products with an interface that makes existing resources more accessible: Uber, Car2Go, Airbnb, Amazon, etc.

Consumers are recognising that experiences often deliver more happiness and satisfaction than physical products.

Quest for Convenience We increasingly understand that reducing stress and freeing up time is crucial to the quality of life.

High-quality apps and services are reducing people’s tolerance for complicated processes with numerous steps.

AI and predictive algorithms are improving, offering more ways to “skip to the end” of interaction and making instant personalization far more effective.

Technology is making it far easier to add intelligence to almost any product or interactionю As connected intelligence stops being remarkable, their real impact is ready to be felt.

Everyday Wellness A steady stream of research points to the important lifestyle choices have in maintaining good health — from physical activity and diet to stress management.

Online research and personal health tracking provide consumers with far more information about their own health than ever before.

A backlash to the traditional, paternalistic view of medicine has convinced many consumers to take health into their own hands.

The rise of “inconspicuous consumption” makes wellness-oriented purchases and experiences a key marker of exclusivity and sophistication.

Ethical Living Constant global media coverage is making us more aware than ever of issues of inequality and environmental damage — and consumerism’s role in them.

A wide range of ethically driven companies and products exist in almost any category imaginable, from sustainable shoes and dish soap to energy neutral hotels and culturally sensitive vacations.

Many of these options are relatively affordable, giving everyday consumers the ability to feel like philanthropists.

BIG TRENDS IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN TECHNOLOGY MOVING INTO 2019

by Cathy Wentz

Internet of things (iOt)

“Anything that can be connected will be connected.”An example of applications that could benefit you in the real 21st-century world includes building access to your calendar into your vehicle. So, if you are headed to a meeting, you could receive information about the best route to take.

Along with that benefit, what happens if you hit heavy traffic on your way to this meeting? This kind of interconnectedness has two advantages – you don’t tick off the people with whom you expect to be meeting and you don’t endanger yourself while driving by talking on your phone or texting yourself.

Augmented Reality

An example of current applications of AR is the IKEA Place app. You may have bought a piece of furniture in the past that looked “just right” in the store. However, when your much-anticipated furniture arrived, you realised that it did not work well at all with your home decor. With the IKEA Place app, you never have to worry about that happening again. The app provides you with the capability of scanning the room for which you are buying furniture. Then it places IKEA objects in the spaces you are considering for new pieces, That way you can determine whether a piece of furniture, wall hanging, or other decors really works in the space you are planning for it. You save time and money by not wasting either with purchases that will not work in the end.

Design with People in Mind

Product design trends do not just enhance the productivity and profitability of the industry, they affect the everyday lives of people. When you come right down to it, people are the reason any business creates anything. Businesses want people to buy their products and use them. Some of those products are geared toward those engaged in particular industries. An example of that would be technology geared toward space exploration or the healthcare industry. Other products are geared toward general consumer consumption.

Inclusiveness

Apparently, companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Facebook, among others, have committed to making their products or services more accessible to people of varying abilities such as those with cerebral palsy or other disabilities. It’s not enough to design wheelchair-friendly sidewalks and building entrances. Clearly, there are still inclusivity frontiers to be discovered that will improve the human experience for everyone. Assistive Technology helps the disabled to perform tasks that they would be otherwise unable to accomplish on their own. Such technology enables the disabled to enjoy more independence.

Artificial Intelligence

“Artificial Intelligence Design stands to become the most exciting design practice in the history of humankind. This practice does not exist yet, nor is there a school for it.

But luckily industrial designers, being nonlinear thinkers, and being able to cross platforms in true depth from sociology, ethnology, material science, ecology, biology, physics, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, software development, and so on – they are our best bet, and are the best-equipped people on the planet to tackle this complex task of making AI that is safe and good for humans.” - Branko Lukic

WHERE WILL UX DESIGN BE IN 5 YEARS? 5 PREDICTIONS

by Andrew Wilshere

New markets

UX design as we know it has evolved not only because of the ubiquity of smart technology (TVs, PCs, smartphones), but also because developed economies are increasingly focused on the service industry, where customer experience is crucial. What’s more, as big developing economies such as India and China grow richer, whole new markets will open up for UX designers.

augmented reality

Still hardly anyone will be using virtual reality products, except for novelty reasons.

We'll start to see some useful applications of augmented reality, adding, for example, extra navigation functionality to apps like Google Maps, and to aid translation between cultures and languages.

Voice User Interfaces (VUIs)

Voice user interfaces will become more important in our interactions with televisions, music players, and in-car phones and dashboards, but will remain largely ignored on smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Chatbots will start to have some useful applications, for example in online customer service. But user frustrations with these systems will mean that companies offering a “real human” will be able to trade on that added value.

effortlessness

Most services will no longer require you to remember passwords, but will instead use verification codes and other secure authentication methods. As effortless authentication becomes a user expectation, companies will need to overhaul the UI design of the authentication process.

UX design demand growth

Demand for UX design will expand to innovators tackling the small irritations of daily life – like remembering medication, having to struggle to find your keys to the front door, or choosing one of the 100 programs on your washing machine.

Whatever you find frustrating in your everyday life, that’s probably where UX designers will be needed next!

MACRO TRENDS

by LSN Global

ANXIETY REBELLION

Instead of numbing their anxiety with substances or indulging in other vices, Generation Z are turning emotions into actions, challenging existing societal structures like finance and business.

UNEASY AFFLUENCE

A collective backlash against ostentatious spending is fuelling new anxiety among luxury consumers. This is forcing luxury brands to rethink their products and services to be more social, accessible and supportive.

THE FOCUS FILTER

A race for attention is raging across media, advertising and culture in our era of non-stop digital distraction.

THE E-MOTIONAL ECONOMY

A new wave of sophisticated emodiversity is ushering in an era in which people are increasingly obsessed with how everything makes them feel.

GEN VIZ

Teenagers are no longer self-absorbed souls struggling through puberty. Abstinence and realness are the order of the day for these new social activists. Say hello to Gen Viz, the ultimate early adopters, powering the visualfirst culture of tomorrow.

TRENDSÂ :Â DESIGN DIRECTIONS

by LSN Global

IMPLICIT INCLUSIVITY

Designers are recognising the needs of disabled consumers, creating assistive products that are reduced to their most essential elements, with minimal visual distractions and noise.

NEW CONSCIOUSNESS

Responsibility is being rebranded. As businesses apply long-term thinking, a vibrant visual landscape is emerging that inspires action and optimism.

FUTURE FOODSCAPES

Amid growing consumer demand for transparency in food, designers are approaching visual communication in new ways and challenging traditional notions of authenticity.

MASCULINITY REBRANDED

The aesthetic of masculinity is changing.

Creative practitioners are looking at men more expansively, and are advocating a highly decorative and embellished style that is free from restrictive male stereotypes.

FEMININITY REBRANDED

Creative practitioners are abandoning tired gendered design cues to redefine modern female identity, and embracing a bold, vibrant aesthetic to communicate diversity.

TECHNOLOGY

1. SCIENTIFIC

The Global Brain

Next-gen robotics

Bio revolution

Cleantech

Smart cities

ECONOMICS

Rising economies

Glocalisation

Turbulent markets

Innovation hubs

New Markets

SOCIETY & ENVIRONMENT I'm not too interested in science. In a way that it fascinates me and I like learning something new and exciting, but I don't see myself actively engaging in activities connected to science or research except for those needed for the design projects I'm working on.

Crowded planet

Hyper urbanisation

Biodiversity crisis

Green innovation

Climate change

Resource shortage

POLITICS & LEGISLATION

Soft power

Radical openness

Health challenges

Public policies

TREND ATLAS 2030+ by Kjaer Global

2. SOCIAL

ORGANISATIONS

Lifelong learning

Work/life balance

COMMUNICATION

Social capital Education 4.0

Net neutrality

Social me

Cloud computing

Leap technologies

Real dialogue

Meaningful engagement

Society on the other hand is what I truly am excited about. I find it very rewarding to learn about how we as humans function and interact with others, how various elements of design may affect different sides of people's lives. I do communicate a lot through my designs and I see my future as a designer who not only creates objects, but designs experiences and meaningful interactions between the user and the product.

SOCIAL STRUCTURES

Redefined families

New parenting models

Digital natives

Global citizens

New creative class

No age society

Female factors

TREND ATLAS 2030+ by Kjaer Global

3. EMOTIONAL

A BETTER WORLD

Emotional aspect of design is another area I like to explore and experiment with. I find it fascinating how much can be communicated through emotions and how strong some emotional connections can be formed through design of objects.

One planet living

Considered consumption

WELLBEING Betapreneurship

Active living

Foodie culture

Body capital

Good causes

LIFESTYLE & CONSUMPTION

Cultural consumption

Inclusive design

The real thing

Collaborative communities

Authentic storytelling

Intelligent reduction

Smart living

TREND ATLAS 2030+ by Kjaer Global

Spiritual area is in my opinion closely connected to the emotional one and I find it difficult to separate them. But it still holds some level of individuality and to me it is more about a person's relationship with themselves rather than with others. I do see myself addressing this side of design (the experience design I'd say) and the interactions that can be evoked through this.

4. SPIRITUAL

UNIVERSAL AWARENESS

Economics for humans

Purpose-driven leadership

Enoughism

QUALITY OF LIFE Art-science convergence

Mindfulness

The good life

Anxiety society

Happiness hunting

TREND ATLAS 2030+ by Kjaer Global

AREAS AND DIRECTIONS I'D LIKE TO EXPLORE

I looked at all of the trends that caught my interest and decided to sort them into 4 categories to make the final choice easier as well as more informed. In each category I looked at each trend once again and managed to sort out most of the mildly interesting directions.

quest for convenience

new consciousness

considerate consumption

MATERIAL SPHERE

smart living

smart cities

enough-ism

design with people in mind

Material sphere in my categorisation is the one mostly concerning the physical material objects that one can touch and interact with. I consider myself to be quite inclusive and function-oriented when it comes to design, so the first two categories appeal to my personal principles and preferences.

The 'enough-ism' trend appeals to my minimalist side and to the functional once again. I really enjoy a good design that's though trough and where each detail has its place and purpose.

design with people in mind

CHOSEN DIRECTIONS:

enough-ism quest for convenience

no age society

millennial workforce

good causes

femininity redefined

lifelong learning

meaningful engagement

implicit inclusiveness

collaborative communities

mobility

SOCIAL SPHERE I was always low-key into social projects - take my Re(a)d project from level 4 for instance - so I was thinking of working towards that direction in this project as well. I think it might give me a better understanding of how projects like these are maid since now (a year and a half after Re(a)d) I'm much more experienced in the field of research and design process.

implicitly inclusive

CHOSEN DIRECTIONS:

millennial workforce

mobility

mindfullness

EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL SPHERE

the good life

experience more

work / life balance

anxiety society

happiness hunting

the focus filter

I picked this direction mostly for the reason of it's radical relevance to me personally at this time in my life. The balance between life and work is a very delicate topic and at the same time very complex as it touches all areas of one's life and involves a myriad of factors. I am not sure I will be taking on such a challenge in the scope of this particular project, but I would like to address it at some point in my education or career.

CHOSEN DIRECTION:

work / life balance

WHAT IS MILLENNIAL WORKFORCE ?

It would be helpful to start with a definition of a Millennial employee.

The 'millennial' generation is typically defined as those born between 1980 and 2000 [graph a.1], which means any worker between 20 and 39 years old as of 2019 is considered a millennial employee.

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1960

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2000

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41m

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a.2 53m Gen X

34.9%

56m Millennials / Gen Y

Millennials also represent the largest generation within the current workforce at 56 million as of 2016, surpassing 53 million Gen Xers and 41 million Baby Boomers [graph a.2]. Millennials not only represent the largest share of the workforce, they currently represent 20% of leadership positions — a number that is expected to rise.

today

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2000 - Baby boomers

2005

2008 - Gen X

2010 - Millennials

2015

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Millennials already are the largest segment in the workplace. Within the next two years, 50 percent of the U.S. workforce is expected to be made up of Millennials.

It will be 75 percent by 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Key Statistics About Millennials In The Workplace

by Mark Emmons, Oct. 9, 2018

MILLENNIAL WORKFORCE + MOBILITY /məʊˈbɪləti/ the ability to move or be moved freely and easily.

Some reports draw the conclusion that the lack of family ties is a great advantage to global mobility. It goes without saying that it is easier (and therefore less expensive) to relocate a professional without a family. It is equally obvious that younger workers are statistically more likely to be unmarried and childless.

Gen X Millennials

A more interesting observation would be to look at the other social factors that affect millennials as a generation (and not an age group), such as the decreased likelihood of owning a home and the fleeting nature of modern commodities. In many countries, home ownership is financially beyond many millennials. This is not just down to their age, but the fact they happen to have grown up at a time when property prices are at an alltime high compared to earnings. Renters are easier to relocate than homeowners, giving global mobility departments another reason to be pleased with the arrival of the Millennial generation

Gen X Millennials

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38%

45%

c.1

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51%

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According to Mercer’s spot survey on millennials in the international workforce, 91% of the multinational companies employ them in their globally mobile workforce [graph b.1], and millennials actually represent 38% of this globally mobile workforce on average [graph b.2]. That proportion is likely to increase, as reported by close to two-thirds of respondents.

As Mercer’s 2015 WIAPP survey indicated, a higher proportion of their short-term assignees were 35 or younger (48%) compared to those aged 35 and 55 years old (45%) [graph c.1] and 51% anticipated that the number of younger assignees would increase in the next two years [graph c.2].

WHAT, IF ANYTHING, IS PARTICULAR WITH THIS GENERATION IN MULTINATIONALS’ INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENT PROGRAMS? Let’s begin by how millennials differ from their older peers in the workforce.

Millennials usually: Are tech-savvy: they are comfortable with mobile apps, and are used to digital working and multi-tasking.

Have an international mind-set. They are used to travel and enjoy it: their virtual world has no boundaries, and for them neither does the real world.

Are used to a rapidly changing world, and thus often more adaptable, and in turn may demand more adaptability from employers. They certainly expect speedy reaction and results.

Have different values to their older colleagues: for millennials, for example, a healthy work–life balance is key; they are eager to learn, and see international experience as integral to that learning; reward is important but not the main driver.

According to the Mercer's survey of employers, millennials are primarily interested in taking international assignments for career development opportunities; higher compensation was reported as a less of a catalyst.

Increased segmentation of assignments is enabling employers to find a more cost-efficient balance between employee development opportunities and package richness.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON REASONS MILLENNIAL ARE TAKING ASSIGNMENTS?

CAREER DEVELOPMENT / OPPORTUNITIES

98%

DISCOVERING NEW COUNTRIES / CULTURES

61% 32%

LEARNING / STUDIES

27%

HIGHER COMPENSATION FAMILY REASONS

3%

OTHER

3% 0

25

50

75

100

Motivations to take an assignment the graph by Mercer, adapted by Faina Iasen

Discovering new countries / cultures was the second most reported main reason for millennials taking international assignments. The chart below shows that except for the top 2 destinations they are sent to or apply for – namely the US and the UK – top destinations for employee- and company-initiated moves are not in total alignment. For example, Brazil is among the top six destinations for company-initiated moves for 20% of the respondents, yet accounts for only 6% of employee-initiated moves. China was also more selected as a top assignment destination for employer- than employee-initiated moves.

TOP DESTINATIONS MILLENNIALS ARE SENT TO:

US 50% / 46%

Employee-initiated moves Company-initiated moves

UK 29% / 24%

GERMANY 13% / 17% CHINA 13% / 21%

BRAZIL 6% / 20%

SINGAPORE 17% / 21%

problem identification After all of the research and statistics I've compiled, I needed to somehow find and choose a problem I would be working on. For that reason, I created a statement map in which I converted all pieces of information I found and statistics into statements about millennials in the workforce. Then I divided all of them into categories and analysed each category to see which one is the most promising or exciting for me in the scope of this project. The statement map can be found by following the link in this QR code:

Millennials don't need to regularly work in an office

Millennials prefer to choose their work location

Millennials want to occasionally work from home

Millennials work from all different places from cafes to parks.

After going through each category and statement I decided to stop on the mobility side of the millennial workforce and work towards it. To be precise I will be working with the millennials desire to choose thrie work location and the three sub-statements included in it.

Referenced articles:

Millennials in the Workforce – What Is Their Impact on Mobility Programs?

by Anne Rossier @Mercer

How the Millennial Workforce is Changing Business

by Jamie Notter & Maddie Grant

The Truth about Millennial Employees: The Largest Generation in the Workforce

by Cinnamon Janzer @zenefits

Millennials are the largest generation in the U.S. labor force

by Pepperdine

University’s Online Master of Business Administration

5 Tips for creating a work environment in which millennials succeed

Key Statistics About Millennials In The Workplace

Millennials in the workforce: What they want, and how to manage them

@BCareers

@DynamicSignal

@smartceo.

5 Tips for Managing Millennials

5 Truths about the Millennial Workforce

The Millennial Workforce Needs Mentors, Not Managers

by Susan M. Heathfield

by SUSAN M. HEATHFIELD

by Mark Emmons

by Center for creative leadership

by Michael Zimmerman

by Celinne Da Costa

WORK ON THE GO? sAccording to my research and one of the statements on the statement map - millennial do not need an office to work and don't need to work in an office regularly. They also like to pick a place to work from themselves.

Today we can see an increase in popularity of co-workings and working from cafes (e.g. Starbucks that's filled with freelancers and those working remotely). So I decided to look at what solutions were developed for working anywhere and how I can improve this experience even further.

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NAP ON THE GO! After analysing existing and proposed solutions for work on the go I realised that it's a bit too obvious and that most problems are either solved already or are being solved. So I looked for another topic. According to my analysis of research found online millennial spend a lot of time on the go (from one work place to another, meeting to meeting, home to work and work to home) as well as working nights and late shift. It is impossible to work in public or private transport due to lace of facilities, privacy and sea sickness; so the time spent on commute is "wasted" if we're talking paid hours. Which made me think that since one works at night and sacrifices sleep + can't work on the go = one should sleep on commute. So I decided to develop a solution that will allow one maximum comfort for on-the-go naps.

NAPS - WHY? WHERE? HOW? A new study of 2,000 Americans examined people’s relationship with napping and found other surprising places people have caught a bit of shuteye include a coal mine, on a ski lift going up a mountain, and even while waiting for their food in a drive-thru.

The research, which was commissioned by Lovesac Furniture Companyand conducted by OnePoll, also finally put an end to the “do naps actually work?” debate- three out of four Americans feel rejuvenated after a little afternoon snooze, wherever it may occur.

Not only that, 75 percent of Americans also feel more productive after a nap, with 24 percent saying they feel “a lot more” productive. In fact, the majority of Americans (76 percent) go as far as to consider a nap to be “essential” when they’re feeling sluggish.

The perfect nap is...

During the day With a blanket Longer than 20 mins Dark room Cooler temperature One pillow After a meal/full stomach With a pet Feet elevated After exercise

The craziest places Americans said they've snuck a nap: Abandoned chemical plant On the toilet in a store bathroom Standing up on the subway Inside an MRI machine Tanning bed Potato barrel In a drive-thru, waiting for food On the floor of the bathroom at work In the trunk of a car On horseback On the lawn

TOP 10 MOST COMMON REASONS TO NEED A NAP

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Top 10 most common reasons to need a nap the info by Brobible, graph by Faina Iasen

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CAR NAP PILLOW So, after searching through the projects online, especially the ones on Kickstarter, I realised that a lot of solutions for sleeping anywhere were proposed, but there wasn't quite yet a perfect pillow for the cars. And as a person spending a lot of the time in the backseats of taxis sleep deprived I personally know what a torture it is to sleep in a car with nothing to put your head on. So I am taking on a challenge to design a car nap pillow that would allow for a comfortable and safe nap in a car (incl. taxi). It should consider the following aspects: a variety of compatible positions for different people and cars a possibility to be used in public transport as well how not to skip your station how not get robbed while you're napping how it can be cleaned how it can be used - different usage scenarios

I found OSTRICHPILLOW during my search for product allowing sleep on the go and was very inspired by their designs. I think the concept I will design will fit nicely in their collection of mobile pillows.

WHAT IS OSTRICHPILLOW? It all started with a dream, as so often happens with unexpected revolutions.

Back in 2012, the world was suffering from a serious sleep deprivation. A clever device that would allow people to rest where they wanted, when they wanted to, needed to be invented. That’s precisely how, empowered by the energy of a crowd, our beloved ORIGINAL was born, giving rise to a happy family of feel-good products that have been turning heads internationally since then, taking care of utopian dreamers all over the world.

OSTRICHPILLOW DROP Due to the wear-proof fabric of the case and the long-lasting memory foam filling, OSTRICHPILLOW DROP can be used many times before it has to be replaced. Which lessens its user's impact on the planet compared to cheap one-use blown pillows or those given out during flights.

All of the materials that make DROP are recyclable and when the user decides that DROP needs replacement, they can send it back to the company. It will be recycled into a new DROP and the user will receive a discount on a new pillow.

The memory foam filling allows for maximum comfort and adjust to any position. It can be held, propped on something or just used as a hugging pillow - anything you need for a cosy comfortable nap.

top view 3/4 view

Due to its shape and filling DROP allows for a variety of sleep positions and prevents cramps in the shoulder, back and neck areas. It takes care of your bones while you sleep and improves the quality of your nap, helping you to feel refreshed even after a short ride. front view

side view

Inbuilt into the DROP is a smart alarm that connects to the transport system app and starts to vibrate 10 minutes before your estimated arrival. The vibrations gradually increase, waking you up slowly and gently.

The inbuilt smart system also allows for tracking of the pillow's location . It might come in useful in cases of loss, theft or when you want your close ones to know where you are even when you can't respond or in case of emergency.

In the middle of the DROP pillow is a hidden pocket locked with a zipper and covered with a flap to protect one from being scratched by the said zipper. It can hold your valuables such as a wallet / cards/ phone and documents to protect it from thieves if you sleep in public places / on transport.

The blackout mask hidden inside the bigger part of the pillow allows for comfortable sleep without light shining in your eyes.

It also acts as a part of the alarm and starts gradually simulate sunrise 10 minutes before your estimated arrival for you no to wake up to suddenly as it might make you feel dizzy or tired.

IN-BUILT TAXI SERVICE SCENARIO I decided to go with two different usage scenarios and the first one is that this pillow will a part of the taxi service. But the only implication is that the taxi company needs to be licensed to provide this pillows and the drivers are required to return them to the station at the end of the each day for cleaning.

Every new day they pick up a clean fresh DROP at the same station which provides the taxi's customers assurance that the pillow is clean and safe for use.

In the morning the driver picks up a fresh clean pillow at the station, marks in the app that he's received one and the pillow connects to his taxi app for the day.

The driver goes on with his work day taking other clients. Some of them use DROP and spend their time on the commute with both pleasure and benefit to their health.

The driver goes for work and picks up clients as we can see today. In 20 years taxis will be used as a popular type of public transport and there will be more of them than personal vehicles.

The pillow lessens head-bobs during naps due to its shape and filling. It can make even sleeping against a window safe and comfortable.

Each trip is recorded into both driver's and user's app and it calculates estimated travel time. In this app the customer can check if the pillow was cleaned recently .

When the last client is taken to their destination, the driver decides to finish the work for the day, shuts off the order-taking app and puts a mark that he's done.

If the estimated time of arrival is more than 20 minutes, the app allows the customer to use DROP and take a nap to make use of free time. When not used, DROP is store in the pocket in front of the passenger seat.

5 to 10 minutes before the estimated arrival DROP starts to gradually wake up the customer. The customer leaves the taxi feeling refreshed and with no stress from the ride.

When the driver arrives at the station, he parks his car at the parking for the night and takes the DROP pillow with him inside the station.

There he returns the pillow for the cleaning, prior to that unlinking it from his app. The day of the pillow comes to an end. It will be washed at night and in the morning will return en route.

INDIVIDUALÂ POSSESSIONÂ SCENARIO The second scenario is one of the personal possession. In this case, DROP will most probably not be used on an everyday basis, but rather on days when a long trip is planned. Bellow, I show an example of a user going from one state to another to visit their parents for the weekend.

The user takes the pillow from it's storing place inside the suitcase and packs all of their things inside the said backpack. This way DROP doesn't waste space when not used.

During the flight, the user soundly sleeps on the DROP with the mask on to prevent lights disturbing their sleep. They don't use a pillow offered by the airline, thus saving plastic and reducing their impact on the planet's pollution.

While the user travels from their apartment to the train station, DROP is looped around the handle of their suitcase. It can also be looped to a sling of a backpack or a bag.

At the airport of arrival the user takes a taxi to their parent's place to save time and avoid trying to navigate in an unfamiliar town.

The user takes a 45 minutes nap on the train and decides not to use the eye mask in case the tickets will be checked or the food cart goes by. Their phone and wallet are securely stored inside DROP.

In the taxi, the user uses DROP again to prompt their head and watch the moving landscape outside the window. The ride is calm and relaxing, they have time to go through some nostalgic memories.

On the way from the train station to the airport, the user doesn't put DROP away, knowing that it will be used again soon. It stays on the handle until the check-in and then is looped around the sling of the backpack.

Arriving at their parents' home, the user doesn't put DROP away either, preferring to take care of it as soon as possible.

While waiting for the boarding to start, the user unfolds DROP and uses it as a soft headrest to wait in comfort instead of trying to rest their head on the hard metal chairs of the waiting hall.

In the evening, after a warm welcome and a family dinner, the user goes to put their cloth into the washing machine, remove the cover of the DROP and puts it there as well. In the morning it will be clean and ready for a return trip after the weekend.

Examples of sleeping positions when using DROP

POSSIBILITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT If I had more time and mental energy I would like to think on the sharing / vending machine system that would distribute these pillows at the big transport knots of big cities or on train stations and in airports.

I didn't completelly think through how the pillow would hold iys shape apart from the memory foam, so that could be further worked on

I am not completely sure as to how "futuristic" this product is, but I see it more as an addition, a useful little detail to the system that will form in the future.

I should have come to an idea earlier as I decided on it too late and didn't have enough time to properly develop it. I need to learn to understand when I should stop research and start ideation I do however think that I improved a lot with my sketching and storytelling skills during the project and became more comfortable with using illustration as a communication tool. I now understand that there's nothing to be afraid of and I should practice more to get better at it.

Notes and stuff

FAINA IASEN, 2019

Faina Iasen, 2019